4th May - Buddha Purnima Day

[Guest guest]

          Sai Ram

       4th May - BUDDHA PURNIMA Day

      "The Atma transcends the limitations of form. Buddha and Jesus made

concerted efforts to have the vision of the Atma. Buddha realised that names,

forms, and physical relationships are transient. ... He studied various sacred

texts and had an audience with many scholars, but he was not satisfied.

Ultimately, he came to the conclusion that one could attain Nirvana only

through proper use of the five senses. No spiritual practice can yield the

desired result if the senses are misused. Have sacred vision. Speak good words.

Hear only what is good. Entertain noble thoughts. There is no greater spiritual

practice than this. This was the teaching of Buddha." (Excerpt from Divine

Discourse Sathya Sai Baba "God Never Forsakes His Devotees." 25 Dec. 2001.

Prasanthi Nilayam).

          Solutions to three problems

     After Buddha gave up worldly ways, he traveled far and wide. People were

wonder-struck at his brilliant, handsome form. Enamored by his effulgence, a

woman named Ambashali approached him and said, "O great one, you look like a

prince in ochre robes. May I know why you don ochre robes at this young age?"

Buddha replied that he took to the path of renunciation in order to seek

solutions to three problems. "This body which is young and handsome is bound to

become old with time - will be made sick and perish ultimately. I want to know

the cause for old age, sickness and death."     Impressed by his quest of truth

she invited him for lunch. In no time the entire village came to know of this.

The villagers started coming to Buddha one by one, and requested him not to

accept her invitation, as she was a woman of bad character. Buddha listened to

all their complaints patiently. Buddha smiled and asked the village head, "Do

you also affirm that she is a woman of bad character?" The village head

replied, "Not once, but thousand times I will vouch for the evil character of

Ambashali. Please do not visit her house."     Holding the village head's right

hand, Buddha asked him to clap. The village head said that he could not do so as

one of his hands was in Buddha's hold and it was not possible for anyone to clap

with a single hand. Buddha replied, "Likewise, Ambashali cannot be bad by

herself unless there are men of bad character in this village. If all the men

in this village were good, this woman would not have turned bad. Therefore, men

and their money are responsible for the bad character of Ambashali."     Saying

so he wanted to know if there was any individual in that gathering without any

trace of bad in him so that he could visit his house for lunch. No one came

forward. Then Buddha said, "When there are so many bad men in the village, it

is not proper to point a finger at one woman. She turned bad due to bad

company." That is why it is said, 'Tell me your company, I shall tell you what

you are.' Realising their folly, the people fell at Buddha's feet and sought

forgiveness. Since then they started treating Ambashali as one amongst them.

Inspired by the teachings of Buddha, Ambashali also took to the path of

renunciation and led a pious life. No one else is responsible for the good and

bad in an individual. Each one is responsible for his own good and bad. Who is

good, who is bad? First eliminate the bad in you.

    

     Source:      http://satya-sai.tripod.com/literature/Chinna-2.doc

 

      Namaste - Reet