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

Kassapa hesitated. He thought of the hundreds of thousands of people, right at that very moment, who were bathing themselves in the
waters of Ganga and other sacred rivers to purify themselves.
“Gautama, water cannot really help one attain liberation. Water naturally flows down. Only fire rises. When we die, our body rises in
smoke thanks to fire.”
“Master Kassapa, that is not accurate. The white clouds floating above are also a form of water. Thus, water rises too. Indeed, smoke
itself is no more than evaporated water. Both clouds and smoke will eventually return to a liquid state. All things, as I’m sure you know,
move in cycles.”
“But all things share one fundamental essence and all things return to that one essence.”
“Master Kassapa, all things depend on all other things for their existence. Take, for example, this leaf in my hand. Earth, water, heat,
seed, tree, clouds, sun, time, space—all these elements have enabled this leaf to come into existence. If just one of these elements was
missing, the leaf could not exist. All beings, organic and inorganic, rely on the law of dependent co-arising. The source of one thing is all
things. Please consider this carefully. Don’t you see that this leaf I am now holding in my hand is only here thanks to the interpenetration of
all the phenomena in the universe, including your own awareness?”
It was already evening and beginning to grow dark. Kassapa invited the Buddha to sleep in his own hut. It was the first time he had ever
made such an offer to anyone, but then he had never before met such an extraordinary monk. But the Buddha refused, saying that he had
grown accustomed to sleeping alone at night. He said he would like to sleep in the Fire Sanctuary if that would be all right.
The brahman said, “For the past several days, an enormous snake has taken refuge in the Fire Sanctuary. All efforts to chase it away
have failed. You must not sleep there, friend Gautama. It might be dangerous. We have even been holding our ceremonies outside for fear
of the snake. Please sleep in my hut for your own safety.”
The Buddha replied, “Don’t worry. I want to sleep in the Fire Sanctuary. I will not be in any danger.”
The Buddha recalled all the months he had practiced austerities in the wild jungles. Wild beasts passed him by without harming him.
Sometimes while he sat in meditation enormous snakes slithered in front of him. He knew that if you took care not to frighten such animals,
they would not harm you.
Seeing that the Buddha could not be dissuaded, Kassapa said, “If you wish to sleep in the Fire Sanctuary, you shall. You may sleep
there as many nights as you like.”
That night the Buddha entered the Fire Sanctuary. On the central altar burned a great fire fed by many candles. On one side of the room
was a pile of sandalwood logs, which were used for outdoor ceremonies. The Buddha guessed that the snake was probably curled up in
the wood pile, so he sat in meditation on the other side of the room, using his folded robe as a cushion. He meditated deep into the night.
Towards the end of his meditation, he saw the great snake coiled in the center of the room looking at him. The Buddha spoke softly to it,
“Dear friend, return to the jungle for your own safety.”
The Buddha’s voice was filled with love and understanding. The snake slowly uncoiled itself and crept out the door. The Buddha
stretched out and fell asleep.
When he awoke, brilliant moonlight poured through the window onto his sleeping place. The eighteenth day moon was unusually bright.
He thought how pleasant it would be to do walking meditation beneath its light. He shook off the dust from his outer robe and put it on
before walking out of the Fire Sanctuary.
In the early hours of the morning, the Sanctuary somehow caught on fire. Those who saw it first shouted to all the others. Everyone filled
buckets with water at the river’s edge, but to no avail. The water came too late to extinguish the raging fire. At last, the five hundred
devotees could do no more than stand and watch their Sanctuary burn to the ground.
Uruvela Kassapa stood with his followers. His heart was heavy with grief as he thought of the virtuous and talented young monk he had
met only the day before. The young monk had surely perished in the fire. If only Gautama had consented to sleep in his hut, he would still
be alive. Just as he was thinking this, the Buddha appeared. The Buddha had seen the fire from where he had been walking in the hills and
he had returned to see if he could be of any assistance.
Overcome with relief and joy, Kassapa ran to the Buddha and grasped his hand. “Thank goodness, you are alive, friend Gautama!
Nothing has happened to you! I am so happy!”
The Buddha placed his hands on the brahman’s shoulders and smiled. “Thank you, my friend. Yes, I am all right.”
The Buddha knew that on that day Uruvela Kassapa would give a discourse and that in addition to his own five hundred disciples, at
least a thousand others would attend from the neighboring villages. The lecture would take place after the noon meal. Sensing that his
presence during the lecture might cause Kassapa some discomfort, the Buddha went begging down in the village. After receiving food
offerings he walked to the lotus pond, ate his meal there, and spent the entire afternoon at that pleasant place.