The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume I)Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Religion
The Life or Legend of Gaudama, the Buddha of the Burmese (Volume I)
Bigandet, Paul Ambroise
Buddhism -- Burma; Burma -- Religion; Gautama Buddha
When the season was over, he went, as usual, to preach in every
direction, and returned to Thawattie, to the Dzetawon monastery. His
stay in that place was not long. He undertook another voyage to Alawee.
He was received with the greatest demonstrations of joy by the people,
who gladly ministered to all his wants. On a certain day, when he was to
receive large offerings from the people and preach to them, it happened
on that occasion that a poor pounha, who was very desirous to hear his
instructions, was informed at an early hour of that very day that one of
his cows had gone astray from the herd and could not be found. Hereupon
he felt greatly aggrieved. He was afraid to let go the golden
opportunity to hear the instruction. However, he trusted that by making
the utmost diligence he would be back in time. He ran in all haste until
he found the strayed animal and brought it back. It was nearly midday
when he returned to the town. Though pressed with the pangs of hunger
and overwhelmed with fatigue, he went straight forward to the place
where the congregation was assembled. The offerings had been brought a
long while ago; the people out of respect stood motionless, with their
hands joined, in the presence of Buddha, who, contrary to the general
expectation, remained perfectly silent. With his supernatural vision he
had seen the perfect dispositions of the poor pounha. He would have him
to share in the blessing of his instruction. As soon as the pounha had
taken his place among the hearers, Buddha, casting a benevolent glance
towards him, beckoned him to come near his person. Meantime, he ordered
some of his disciples to bring the poor man some food, because he was
very hungry; and he would not condescend to begin the instruction till
the man had been relieved from the pangs of hunger by a good meal. When
the preaching was over, several Rahans ridiculed the attention paid by
their master to a common man. Buddha, knowing their innermost thoughts,
spoke to them by way of an instructive rebuke: "Beloved sons, you seem
to be surprised at my behaviour towards that poor pounha. But I had
perceived at once the super-excellent dispositions of that man, his
craving for the holy law, and his lively and strong faith in me, which
prompted him to lay no stress on hunger, nor on fatigue, and to make no
account of his personal discomforts, in order to satisfy his earnest
longings for the law." On that occasion an immense number of hearers
were converted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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