Читать книгу 108 Buddhist Parables and Stories - Olga Gutsol - Страница 21

One of the Buddha’s most devout followers was a wealthy merchant named Sudatta. He was famous for his donations to the hungry and homeless and became known as Anathapindika (friend of the poor).

Anathapindika lived in Sravastti and one day he traveled to Rajagraha to visit his brother-in-law. The household was so busy with preparations for a feast that Anathapindika failed to get his usual warm welcome.

“What is the big occasion?” Anathapindika asked his brother-in-law, “Are you preparing for a great wedding or perhaps a visit from the king?”

“No,” his brother-in-law responded. “The Buddha and his monks are coming for a meal tomorrow.”

Just hearing the word “Buddha” filled Anathapindika with such joy that he could hardly contain himself and said, “You mean that a fully enlightened being has arisen in the world? How wonderful! Take me to meet him”.

Anathapindika wanted to go straight away but he was persuaded that it was too late and that it would be better to do so the next morning. That night Anathapindika was so excited that he could hardly sleep. Eventually, thinking that the sun would be rising soon, Anathapindika set off to meet the Buddha, but as he entered the outskirts of the city and it was still dark, he became frightened and decided to turn back. Suddenly, a friendly spirit appeared illuminating the whole area and urged him to continue. “Walk on! To move forward is better for you than to turn back.” Encouraged by these words, Anathapindika continued and soon came across the Buddha walking up and down in the early morning light. The Buddha saw Anathapindika hesitating to come closer and he beckoned him. “Come forward, Sudatta.” Astonished that the Buddha would know his real name and awed by the great man’s presence, Anathapindika hurried forward and bowed at the Buddha’s feet. The two men talked together for a while and as the sun came up; Anathapindika understood the essence of the Dharma.

Anathapindika then asked the Buddha if he could offer him a meal the next day and the Buddha accepted. All during the day he thought how wonderful it would be if the Buddha could come to Savatthi and how many people would benefit from this visit. Consequently, the next day, after the Buddha had finished his meal, Anathapindika asked him if he would come and visit Sravastti. The Buddha agreed, adding, “Enlightened ones prefer to stay in peaceful places”. Anathapindika responded, “I fully understand, Master.”

When Anathapindika finished his business in Rajagraha, he set out for Sravastti. And as soon as he arrived he began to make preparations for the Buddha’s arrival. To start, he had to find a suitable place for the Buddha and his monks to stay, near the city but not too noisy. The best place proved to be a park about one kilometre south-west from the walls of Sravastti, owned by Prince Jeta. Anathapindika approached the prince and asked him if he wanted to sell his park. The prince declined. Anathapindika insisted, but Prince Jeta reiterated that he was not interested in selling.