134. The Story of Clarifying Mental Absorption (The Story of the Jewel in the Flower)

[Jhānasodhana-Jātaka (Puppharatna-Jātaka)]

At one time, when Buddha was living in Jetavana monastery, he disclosed this Jātaka. At that time, after the spring retreat of the monks, Buddha descended from heaven to the gate of the town of SamÅkassa. On that day, Venerable Sāriputta very intelligently solved the questions of the monks, which the monks appreciated. With regard to one of the Venerable Sāriputta’s solutions of a question, this story was told. This is the story:

Long ago when King Brahmadatta was ruling the city of Benares, the Enlightenment Being was living in the Himalayan forest as a leader of many ascetics.

At that time, the Enlightenment Being’s first disciple went to a nearby village to observe the spring retreat. In the meantime, the ascetic Enlightenment Being came to the end of his life. His other disciples came to the dying Enlightenment Being and asked, “Revered one, did you gain any kind of religious success from your practices of mental absorption?”

The Enlightenment Being said, “Nothing, it is not anything [akiñcanamÅ, natthi kiñci].”  While he was saying this, his consciousness disappeared and he was born in the Brahma world.

The ascetic disciples, on hearing his words, could not understand their meaning. They thought, “Alas. He has been born in a Brahma world where people who have incorrect ideas [micchā-diææhi] are born.” Thinking so, they did not perform for him an elaborate funeral.

After this, the first chief disciple returned and asked the other ascetics, “What did our master say before his death?”

The other ascetics said what they had heard. Then the chief disciple said, “Oh, if it is so, then there is no doubt he has been born among the resplendent Brahma-s [ābhassara-s].” When he said this, the others did not believe him. Then the master who had been born in the Brahma world came down and appeared before them. He said, “My chief disciple has spoken the truth.” He then returned to the Brahma world.

The chief disciple ascetic at that time was the Venerable Sāriputta. And I was the master ascetic who was born among the resplendent Brahma-s and who have obtained full enlightenment at the present time.

The moral: “Understanding is appreciated by everyone.”

134. The Story of Clarifying Mental Absorption (The Story of the Jewel in the Flower)

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2025/10/07/134-the-story-of-clarifying-mental-absorption-the-story-of-the-jewel-in-the-flowerjhanasodhana-jataka-puppharatna-jataka/

#Buddhisttalesforyoungandold #Buddhiststories #storiesforkids #moralstories #Buddha #Jatakastories #PansiyaPanasJataka #JatakaTalesofSakyamuniBuddha #JatakaTales #SakyamuniBuddha’sPast