old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

Being refused the chance to practice the Dharma in community is to lose an opportunity that only arises once in a thousand lifetimes. What
is that if not death to the spiritual life? It isn’t just a pity for the person refused. It is as much a pity for me, for I feel great love and concern
for that person. I never stop hoping that one day he will open himself up to the practice and come back to us.”
Long ago, Svasti had heard the Buddha scold and counsel Rahula. He had also witnessed the Buddha correct a number of other
bhikkhus. He now understood more deeply the profound love behind the Buddha’s rebukes. Svasti also knew how much the Buddha loved
him even though the Buddha never said so aloud. Svasti needed only to look into the Buddha’s eyes to know.
That night, the Buddha received a guest, and Ananda asked Svasti to prepare tea. The guest was a warrior with proud and aristocratic
bearing who traveled with a shining sword slung across his back. He dismounted his steed outside Jetavana and left his sword tucked in the
saddle. Sariputta showed him to the Buddha’s hut. He was a man of impressive height. His strides were long and he had a piercing gaze.
Ananda told Svasti that the warrior’s name was Rohitassa.
When Svasti entered the hut to serve tea, he found Rohitassa and Sariputta sitting before the Buddha on low stools. Ananda was
standing behind the Buddha. After serving the three men tea, Svasti stood next to Ananda behind the Buddha. The men drank their tea in
silence. After a long pause, Rohitassa spoke, “Lord, is there any world in which there is no birth, old age, sickness, or death? Is there any
world in which beings never die? By what means of travel can one leave this world of birth and death behind in order to arrive at a world in
which death does not exist?”
The Buddha answered, “There are no means of travel by which you can leave this world of birth and death, no matter how fast you
might go, even if you travel at the speed of light.”
Rohitassa joined his palms and said, “You speak the truth. I know for a fact that it is not possible to escape this world of birth and death
through any means of travel, no matter how fast one is able to go. I can recall a past life in which I possessed supernatural powers and was
able to fly through the air faster than an arrow. With one step I could leap from the Eastern Sea all the way to the Western Sea. I was
determined to escape the world of birth, old age, sickness, and death, in order to find a world in which beings were no longer oppressed by
birth and death. Day after day I traveled at great speed, never stopping to eat or drink, rest or sleep, urinate or defecate. For a hundred
years I went at that great speed, but arrived nowhere, until one day I died by the side of a road. Lord, your words are indeed true! Truly
one can never escape the world of birth and death by any means of travel, even if one can fly at the speed of light.”
The Buddha said, “I did not say, however, that one cannot transcend the world of birth and death. Listen, Rohitassa, you can indeed
transcend this world of birth and death. I will show you the path by which you may do so. In your very own body six feet tall, the world of
birth and death has its origins, and in that same body are the means to transcend the world of birth and death. Contemplate your body,
Rohitassa. Shine your awareness on the world of birth and death as it unfolds in your own tall body. Contemplate until you can see the truth
of impermanence, emptiness, birthlessness, and deathlessness of all dharmas. Before you, the world of birth and death will dissolve and the
world of birthlessness and deathlessness will reveal itself. You will be freed from every sorrow and fear. You do not need to travel
anywhere in order to leave the world of suffering and death. You need only look deeply into the nature of your own body.”
Svasti noticed how Sariputta’s eyes glistened like stars as he listened to the Buddha. Warrior Rohitassa’s face also radiated happiness.
Svasti was profoundly moved. Who could fathom how wondrous and majestic the Buddha’s teaching was? It was like a piece of epic
music. More clearly than ever, Svasti saw how the key to liberation lay right in his own hand.