The Epic of the Buddha by Chittadhar Hrdaya & Todd Lewis & Subarna Man Tuladhar

Author:Chittadhar, Hrdaya & Todd Lewis & Subarna Man Tuladhar
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 2019-05-20T16:00:00+00:00

Disputatious Monks of Kausāmbī

One day in the morning the sangha living there had an argument

Erupt among some monks about the breach of a Vinaya rule.

Having come to know the situation, the Lord said, “Cease the hostilities, monks!”

But even by the end of the rainy season, they had not made peace.

“Those fomenting heated arguments do not realize their folly

Nor can they understand that such quarreling is bad and leads them down the wrong path.

‘He robbed me, struck me, conquered me, abused me,’

Those who cherish such thoughts can never have their hatred appeased.

Hatred never ceases by hatred in this world anywhere.

Hatred ceases only by love, this is the eternal law.13

If one cannot find an intelligent companion who behaves well and is wise,

One should live alone like a solitary elephant in the forest.”

In this way, after expounding these new verses on the Dharma,

Sugata left there alone, having taken his alms bowl and robes.

Traveling a long way in that region, when the Tathāgata reached the Pārileyaka forest,

A great elephant king came there, leaving behind his herd.

Another came just there, a monkey king who lived in that forest,

So living upon the clear water and fresh fruits served by these two

The Buddha took daily shelter and ate under a lovely sāla tree, and so

The three spent the year’s monsoon retreat in that solitary place.

Soon, the wise and good bhikṣus who were mourning the Buddha’s absence

Said, “Deprived as we have been from hearing discourses preached by the Blessed One,

We suffer great thirst, even though we earlier were immersed in this pool of virtue,

Friends! We now burn with the ardent wish to see the Lord in our midst.”

“Friends! Let us go,” said Ānanda and accompanied by others set out

In the direction of the Pārileyaka forest to look for the Buddha.

Upon getting there, they bowed to him, and having sat down on one side,

To their complete contentment, the Great Recluse preached the Dharma to them.

The Lord then spent a few more days in the scenic sāl grove,

Then accompanied by all the monks including Ānanda,

Passed through many countries and villages until they finally reached Shrāvastī, and

Having gone to Jetavana, the revered Blessed One showed his compassion.

But the Buddha’s devout householders in Kausāmbī had grown angry—

“The evil-natured monks here having caused the Buddha to leave,

Now in retribution we won’t give them any alms food;

Not to mention reverence or respect, we won’t even show them courtesy.”

These monks discussed this and concluded—“We see no profit in living here now,

Friends! Let’s have our argument settled by going to where the World’s Teacher is.”

So the hostile monks also set out in the direction of Koshala.

“They might give trouble to the Teacher from their petty quarreling.”

Thinking this, King Prasenajit was anxious and blocked their passage,

The compassion-hearted14 Lord, however, sent this message: “Let them come here freely.”

Great Elder15 Sāriputra, respected Maudgalāyaṇa,

Wise Aniruddha and Mahākāshyapa, and Elder16 Kātyāyana,

Vinaya expert Upālī, respected Ānanda, and

Mendicant Rāhula, etc., these monks and their own disciples,

All learned that these monks were approaching where Sugata was and asked—

“They have come, Lord! These arriving monks,

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.