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

Chapter Seventy-Seven
Stars in Your Eyes
W hen the retreat season ended, the Buddha and Ananda traveled throughout Magadha. They stopped in many out-of-the-way places
and at every local Dharma center, so the Buddha could offer teaching to both the bhikkhus and the laity. The Buddha frequently pointed out
beautiful scenery to Venerable Ananda. The Buddha knew that because Ananda devoted such wholehearted attention to attending to the
Buddha’s needs, he sometimes forgot to enjoy the countryside around them.
Ananda had served as the Buddha’s attendant for nearly twenty years. Thinking back over the years, he recalled how often the Buddha
pointed to the landscape and exclaimed such things as, “Look how beautiful Vulture Peak is, Ananda!” or “Ananda, look how beautiful the
plains of Saptapanni are!” Ananda fondly remembered the day the Buddha pointed to golden rice fields bordered by green grasses and
suggested they use the same pattern to sew the bhikkhus’ robes. Ananda saw that the Buddha knew how to truly enjoy beautiful things
while never becoming caught by either the beautiful or ugly.
The following rainy season, the Buddha returned to Jetavana. Because King Pasenadi was on a journey, he did not see the Buddha until
the retreat was half-over. Immediately after his arrival, he visited the Buddha and told him that he no longer liked to be confined to the
palace. Now that he was advanced in years, he had delegated many of his royal tasks to trusted ministers so that he could travel with a
small party. He wanted to see and enjoy the land of his own country and that of neighboring kingdoms. When he visited another country, he
never expected a formal reception. He came as a simple pilgrim. His trips were also occasions to practice walking meditation. Leaving
behind all thoughts and worries, he took leisurely steps while enjoying the countryside. He told the Buddha how much these trips refreshed
his heart.
“Lord Buddha, I am seventy-eight years old, the same as you. I know that you also enjoy walking in beautiful places. But I’m afraid my
travels do not serve others in the way your travels do. Wherever you go, you stop to teach and guide the people. You are like a shining
light wherever you go.”
The king confided to the Buddha a secret pain he carried in his heart. Seven years earlier when an attempted coup took place in the
capital, he wrongly accused the commander-in-chief of the royal forces, General Bandhula, and had him executed. A few years later he
learned that the general had not been involved. The king was overcome with regret. He did all he could to restore the general’s good name
and provided ample assistance to his widow. He also appointed the general’s nephew, General Karayana, as the new commander-in-chief
of the royal forces.
During the remainder of the retreat season, the king visited Jetavana every other day to attend Dharma talks and discussions, and
sometimes simply to sit quietly by the Buddha’s side. When the retreat season came to a close, the Buddha began traveling. The king, too,
set out on another trip with a small traveling party.
The following year, the Buddha spent two weeks in Kuru after the retreat season. Then he followed the river down to Kosali, Varanasi,
and Vesali before returning north.
One day while staying in Medalumpa, a small district in Sakya, the Buddha received an unexpected visit from King Pasenadi. It so
happened that the king was traveling in the same region with Prince Vedudabha and General Karayana. The king learned from some local
people that the Buddha was staying not far away in Medalumpa. As it was only a half day’s journey from where the king was, he instructed
General Karayana to drive their carriage there. There were three other carriages in their party. They left their carriages outside the park
where the Buddha was dwelling, and the king and the general entered the park together. The king asked a bhikkhu where to find the
Buddha’s hut and the bhikkhu pointed to a small hut beneath a shady tree.
The door to the hut was closed. The king walked leisurely to the hut and before knocking cleared his throat. He removed his sword and
crown and handed them to the general, requesting the general to take them back to the carriage and wait for him there. The door to the
Buddha’s hut opened. He was most happy to see the king and invited him in at once. Venerables Sariputta and Ananda were also there.
They stood to greet the king.
The Buddha asked the king to be seated on the chair next to his own. Sariputta and Ananda stood behind the Buddha. To their surprise
the king stood up again and then knelt down and kissed the Buddha’s feet. Several times he said, “Lord, I am King Pasenadi of the
kingdom of Kosala. I respectfully pay you homage.”
The Buddha assisted the king back onto his chair and asked, “Your majesty, we are old, close friends. Why do you pay me such formal
respects today?”
The king answered, “Lord, I am old. There are a number of things I wish to say to you before it is too late.”