Kindness In Holy Life

[Guest guest]

Nalagiri, the wild elephant was let loose on the path of the Lord.

It raced with giant leaps, drunken and wild.

Devadutta and Ajatasatru smiled with lips closed and confident of

victory over the Tathagata.

 

Unaware of Devadatta's devious plans, the Lord was walking with

gentle steps. Bhikshus followed him with full of reverence and love.

 

Suddenly the mad elephant entered. Many onlookers raced out of

sight,some even leaving their beloved and young to their own fate.

Some kind onlookers shouted,

"Hey Bhikshus, run ! run for your lives !!"

 

Leave alone Buddha, not a single Bhikshu would run for life. For,

they knew that they had nothing to fear in Budhha's presence. They

walked silently unconcerned about the mad elephant.

 

Lo ! the elephant appears, ready to trample the whole group in one

giant stride.

 

Buddha makes one most gentle step with hand raised as if to protect

the poor creature and with the most beautiful countenance.

 

The wild elephant becomes gentle in his presence and bends down in

reverence, captured by his Love !

 

Ajatasatru later learned the way of salvation from the Blessed Lord.

---

Ananda said:

"Friendship with what is lovely, association with what is lovely,

intimacy with what is lovely--that is half of the holy life."

 

The Buddha responded:

"Don't say that, Ananda.

It's the whole not the half of the holy life.

One so blessed with what is lovely will develop a right way of being,

a thinking that no longer grasps at what is untrue, an aim that is

concerned and ready, a contemplation that is unattched and free.

Association with what is lovely is the whole of the holy life."

-- Samyutta Nikaya

Buddha said gently, "Pakati, it is Ananda's kindness that you love.

Accept that kindness shown to you and in your turn practice it toward

others."

--- Agamas

 

-- From "The Buddha Speaks" by Anne Bancroft

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With Love,

Raghava