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

the Buddha?”
One of the bhikkhus answered, “They never spoke a critical word against Venerable Devadatta or the Gayasisa sangha. They simply
taught the Dharma with all their hearts. Most of us have only been ordained two or three years and still lack stability and depth in our
practice. When we heard Brother Sariputta’s Dharma talks and received personal instruction from Brother Moggallana, we saw how
marvelous and sublime the teaching of the Buddha truly is. The presence of Venerables Sariputta and Moggallana with their profound
understanding and virtue was like the presence of the Buddha himself. We realized that although Venerable Devadatta speaks with great
skill, he could not compare with them. After Venerables Sariputta and Moggallana departed, many of us discussed these things and
reached the decision to return to the Buddha.”
Ananda asked, “What did Bhikkhu Kokalita do when you left?”
“He was enraged. He cursed us, but that only made us all the more determined to leave.”
One afternoon as the Buddha stood on the mountain slope admiring the evening sky, he suddenly heard a shout from below, “Watch out,
Lord! A boulder is about to crash behind you!”
The Buddha looked back to see a boulder the size of a cattle cart crashing down the mountain towards him. It was difficult to move out
of the way in time as the mountain path was suddenly covered with sharp and jutting stones. By a stroke of luck, the boulder was blocked
by two other rocks on the mountainside just before reaching the Buddha. But the impact of rock against rock sent a fragment flying which
pierced the Buddha’s foot. Blood gushed from his wound and stained his robes. Looking up, the Buddha saw a man at the top of the
mountain running quickly away.
His wound was very painful. He folded his sanghati in four and placed it on the earth. He sat down on it in a lotus position and began to
concentrate on his breath in order to calm the pain. Bhikkhus came running towards him. One exclaimed, “This is surely the work of
Devadatta!”
Another said, “Brothers, let us divide ourselves into patrols to guard the mountain and protect the Lord Buddha. Let’s not lose any
time!”
Everyone ran about in circles, disturbing the previously calm evening. The Buddha said, “Brothers, please do not shout. Nothing
warrants such noise. The Tathagata does not need to be guarded or protected. Please return to your huts. Ananda, send novice Cunda for
physician Jivaka.”
They obeyed the Buddha’s wishes. Jivaka came up to Vulture Peak in no time at all and asked that the Buddha be carried in a palanquin
down to the mango grove.
Within a few short days, people in the capital learned of the two attempts on the Buddha’s life. They were shocked and dismayed. Not
only that, but they received the announcement that King Bimbisara had died. Through unknown channels, the people learned how he died
under house arrest. Agony filled the people’s hearts. They looked towards Vulture Peak as a symbol of moral resistance. As they grieved
for the king, their admiration for the Buddha deepened. Though the Buddha had chosen to remain silent about recent events, his silence had
been well understood by the people.
King Bimbisara was sixty-seven years old when he died. He was five years younger than the Buddha. He had taken the three refuges
with the Buddha when he was just thirty-one years old. Having ascended to the throne at the age of fifteen, he then reigned for fifty-two
years. It was he who rebuilt the capital of Rajagaha after it had been destroyed by fire. Throughout his reign, Magadha had enjoyed
continuous peace with the exception of one short war with the kingdom of Anga. King Brahmadatta of Anga lost the war and Anga
temporarily fell under the jurisdiction of Magadha. When King Taxila Pukkusati later assumed the throne in Anga, King Bimbisara
maintained close and friendly relations with him to prevent future conflicts. Thanks to that, the new king also became a disciple of the
Buddha. King Bimbisara had always understood the importance of maintaining good relations with neighboring kingdoms. He married
Princess Kosaladevi, the younger sister of King Pasenadi of Kosala, and made her his queen. He also took wives from the Madra and
Licchavi dynasties. His elder sister was married to the king of Kosala.
King Bimbisara showed his deep love and respect for the Buddha by having a stupa built in the royal gardens which contained the
Buddha’s hair and fingernails. Incense and candles were regularly lit around the foot of the stupa to express gratitude for the Buddha’s
teaching. The king entrusted Srimati, a lady-in-waiting at the palace, with the stupa’s upkeep. Srimati tended all the flowers and plants
around the stupa and kept the area well swept.
Just ten days after the boulder was hurled at the Buddha, he and several bhikkhus were begging in the capital, when Venerable Ananda
looked up to see an elephant charging towards them. It appeared to have escaped from the royal stables. He recognized that it was the
elephant named Nalagiri, infamous for its violent behavior. Ananda could not understand how the royal keeper could have allowed it to
escape. Panic-stricken, people ran for cover. The elephant raised its trunk, lifted its tail and ears, and headed straight for the Buddha.
Ananda grabbed the Buddha’s arm to lead him to safety, but the Buddha would not budge. He stood calmly, unperturbed. Some bhikkhus
cowered behind him while others fled. People shouted at the Buddha to save himself. Ananda held his breath and stepped forward to place