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

Chapter Nineteen
Tangerine of Mindfulness
When Sujata brought Siddhartha’s food that noon, she found him sitting beneath the pippala tree as beautiful as a young morning. His face
and body radiated peace, joy, and equanimity. She had seen him sitting solemnly and majestically beneath the pippala tree over a hundred
times, and yet today there was something different about him. Looking at Siddhartha, Sujata felt all her sorrows and worries vanish.
Happiness as fresh as a spring breeze filled her heart. She felt there was nothing else she needed or wanted on this Earth, that everything in
the universe was already good and beneficial, and that no one needed to worry or despair anymore. Sujata took a few steps forward and
placed the food before Siddhartha. She bowed before him. She felt the peace and joy within Siddhartha enter herself.
Siddhartha smiled at her and said, “Here, sit down with me. I thank you for bringing me food and water these past months. Today is the
happiest day of my life because last night I found the Great Way. Please enjoy this happiness too. In the near future I will go teach this path
to all others.”
Sujata looked up with surprise. “You will be going? You mean you will leave us?”
Siddhartha smiled kindly. “Yes, I must leave, but I won’t abandon you children. Before I leave, I will show you the path I have
discovered.”
Sujata was not very reassured. She wanted to ask him more, but he spoke first, “I will remain with you children for at least several more
days in order to share what I have learned with you. Only then will I take to the road. But that doesn’t mean I will be apart from you
forever. From time to time, I will return to visit you children.”
Sujata felt comforted. She sat down and opened the banana leaf to reveal the offering of rice. She sat silently at Siddhartha’s side as he
ate. She watched as he broke off pieces of rice and dipped them in sesame salt. Her heart was filled with inexpressible happiness.
When he finished eating, Siddhartha asked Sujata to return home. He said he wanted to meet with the village children that afternoon in
the forest.
Many children came, including Svasti’s brother and sisters. The boys had all bathed and put on clean clothes. The girls wore their
loveliest saris. Sujata’s sari was ivory colored, Nandabala wore a sari the color of banana shoots, and Bhima’s sari was pink. The children,
looking as fresh and colorful as flowers, sat around Siddhartha beneath the pippala tree.
Sujata brought a basketful of coconut and chunks of palm sugar as a special treat. The children scooped out the tasty coconut meat and
ate it with the delicious sugar. Nandabala and Subash brought a basketful of tangerines. Siddhartha sat with the children, his happiness
complete. Rupak offered him a chunk of coconut with a piece of palm sugar on a pippala leaf. Nandabala offered him a tangerine.
Siddhartha accepted their offerings and ate with the children.
They were still enjoying their lunch when Sujata made an announcement, “Dear friends, today is the happiest day our Teacher has ever
known. He has discovered the Great Way. I feel this is also a very important day for me. Brothers and sisters, let us consider this a day of
great jubilation for us all. We are here today to celebrate the Enlightenment of our Teacher. Respected Teacher, the Great Path has been
found. We know you cannot stay with us forever. Please teach us the things you think we might be able to understand.”
In mindfulness, the children passed around the basket of tangerines.