The Buddha and the Terrorist by Satish Kumar

Author:Satish Kumar [Kumar, Satish]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Workman Publishing
Published: 2012-08-31T22:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

Spiritual Simplicity

The Buddha saw Nandini’s carriage arrive at speed. Soon he realized that Ahimsaka had been attacked. He asked Ananda to bring an infusion of neem leaves and water, and to pick potent fresh wild herbs from the forest for poultices. As Ananda hurried to prepare the treatment, the Buddha welcomed Nandini and offered his shoulder to Ahimsaka to step down from the carriage. Nandini too gave a hand to support Ahimsaka. As he limped along he said, “I am all right, I am all right.”

The Buddha and Nandini brought him to his hut. Ananda with fellow monks began to nurse him. Exhausted, Ahimsaka relaxed and fell asleep.

“Let him rest now,” whispered the Buddha. “Sleep is the best treatment. One of you should keep constant watch by his hut, in case he wakes.”

The Buddha was filled with joy to see Nandini and was grateful that she had brought Ahimsaka home. They walked together to the platform under the mango tree and sat down.

“Is he really Angulimala? Or are the people in Savatthi confused and mistaken? He is so pious and gentle!”

The Buddha narrated his encounter with Angulimala and the way he transformed into Ahimsaka. He also told her of the visit of King Pasenadi. Nandini was astonished. It was difficult for her to believe all this. Was she dreaming? Could this all be true?

“Your powers of persuasion are truly great, Enlightened One. If it is possible for Angulimala to be transformed in this way, then there is hope for everyone.”

“Yes, Nandini, that is why until all living beings are liberated, I will keep coming to the world. I will return as Maitreya, as a friend: not as a prophet, not as a master or guide, not even as a teacher, but simply as a friend. I speak to you as your friend. All beings are Bodhisattvas, potential Buddhas, capable of enlightenment.”

Nandini did not feel convinced that she herself was a potential Buddha, but she very much liked the idea of the Buddha as her friend. Although everyone revered him as a great guru, an enlightened master, an illustrious incarnation, and so on, these high-sounding attributes created a barrier of formality and a sense of distance; they produced hierarchy and expectation. So when the Buddha presented himself as a friend, it put Nandini at her ease, and she felt encouraged to seek some very personal advice. She said, “I try to follow your teachings on meditation, but find it hard to focus. It is difficult to be detached from desires, from likes and dislikes, from attractions and aversions. My mind keeps jumping around like a monkey. Tell me, my friend, should I be putting great effort into concentrating the mind or just let it wander?”

“Neither, Nandini,” said the Buddha. “You are a musician, you play sitar. How do you tune it?”

“I tune it carefully so the strings are neither too loose nor too tight. Only then will the sitar sound sweet.”

“So it is with the mind, Nandini. Allow it to be in balance.

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