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

Chapter Thirty
Bamboo Forest
It was the full moon day. The Buddha took his bowl and entered the city of Rajagaha with his 1,250 bhikkhus. They walked silently with
slow, calm steps. The streets of the capital were decorated with lanterns and fresh flowers. Crowds flanked both sides of the streets to
welcome the Buddha and his sangha. When the bhikkhus came to the main crossroads, the crowd was so thick that it was impossible for
the Buddha and his bhikkhus to proceed.
Uruvela Kassapa was wondering what to do, when a handsome young fellow appeared, singing and playing a sixteen-string sitar. His
voice resonated like a clear bell. As he walked through the crowds singing, the people moved to the sides to let him pass. There was now a
path for the Buddha and his bhikkhus to continue walking. Kassapa recognized the musician, who had taken the three refuges with him less
than a month earlier. His song expressed his deep feelings:
“On this fresh spring morning,
the Enlightened One passes through our city
with the noble community of 1,250 disciples.
All are walking with slow, calm, and radiant steps.”
The crowds listened to the young musician as if entranced, and they looked from him to the Buddha passing before them. The singer
smiled and continued to sing:
“Grateful for this chance to be his student,
let me praise his endless love and wisdom,
the path that leads to self-contentment,
and the Sangha which follows the True Way
to Awakening.”
The young man continued to sing and open up a path until the Buddha and all the bhikkhus reached the palace gates. Then he bowed to
the Buddha and disappeared back into the crowds as quickly as he had appeared.
King Bimbisara, accompanied by six thousand attendants and guests, came out to welcome the Buddha. The king led the Buddha and
the bhikkhus to the royal courtyard where spacious tents had been set up to shade the guests from the hot sun. The Buddha was given the
place of honor at the center of the courtyard. All the places for the bhikkhus had been prepared with utmost care. Once the Buddha was
seated, King Bimbisara invited everyone else to be seated. The king and Uruvela Kassapa sat on either side of the Buddha.
Prince Ajatasattu carried a basin of water and a towel to the Buddha for him to wash his hands and feet. Other attendants brought water
and towels for all the bhikkhus. After that, the vegetarian feast was laid upon the tables. The king personally placed food into the Buddha’s
bowl while Queen Videhi directed servants to serve the bhikkhus. The Buddha and the bhikkhus recited special gathas before eating. King
Bimbisara and his royal guests maintained perfect silence throughout the meal. All six thousand guests were impressed by the calm and
joyous countenance of the Buddha and his bhikkhus.
When the Buddha and all of the 1,250 bhikkhus were finished eating, their bowls were taken and washed and then returned. King
Bimbisara turned towards the Buddha and joined his palms. Understanding the king’s wishes, the Buddha began to teach the Dharma. He
spoke about the five precepts as the way to create peace and happiness for one’s family and all the kingdom.
“The first precept is do not kill. Observing this precept nourishes compassion. All living beings fear death. As we cherish our own lives,
we should cherish the lives of all other beings. Not only should we refrain from taking human life, we should strive to avoid taking the lives
of other species. We must live in harmony with people, animals, and plants. If we nourish a heart of love, we can reduce suffering and
create a happy life. If every citizen observes the precept not to kill, the kingdom will have peace. When the people respect each other’s
lives, the country will prosper and be strong, and it will be safe from invasion by other countries. Even if the kingdom possesses great
military force, there will be no reason to use it. Soldiers can devote time to such worthy tasks as building roads, bridges, marketplaces, and
dams.