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Chapter Seventy-Seven<br />
Stars in Your Eyes<br />
W hen the retreat season ended, the Buddha and Ananda traveled throughout Magadha. They stopped in many out-of-the-way places<br />
and at every local Dharma center, so the Buddha could offer teaching to both the bhikkhus and the laity. The Buddha frequently pointed out<br />
beautiful scenery to Venerable Ananda. The Buddha knew that because Ananda devoted such wholehearted attention to attending to the<br />
Buddha’s needs, he sometimes forgot to enjoy the countryside around them.<br />
Ananda had served as the Buddha’s attendant for nearly twenty years. Thinking back over the years, he recalled how often the Buddha<br />
pointed to the landscape and exclaimed such things as, “Look how beautiful Vulture Peak is, Ananda!” or “Ananda, look how beautiful the<br />
plains of Saptapanni are!” Ananda fondly remembered the day the Buddha pointed to g<strong>old</strong>en rice fields bordered by green grasses and<br />
suggested they use the same pattern to sew the bhikkhus’ robes. Ananda saw that the Buddha knew how to truly enjoy beautiful things<br />
while never becoming caught by either the beautiful or ugly.<br />
The following rainy season, the Buddha returned to Jetavana. Because King Pasenadi was on a journey, he did not see the Buddha until<br />
the retreat was half-over. Immediately after his arrival, he visited the Buddha and t<strong>old</strong> him that he no longer liked to be confined to the<br />
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<br />
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<br />
never expected a formal reception. He came as a simple pilgrim. His trips were also occasions to practice walking meditation. Leaving<br />
behind all thoughts and worries, he took leisurely steps while enjoying the countryside. He t<strong>old</strong> the Buddha how much these trips refreshed<br />
his heart.<br />
“Lord Buddha, I am seventy-eight years <strong>old</strong>, the same as you. I know that you also enjoy walking in beautiful places. But I’m afraid my<br />
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<br />
light wherever you go.”<br />
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<br />
capital, he wrongly accused the commander-in-chief of the royal forces, General Bandhula, and had him executed. A few years later he<br />
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<br />
and provided ample assistance to his widow. He also appointed the general’s nephew, General Karayana, as the new commander-in-chief<br />
of the royal forces.<br />
During the remainder of the retreat season, the king visited Jetavana every other day to attend Dharma talks and discussions, and<br />
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,<br />
set out on another trip with a small traveling party.<br />
The following year, the Buddha spent two weeks in Kuru after the retreat season. Then he followed the river down to Kosali, Varanasi,<br />
and Vesali before returning north.<br />
One day while staying in Medalumpa, a small district in Sakya, the Buddha received an unexpected visit from King Pasenadi. It so<br />
happened that the king was traveling in the same region with Prince Vedudabha and General Karayana. The king learned from some local<br />
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<br />
General Karayana to drive their carriage there. There were three other carriages in their party. They left their carriages outside the park<br />
where the Buddha was dwelling, and the king and the general entered the park together. The king asked a bhikkhu where to find the<br />
Buddha’s hut and the bhikkhu pointed to a small hut beneath a shady tree.<br />
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<br />
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<br />
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.<br />
They stood to greet the king.<br />
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<br />
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<br />
kingdom of Kosala. I respectfully pay you homage.”<br />
The Buddha assisted the king back onto his chair and asked, “Your majesty, we are <strong>old</strong>, close friends. Why do you pay me such formal<br />
respects today?”<br />
The king answered, “Lord, I am <strong>old</strong>. There are a number of things I wish to say to you before it is too late.”