82, 41, 104, 369, 439, The Curse of Mittavinda [Chapter 1. Jealousy]

Once upon a time, there was a monk who lived in a tiny monastery in a little village. He was very fortunate that the village rich man supported him in the monastery. He never had to worry about the cares of the world. His alms food was always provided automatically by the rich man.

So the monk was calm and peaceful in his mind. There was no fear of losing his comfort and his daily food. There was no desire for greater comforts and pleasures of the world. Instead, he was free to practice the correct conduct of a monk, always trying to eliminate his faults and do only wholesome deeds. But he didn’t know just how lucky he was!

One day an elder monk arrived in the little village. He had followed the path of Truth until he had become perfect and faultless.

When the village rich man saw this unknown monk, he was very pleased by his gentle manner and his calm attitude. So he invited him into his home. He gave him food to eat, and he thought himself very fortunate to hear a short teaching from him. He then invited him to take shelter at the village monastery. He said, “I will visit you there this evening, to make sure all is well."

When the perfect monk arrived at the monastery, he met the village monk. They greeted each other pleasantly. Then the village monk asked, “Have you had your lunch today?" The other replied, “Yes, I was given lunch by the supporter of this monastery. He also invited me to take shelter here."

The village monk took him to a room and left him there. The perfect monk passed his time in meditation.

Later that evening, the village rich man came. He brought fruit drinks, flowers and lamp oil, in honor of the visiting holy man. He asked the village monk, “Where is our guest?" He told him what room he had given him.

The man went to the room, bowed respectfully, and greeted the perfect monk. Again he appreciated hearing the way of Truth as taught by the rare faultless one.

Afterwards, as evening approached, he lit the lamps and offered the flowers at the monastery’s lovely temple shrine. He invited both monks to lunch at his home the next day. Then he left and returned home.

In the evening, a terrible thing happened. The village monk, who had been so contented, allowed the poison of jealousy to creep into his mind. He thought, “The village rich man has made it easy for me here. He provides shelter each night and fills my belly once a day.

“But I’m afraid this will change because he respects this new monk so highly. If he remains in this monastery, my supporter may stop caring for me. Therefore, I must make sure the new monk does not stay."

Thinking in this way, he lost his former mental calm. His mind became disturbed due to his jealousy – the fear of losing his comfort and his daily food. This led to the added mental pain of resentment against the perfect monk. He began plotting and scheming to get rid of him.

Late that night, as was the custom, the monks met together to end the day. The perfect monk spoke in his usual friendly way, but the village monk would not speak to him at all.

So the wise monk understood that he was jealous and resentful. He thought, ‘This monk does not understand my freedom from attachment to families, people and comforts. I am free of any desire to remain here. I am also free of any desire to leave here. It makes no difference. It is sad this other one cannot understand non-attachment. I pity him for the price he must pay for his ignorance."

He returned to his room, closed the door and meditated in a high mental state throughout the night.

The next day, when it was time to go collect alms food from the supporter of the monastery, the village monk rang the temple gong. But he rang it by tapping it lightly with his finger nail. Even the birds in the temple courtyard could not hear the tiny sound.

Then he went to the visiting monk’s room and knocked on the door. But again he only tapped lightly with his finger nail. Even the little mice inside the walls could not hear the silent tapping.

Having done his courteous duty in such a tricky way, he went to the rich man’s home. The man bowed respectfully to the monk, took his alms bowl and asked, “Where is the new monk, our visitor?"

The village monk replied, “I have not seen him. I rang the gong, I knocked at his door, but he did not appear. Perhaps he was not used to such rich food as you gave him yesterday. Perhaps he is still asleep, busily digesting it, dreaming of his next feast! Perhaps this is the kind of monk who pleases you so much!"

Meanwhile, back at the monastery, the perfect monk awoke. He cleaned himself and put on his robe. Then he calmly departed to collect alms food wherever he happened to find it.

The rich man fed the village monk the richest of food. It was delicious and sweet, made from rice, milk, butter, sugar and honey. When the monk had eaten his fill, the man took his bowl, scrubbed it clean, and sweetened it with perfumed water. He filled it up again with the same wonderful food. He gave it back to the monk, saying, “Honorable monk, our holy visitor must be worn out from travelling. Please take my humble alms food to him." Saying nothing, he accepted the generous gift for the other.

By now the village monk’s mind was trapped by its own jealous scheming. He thought, “If that other monk eats this fantastic meal, even if I grabbed him by the throat and kicked him out, he still would never leave! I must secretly get rid of this alms food. But if I give it to a stranger, it will become known and talked about. If I throw it away in a pond, the butter will float on the surface and be discovered. If I throw it away on the ground, crows will come from miles around to feast on it, and that too would be noticed. So how can I get rid of it?"

Then he saw a field that had just been burned by farmers to enrich the soil. It was covered with hot glowing coals. So he threw the rich man’s generous gift on the coals. The alms food burned up without a trace. And with it went his peace of mind!

For, when he got back to the monastery, he found the visitor gone. He thought, “This must have been a perfectly wise monk. He must have known I was jealous afraid of losing my favored position. He must have known I resented him and tried to trick him into leaving. I wasted alms food meant for him. And all for the sake of keeping my own belly full! I’m afraid something terrible will happen to me! What have I done?" So, afraid of losing his easy daily food, he had thrown away his peace of mind.

For the rest of his life the rich man continued to support him. But his mind was filled with torment and suffering. He felt doomed like a walking starving zombie, or a living hungry ghost.

When he died, his torment continued. For he was reborn in a hell world, where he suffered for hundreds of thousands of years.

Finally, there too he died, as all beings must. But the results of his past actions were only partly completed. So he was reborn as a demon, 500 times! In those 500 lives, there was only one day when he got enough to eat, and that was a meal of afterbirth dropped by a deer in the forest!

Then he was reborn as a starving stray dog another 500 times! For the sake of a full monk’s belly in a past life, all these 500 lives were also filled with hunger, and quarrelling over food. Only a single time did he get enough to eat, and that was a meal of vomit he found in a gutter!

Finally most of the results of his actions were finished. Only then was he so very fortunate enough to be reborn as a human being. He was born into the poorest of the poor beggar families of the city of Kasi, in northern India. He was given the name, Mittavinda.

From the moment of his birth, this poor family became even more poor and miserable. After a few years, the pain of hunger became so great, that his parents beat him and chased Mittavinda away for good. They shouted, “Be gone forever! You are nothing but a curse!"

Poor Mittavinda! So very long ago he had not known how lucky he was. He was contented as a humble village monk. But he allowed the poison of jealousy to enter his mind – the fear of losing his easy daily food. This led to the self-torture of resentment against a perfect monk, and to trickery in denying him one wholesome gift of alms food. And it took a thousand and one lives for the loss of his comfort and daily food to be completed. What he had feared, his own actions had brought to pass!

82, 41, 104, 369, 439, The Curse of Mittavinda [Chapter 1. Jealousy]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/05/07/82-41-104-369-439-the-curse-of-mittavinda-chapter-1-jealousy/

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81. Forest Monks in a King’s Pleasure Garden [Pupils Without a Teacher]

Once upon a time, there was a high class rich man who gave up his wealth and his easy life in the ordinary world. He went to the Himalayan forests and lived as a homeless holy man. By practicing meditation, he developed his mind and gained the highest knowledge. Dwelling in high mental states, he enjoyed great inner happiness and peace of mind. Before long, he had 500 pupils.

In a certain year, when the rainy season was beginning, the pupils said to their teacher, “Oh wise master, we would like to go to the places where most people live. We would like to get some salt and other seasonings and bring them back here."

The teacher said, “You have my permission. It would be healthy for you to do so, and return when the rainy season is over. But I will stay here and meditate by myself." They knelt down and paid their farewell respects.

The 500 pupils went to Benares and began living in the royal pleasure garden. The next day they collected alms in the villages outside the city gates. They received generous gifts of food. On the following day they went inside the city. People gladly gave them food.

After a few days, people told the king, “Oh lord king, 500 forest monks have come from the Himalayas to live in your pleasure garden. They live in a simple way, without luxuries. They control their senses and are known to be very good indeed."

Hearing such good reports, the king went to visit them. He knelt down and paid his respects. He invited them to stay in the garden during the whole four months of the rainy season. They accepted, and from then on were given their food in the king’s palace.

Before long a certain holiday took place. It was celebrated by drinking alcohol, which the people thought would bring good luck. The King of Benares thought, “Good wine is not usually available to monks who live simply in the forests. I will treat them to some as a special gift." So he gave the 500 forest monks a large quantity of the very best tasting wine.

The monks were not at all accustomed to alcohol. They drank the king’s wine and walked back to the garden. By the time they got there, they were completely drunk. Some of them began dancing, while others sang songs. Usually they put away their bowls and other things neatly. But this time they just left everything lying around, here and there. Soon they all passed out into a drunken sleep.

When they had slept off their drunkenness, they awoke and saw the messy condition they’d left everything in. They became sad and said to each other, ‘We have done a bad thing, which is not proper for holy men like us." Their embarrassment and shame made them weep with regret. They said, ‘We have done these unwholesome things only because we are away from our holy teacher."

At that very moment the 500 forest monks left the pleasure garden and returned to the Himalayas. When they arrived they put away their bowls and other belongings neatly, as was their custom. Then they went to their beloved master and greeted him respectfully.

He asked them, Mow are you, my children? Did you find enough food and lodgings in the city? Were you happy and united?"

They replied. “Venerable master, we were happy and united. But we drank what we were not supposed to drink. We lost all our common sense and self-control. We danced and sang like silly monkeys. It’s fortunate we didn’t turn into monkeys! We drank wine, we danced, we sang, and in the end we cried from shame."

The kind teacher said, “It is easy for things like this to happen to pupils who have no teacher to guide them. Learn from this: do not do such things in the future."

From then on they lived happily and grew in goodness.

The moral is: A pupil without a teacher is easily embarrassed.

81. Forest Monks in a King’s Pleasure Garden [Pupils Without a Teacher]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/04/30/81-forest-monks-in-a-kings-pleasure-garden-pupils-without-a-teacher/

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80. Fear Maker and Little Archer [Self-deception]

Some say that the world comes into being, disappears, and comes into being … over and over, throughout time. In one of these previous worlds, countless years ago, Truth was unknown and the Five Training Steps were practiced by only a few. Even the Enlightenment Being — the Bodhisatta — did not know Truth, and had not yet discovered the Five Training Steps.

Once upon a time in that long ago world, there was a king named Brahmadatta. Like many other kings of that name, he ruled in the place known today as Benares.

The Bodhisatta was born in a rich high class family in a market town, also in northern India. He happened to be a dwarf, bent over and partly hunchbacked. When he became a young man he remained short and stooped. Many people found him unpleasant to look at.

He studied under a very outstanding teacher. He learned all there was to know at that time, about the two great branches of knowledge — religion and science. He also learned how to use a bow and arrow better than anyone else in India. For this reason his teacher called him ‘Little Archer’.

Like most new graduates he was quite clever. He thought, “Many people judge by appearance alone. If I go to a king and ask for a job, he’ll probably ask, ‘Having such a short body, what can you possibly do for me?’ Therefore it would be better if I can team up with a front man — someone who is handsome in appearance, tall and well-grown in body, and strong in personality. I will provide the brains, but remain out of sight behind his shadow. In this way we can earn a good living together."

One day he was walking in the district where the weavers live and work. He happened to see a big, strong looking man. He greeted him and asked his name. The weaver said, “Because of my appearance, people call me Fear Maker."

“With such an impressive name." said Little Archer, “and being so big and strong looking, why do you have such a low paying job?" “Because life is hard," he replied.

“I have an idea." Said the dwarf “In all India there is no one as skilled with a bow and arrow as I am. But I don’t look the part! If I asked a king for work he would either laugh or get angry at me. He would not believe that a hunchbacked little dwarf could be the greatest archer in India!

‘But you look perfect. And your name helps too. Therefore, let us go together to the king. You will be the front man and do all the talking. The king will hire you immediately. Meanwhile I will remain as if hidden underneath your shadow. I will be the real archer and we will prosper and be happy. You just have to do whatever I tell you."

Thinking he had nothing to lose, Fear Maker agreed, saying, “It’s a deal, my friend!"

The two partners went off to Benares to see the king. When they entered the throne room, they bowed respectfully to the king. He asked them, “Why have you come here?"

Fear Maker stood in front and did all the talking. He answered, “I am the great archer known as Fear Maker. There is no one in all India who understands the science of archery as well as I do. I wish to be in your service, your majesty."

The king was quite impressed. He asked, “What shall I pay you?" “I will serve you for 500 pieces of money per week your majesty," he replied.

Nodding, the king noticed the silent dwarf stooping behind him, almost out of sight. “Who is this little man?" he asked. “What does he do for you?" “He’s my little assistant," said Fear Maker. ‘Very well," said King Brahmadatta, “the job is yours."

In this way Fear Maker was accepted into the king’s service, but it was Little Archer who did all the work.

Before long, news came to the palace that there was a ferocious tiger living in the jungle next to the king’s highway. He ambushed travellers, and then killed and ate them. Many began to avoid the king’s highway out of fear of the man-eater.

The king summoned Fear Maker and asked, “Can you capture this rampaging tiger, young man?" “Your majesty," he answered, “I am known as your best archer. Why wouldn’t I be able to capture a tiger?" Hearing this, the king gave him an extra sum of money and sent him out to catch the tiger.

Fear Maker went home and told all this to his partner. “All right," said Little Archer, “be on your way!" “Aren’t you coming too?" asked the surprised Fear Maker. “No, I won’t go," he replied, “but I will give you a perfect plan. You must do exactly as I say." “I will, my little friend. Please tell me," said the big front man.

The clever little dwarf said to his friend, “Go to the district of the tiger, but don’t rush straight to his home by yourself. Instead, gather together a thousand local villagers and give them all bows and arrows. Take them directly to the tiger’s home. But then you must let them go on ahead while you hide in the underbrush.

‘The local villagers will be very afraid of the tiger. When they see him they will surround him and beat him. Being so terrified, they won’t stop beating him until he’s dead!

“Meanwhile you must cut a piece of vine with your teeth. Then come out of hiding and approach the dead tiger, holding the vine in your hand. When you see the tiger’s body, shout at the people, ‘Hey! Who has killed the tiger? I was going to capture him with this vine and lead him like a bull to the king. That’s why I’ve been searching in the jungle. Now tell me who has killed the tiger before I could get here with my vine.’

“The villagers will be easily frightened by this. They will say, ‘Lord Fear Maker, please don’t tell the king! Then they will give you a big bribe to be quiet. Thinking you have killed the dangerous tiger, King Brahmadatta will also reward you greatly." This was the tricky plan of the clever Little Archer.

Fear Maker did exactly as he had been instructed. The man-eating tiger was killed, and fear was removed from that part of the king’s highway. Followed by a big crowd he returned to the king and said, “Your majesty, I have killed the tiger and made the jungle safe for people again." The king was pleased and gave him a huge reward.

Before long there were similar complaints about a buffalo who threatened another royal road. Again the king sent Fear Maker. Following Little Archer’s strategy he did exactly as before. He took credit for killing the buffalo and was greatly rewarded again by the grateful king.

By this time Fear Maker had become a very rich and powerful nobleman. All the wealth and praise, which he didn’t really deserve, soon went to his head. He became intoxicated with his own conceit and began thinking he was a ‘big man’ in his own right. He even looked down on Little Archer and ignored his advice. He said to him, “You think this is all because of you. But I don’t need you. I can do all this without you!" He had come to believe the appearance created by Little Archer’s plan.

Then it happened that an enemy king attacked. He surrounded the city of Benares with his army. He sent a message to King Brahmadatta that he must either surrender his kingdom or wage war. The King of Benares ordered his greatest hero, Fear Maker, to go out and fight the enemy.

Fear Maker was dressed in full military armour. He mounted the mightiest armoured war elephant. Little Archer knew that the ungrateful conceited braggart, called Fear Maker was really scared to death underneath. So he too mounted the elephant and sat behind Fear Maker. The mighty elephant walked through the city gates towards the battlefield, followed by a big crowd.

When Fear Maker heard the huge noise made by the war drums, he began trembling with fear. To keep him from falling off the elephant and being killed, Little Archer tied a rope around him and held him with it.

When Fear Maker saw the field of battle he was overwhelmed by the terrible fear of death. So much so, that he couldn’t help but release his bowels and urinate at the same time — all over the back of the poor brave war elephant!

The Enlightenment Being said, “Before you bragged and spoke roughly like a big man. But now, the only big thing you do is make a filthy mess all over this elephant’s back! Your present actions prove your past appearance was false."

Fear Maker had embarrassed himself. Little Archer had humbled him by speaking the truth. But he couldn’t help feeling sympathy for him. He said, “Don’t be afraid anymore, my friend. With me to protect you, your life is safe. Climb down from the elephant and go home and take a bath."

Alone atop the great elephant, the Enlightenment Being thought, “Now is the time to show what is in the heart of this hunchbacked little dwarf!" Shouting mightily as he rode he charged into the field of battle. Without killing any men or animals, he crashed through the enemy’s defences. He broke into the king’s camp, captured him, and took him back as prisoner to the King of Benares.

King Brahmadatta was delighted with Little Archer’s great victory. He rewarded him with wealth and fame. He became known throughout all India as ‘Little Archer the Wise’. He sent his friend Fear Maker back to his home village and supported him with monthly payments.

Little Archer the Wise practiced generosity and other meritorious deeds. When he died he was reborn as he deserved.

The moral is: “Appearances can be deceiving."

80. Fear Maker and Little Archer [Self-deception]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/04/16/80-fear-maker-and-little-archer-self-deception/

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79. A Motherless Son [Betrayal]

Once upon a time, King Brahmadatta was ruling in Benares in northern India. He had a clever minister who pleased him very much. To show his appreciation he appointed him headman of a remote border village. His duty was to represent the king and collect the king’s taxes from the villagers.

Before long the headman was completely accepted by the villagers. Since he had been sent by the just King Brahmadatta, they respected him highly. They came to trust him as much as if he had been born among them.

In addition to being clever, the headman was also very greedy. Collecting the king’s taxes was not enough reward for him. After becoming friendly with a gang of bandits, he thought up a plan to make himself rich.

The headman said to his friends, the robbers, “I will find excuses and reasons to lead all the villagers into the jungle. This will be easy for me, since they trust me as one of their own. I will keep them busy in the jungle, while you invade the village and rob everything of value. Carry everything away before I bring the people home. In return for my help, you must give me half of all the loot!" The bandits agreed, and a date was set.

When the day arrived, the headman assembled all the villagers and led them into the jungle. According to the plan, the bandits entered the unprotected village. They stole everything of value they could find. They also killed all the defenseless village cows, and cooked and ate the meat. At the end of the day the gang collected all their stolen goods and escaped.

It just so happened that on that very same day a travelling merchant came to the village to trade his goods. When he saw the bandits he stayed out of sight.

The headman brought all the villagers home in the evening. He ordered them to make a lot of noise by beating drums as they marched towards the village. If the bandits had still been there, they would have heard the villagers coming for sure.

The village people saw that they had been robbed and all their cows were dead and partly eaten. This made them very sad. The travelling merchant appeared and said to them, ‘This treacherous village headman has betrayed your trust in him. He must be a partner of the gang of bandits. Only after they left with all your valuables did he lead you home. beating drums as loudly as possible!

“This man pretends to know nothing about what has happened —- as innocent as a newborn lamb! In truth, it’s as if a son did something so shameful that his mother would say: “I am not his mother, he is not my son. My son is dead!"‘

Before long, news of the crime reached the king. He recalled the treacherous headman and punished him according to the law.

The moral is: No one defends a betrayer of trust.

79. A Motherless Son [Betrayal]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/04/09/79-a-motherless-son-betrayal/

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78. Illisa the Cheap [Miserliness]

Once upon a time, there was a billionaire in northern India. He was an adviser to a king. Although he was very rich, he was not at all good looking. He was lame due to crooked feet, and his hands were also deformed into crooked positions. His eyes were crooked too, that is to say, he was cross-eyed. And some would say he had a crooked mind as well, for he was without any religion whatsoever! You might think people would call him, ‘Illisa the Crooked’, but that was not the case.

Illisa also happened to be a miser, one who will not give anything to anybody. He would not even spend any of his wealth on his own enjoyment. Therefore, it was said that his home was like a pond possessed by demons, where no one could quench his thirst.

However, Illisa’s ancestors, going back seven generations, were the most generous of gift givers. They gave away the very best of their possessions. But when Illisa inherited the family fortune, he abandoned that great family tradition.

The family had always maintained a charity dining hall, where anyone could come for a free hot meal. Illisa burned this free food kitchen to the ground since he wanted to be rid of the expense. Then he pushed the poor and hungry from his door, hitting them as they went. He quickly earned a reputation for hoarding all his wealth and possessions. Soon people began calling him, ‘Illisa the Cheap’.

One day when he was returning home from advising the king, Illisa saw a tired worn-out villager by the side of the road. He had obviously walked a great distance. He was sitting on the ground pouring cheap wine into a cup. He was drinking it, along with some smelly dried fish.

Seeing this made Illisa thirsty for a drink of liquor. Then he thought, “I would love to have a drink! But if I do, others may want to drink with me, and that could cost me money!" For that reason alone, he suppressed his craving for alcohol.

As time passed, his craving did not disappear. Instead, fighting it and worrying constantly made him look sick. His skin turned yellow, and he became thinner and thinner until the veins stuck out from his flesh. He fought a constant battle against his thirst for liquor. He slept face down, holding onto the bed tightly while he slept.

His wife began to notice the changes in him. One day, while massaging his back to comfort him, she asked, “Are you sick, my husband?" “No," said Illisa. Did the king get angry at you?" she asked. “No," said he. “Have our children or the servants done anything to upset you?" asked his wife. Again he said “No." “Do you have a strong craving for something?" she continued.

Illisa the Cheap kept silent. He was afraid that if he told her it might end up costing him money! But his wife began pleading, “Tell me, please tell me." Finally, swallowing hard and clearing his throat, he answered, “Yes, I do have a strong craving." “A craving for what?" she asked. “For a drink of alcoholic liquor," he admitted at last.

“Oh, is that all!" said his wife. “Why didn’t you tell me this at first? You are not poor. You can easily afford to buy a drink for yourself and the whole city as well! Shall I brew a big batch of liquor for us all?"

Of course this was not what Illisa the Cheap wanted to hear. He blurted out. ‘Why should we give liquor to others? Let them earn their own!" Then his wife asked. “Well then, what about just for us and our neighbors?" “I didn’t know you had become so rich all of a sudden!" he shot back at her. How about just our household?" she asked. How generous you are with my money!" he replied. “All right then," she said, “I will brew just enough liquor for you and me, my husband." “Why should you be included? Women should not drink liquor!"

“Now I understand you perfectly well!" said Illisa’s wife. “I will make only enough liquor for you alone." But Illisa the Cheap always thought of even the slightest chance of spending money. He said, “If you prepare liquor here, people will notice and come ask for some. Even if I buy some in a liquor store and bring it here to drink, others will find out and want some. There will be no liquor given away in this house!"

So Illisa decided to give the smallest coin he had to a servant boy, and sent him to the liquor store. When he returned, Illisa took him down to the riverside. He took the small bottle of liquor from the boy, and set him to stand watch nearby. Then Illisa the Cheap hid in the underbrush, poured some liquor into a cup, and secretly began drinking.

It just so happened that when Illisa’s father had died, he had been reborn as Sakka, King of the Heaven of 33. This was because of his lifelong generosity.

At this particular moment, Sakka was curious about whether his free food kitchen was still giving out food to all who wished it. He discovered that it no longer existed, that his son had given up the family tradition and had even kicked the hungry out onto the street! He saw his miserly son drinking by himself, hiding in the bushes, afraid he might have to share with others.

Sakka decided to change Illisa’s mind and teach him a lesson about the results of both good and bad actions. He decided to make him become generous, rather than cheap, so that he too might be reborn in a heaven world.

The King of the Heaven of 33 disguised himself so that he looked exactly like Illisa the Cheap. He too had crooked feet, crooked hands and crooked eyes. He entered the city, went to the palace, and asked for an audience with the king. The king said, “Let my adviser Illisa come in."

He asked, “Why have you come at this untimely moment?" “My lord," said Sakka, “I have come to give my billionaire’s wealth to you to fill up the treasury." The king replied, “No, no. I have enough, much more than that." The disguised Sakka said, “Then if you do not want it my lord kindly permit me to give it away as I wish." “Do as you say," said the king.

Sakka went to Illisa’s house. The servants greeted him as if he were indeed their master. He entered the house and sat down. He summoned the gate keeper and said, “If anybody comes here who looks like me and says, ‘This house is mine’, don’t let him in. Instead beat him on the back and kick him out!" Then he went upstairs and called for Illisa’s wife. Smiling at her he said, “My love, let us be generous!"

At first, Illisa’s wife, children and servants were surprised. They said to each other, “It was never in his mind to give anything to anybody before today. This must be because he’s been drinking alcohol and has gotten a little soft in the head!"

Illisa’s wife said, “As you wish, my lord, give away as much as you like." Tall for the drummer," said Sakka, “and order him to go and beat his drum in the city. Have him announce that all who desire gold, silver, pearls, jewels, lapis lazuli, diamonds and coral, are to come to the home of Illisa the billionaire." She did as he said.

Soon a big crowd began to arrive, carrying baskets, buckets and bags. Sakka opened up the store rooms of Illisa’s wealth. He said, “I give you all these riches. Take as much as you want and go." The people took it all outside and piled it up. They filled up their containers and carried them away.

One clever man from the countryside harnessed Illisa the Cheap’s bullocks to Illisa the Cheap’s bullock cart. Then he filled it to the brim with Illisa the Cheap’s seven treasures, and rode out of the city by the main road.

Without knowing it, he passed by the bushes where the real Illisa was still drinking liquor. He was so happy to be suddenly rich, that he shouted out as he went, “May Lord Illisa the billionaire live a hundred years! Because of you I have struck the jackpot. I won’t have to work another day in my life! These were your bullocks, your cart and your seven treasures. They were not given to me by my father and mother — but by you, Illisa the generous!"

The hidden Illisa was shocked to hear this. He thought, “This man is talking about me! Has the king taken my wealth and given it away?" Then: he jumped out from the bushes and shouted, “Hey you, what are you doing with my bullock cart?" He grabbed the reins and stopped the cart.

The villager got down and said, “What’s wrong with you? The billionaire Lord Illisa is giving his wealth to all the people of the city. What do you think you’re doing?"

As he said this, he struck Illisa on the head as hard as a thunderclap and rode away on the cart filled with treasure.

Illisa the Cheap bounced to his feet and chased after the cart. He grabbed the reins again. This time the villager held onto Illisa by the hair, pulled his head down, and struck it hard with his elbow. He grabbed him by the neck, threw him to the ground, and then continued on his way.

All this rough treatment sobered up Illisa. He ran home as fast as he could. He saw the crowds of people carrying off his precious riches. He grabbed hold of them to stop them, but they just pushed him out of the way and knocked him down. Nearly fainting from his bruises, he tried to get into his home. But the gate keeper said, “Where do you think you’re going?" Beating him with a cane, he grabbed him by the neck and threw him out.

Illisa thought, “Now no one can help me but the king." So he ran to the palace and went straight inside. He said, “My lord, why do you want my house to be looted?" The king said, “This is not my doing. I myself heard you say that if I would not accept your wealth, you would give it to all the citizens. I applaud your generosity! And did you not send a drummer into the streets to announce you were giving your wealth to any and all?"

“My lord king must be joking!" said Illisa. “I didn’t do any such thing. People don’t call me ‘Illisa the Cheap’ for nothing! I don’t give anything to anybody if I can help it! Please, lord king, summon whoever is giving my treasures away, and clear up this matter."

After being summoned by the king, Sakka came to the palace. Illisa asked, “Who is the real billionaire, my lord king?" Neither the king nor his ministers could tell the difference between them.

The king said, “We cannot recognize which one it is. Do you know someone who can recognize you for sure?" “Yes, my lord, my wife can recognize me," said Illisa. But when she was called for and asked to decide, she stood next to Sakka and said, “This is my husband." When Illisa’s children and servants were summoned, they too picked Sakka.

Illisa thought, “I have a wart on my head, covered up by my hair. Only my barber knows this." So he said to the king, “Please summon my barber. He knows me very well."

The barber was called for and the king asked him, “Can you tell us which of these two men is Illisa the billionaire?" “I must examine their heads," he said, “then I will determine who the real Illisa is." “Do so," said the king.

Immediately Sakka, King of the Heaven of 33, made a wart appear on his head. When the barber examined them he found warts on both their heads. He said, “Oh lord king, I cannot recognize which of these is Illisa. Both have crooked feet, both have crooked hands, both have crooked eyes, and both have warts on the same spots on their heads. I can’t tell the difference!"

Hearing these words, Illisa began trembling. His mind became so unbalanced from losing his last hope of regaining his wealth, that he fainted on the spot.

At that very moment, Sakka said, “I am not Illisa. I am Sakka, King of the Gods of the Heaven of 33." As he said this, he used his super powers to rise into the air and remain suspended there.

Attendants splashed cold water on Illisa’s face and woke him from his fainting spell. He knelt down in respect before Sakka, King of Gods.

Then Sakka spoke: “This wealth came from me, Illisa, not from you. I myself, when I was your father, did many meritorious deeds. I was glad to give to the poor and needy. That is why, when I died, I was reborn as Sakka, King of Gods.

“However, you have violated our family tradition. Being a non-giver, living the life of a miser, burning my charity dining hall to the ground, and chasing the homeless beggars from your door — you have kept all the family wealth to yourself. You are so cheap that you cannot even use the wealth for your own enjoyment! It is utterly wasted and useless. The family fortune has become like a pond possessed by demons, where no one can quench his thirst. It would be better if you were dead!

“Illisa, my former son, if you change your ways, you will be the one to benefit most. If you rebuild my free food kitchen and give hot meals to all who ask, you will earn both merit and peace of mind. But if you refuse to be generous, I will make all your riches disappear. And I will split your crooked skull with my divine diamond dagger!"

In fear of his own death, Illisa the Cheap promised, “I will give generously from now on, oh King of Gods."

Sakka accepted his promise. Still floating in the air, he preached on the true value of giving. He also convinced him to practice the Five Training Steps, for the benefit of himself and others. These are to give up entirely: destroying life, taking what is not given, sexual wrongdoing, speaking falsely, and losing one’s mind from alcohol.

Then Sakka disappeared and returned to his heavenly home.

Illisa did indeed change his ways. He gave alms generously, did many other good deeds, and became much happier. When he died, he was reborn in a heaven world.

The moral is: Poor indeed is the rich man who won’t part with a penny.

78. Illisa the Cheap [Miserliness]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/04/02/78-illisa-the-cheap-miserliness/

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77. THE SIXTEEN DREAMS: [CHAPTER 4:TEACHING]

King Brahmadatta bowed to the ground before the holy man and said, “Your wisdom has taken my fear and panic from me. Your compassion has kept me from doing terrible unwholesome things to many helpless beings. My gratitude is endless, oh holy monk."

The Enlightenment Being said to the king, “Now you must realize why your royal priests wanted to have a sacrifice ceremony. It was not because they understood the Truth and it was not because they cared for you and your well-being. Instead it was due to greediness. They wanted only to get rich, eat fine food, and keep their jobs at your court.

“Your 16 dreams have indicated disasters in the distant future. What you do now will have no effect on them. Those things will happen when the world is declining, when the unreal is seen as real, when the unreasonable is thought to be reasonable, and when the non-existent seems to exist. It will be a time when many will be unwholesome without shame, and few will be ashamed of their own wrongdoing.

‘Therefore, to prevent these things by performing a sacrifice today is impossible!"

Remaining seated, the Bodhisatta miraculously rose into the air. Then he continued his teaching: “Oh king, it was fear that unbalanced your mind and brought you close to killing so many helpless ones. Real freedom from fear comes from a pure mind. And the way to begin purifying your mind is to climb the five steps of training. You will benefit greatly from giving up the five unwholesome actions. These are: destroying life, for this is not compassion; taking what is not given, for this is not generosity; doing wrong in sexual ways, for this is not loving-kindness; speaking falsely, for this is not Truth; losing your mind from alcohol, for this leads to falling down the first four steps.

“Oh king, from now on do not join with the priests in killing animals for sacrifice."

In this way the Great Being taught the Truth, freed many people from bondage to false beliefs, and released many animals from fear and death. In an instant he returned through the air to his home in the Himalayas.

King Brahmadatta practiced the Five Training Steps. He gave alms and did many other good things. At the end of a long life he died and was reborn as he deserved.

The moral is: Beware of the panic-stricken man.
What he can do is more dangerous than what scared him in the first place.

77. THE SIXTEEN DREAMS: [CHAPTER 4:TEACHING]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/03/26/77-the-sixteen-dreams-chapter-4teaching/

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The Sixteen Dreams: [Chapter 3:The Frightening Sound of ‘Munch, Munch, Munch’

“Indeed," said King Brahmadatta to the humble forest monk, “you have set my mind to rest concerning my first eight dreams. But my last eight dreams are even more frightening. I must do something to prevent the doom they predict." Again the king began shaking uncontrollably with fear and panic.

“Calm down," said the holy man, “and tell me these dreams also, that I may relieve your distress."

The king replied, ‘These were my last eight dreams, the ninth to the 16th: a pond that’s muddy in the middle and clear by the shore, rice cooking unevenly in a pot, fine sandalwood traded for spoiled buttermilk, empty pumpkins sinking in water, solid rocks floating on water. giant snakes gobbled up by tiny she-frogs, royal golden swans waiting on a bad village crow, the frightening sound of ‘munch, munch, munch’."

“Please tell me the details of your ninth dream," said the monk.

“Your reverence, I dreamed I saw a pond which was deep in the middle and shallow by the shore. It was filled with all five kinds of lotuses, and there were all kinds of animals — two-footed and four-footed — drinking near the shore. And yet the water remained clear by the shore, and got muddy only in the middle. How could this be? What does this mean?"

“Oh king," said the forest monk, “in the distant future there will be only unwholesome kings. They will rule based on their will power, along with their anger and fear. They will not care at all about wholesomeness and justice. They will be much more interested in becoming rich from all kinds of bribes, than in the well-being of the citizens. No longer will rulers have patience, loving-kindness and compassion towards the people they rule. Instead they will be rough and cruel, crushing the people to squeeze the last penny from them in taxes — just as the sweet juice is squeezed from sugar cane.

“Therefore the citizens, unable to pay the taxes and bribes, will flee to the borderlands. Soon there will be less people living in the corrupt central capitals, and the borderlands will be heavily populated by the humble — just like the pond that is muddy in the middle and clear by the shore.

“But obviously there is nothing in this for you to fear, oh good and wholesome king. What was your tenth dream?"

“Your reverence, I dreamed I saw rice cooking unevenly in a pot. Some was overcooked, some well-cooked and some still raw."

“Don’t worry about this either," said the holy man. “This dream foretells a time when all will be unwholesome, not like today! Kings will be unwholesome, and so will officials and ministers, priests and homemakers, city and country folks. Amazing as it may seem, this dream indicates a time when holy men will be unwholesome too! In addition. even the gods, tree spirits and fairies will be unwholesome and wicked!

“The winds will change quickly, sometimes blowing too hard and sometimes not at all. These winds will shake the heavenly homes of the sky gods. Therefore, in some places rains will cause floods, it will rain just right in some areas, and there will be terrible droughts in other places. It will be like rice in the cooking pot — some overcooked, some well-cooked, and some raw.

“Now tell me your 11th dream, oh king."

“Your reverence, I dreamed I saw the finest sandalwood, worth 100,000 pieces of gold, being traded for spoiled buttermilk. What is the meaning of this?"

“This too indicates a far-off future time, when knowledge of Truth is disappearing. There will be many greedy shameless preachers who distort the Four Necessities: food, clothing, shelter and medicine. They will make these into luxuries, far richer than they really need.

“They will teach the worthlessness of luxuries and the unwholesomeness of greed, by preaching the Truth of nonattachment. But in return for preaching, they will require money and luxuries. So they will cause an increase in craving, rather than showing the way towards Liberation from craving. They will preach Truth only so they can obtain worthless things —- just like priceless sandalwood traded for spoiled buttermilk.

“Now let me hear your 12th dream."

“Your reverence, I saw, in a dream, empty pumpkins sinking to the bottom of the water."

“Oh king, this foretells a distant future when the world will be upside down. So once again, you have nothing to fear in this life. Unwholesome kings will grant high positions to the low class rather than the high class. The low class will quickly become rich and the high class poor. In all departments and functions, the ignorant words of the uneducated low class officials will be greatly respected — just like empty pumpkins sinking to the depths of the water.

“Even among the religious, humble wholesome monks will lose respect, while the unwholesome teachings of shameless monks will be followed and adored — just like empty pumpkins sinking to the bottom.

‘What was your 13th dream?"

“Your reverence, I dreamed I saw solid rocks floating on top of the water, how strange this seems. What does it mean, wise one?"

‘This too indicates the future era when the world will be upside down. In all departments and functions, the wise words of the well-educated nobles will be ignored, due to their birth alone.

“Likewise among the religious, the words of Truth spoken by humble wholesome monks will be ignored

just like solid rocks floating away on the surface of the water.

“What was your 14th dream?"

“Your reverence, it was a frightening dream in which I saw tiny female frogs chasing big long black snakes. When they caught up to them they cut them and broke them in pieces like water lily stumps, and then gobbled them up!"

“There is nothing for you to fear in this dream either, oh king. This represents a future time when the world will be declining. The wholesomeness in people’s natures will decrease. Desires will increase in their minds until they are enslaved by their cravings. Because of this, men will be under the orders of their youngest prettiest wives. The servants, bulls, buffaloes and all other household wealth will be managed by the youngest wives — due to the uncontrolled desires of their husbands.

“These wives will treat their husbands like slaves. keeping them under their thumbs. If the men ask about family affairs, their wives will say, ‘There’s no need for you to ask. Everything in my home belongs to me, not you!’ It will be like big long snakes gobbled up by tiny she-frogs.

“Now tell me your 15th dream."

“Your reverence, I saw a crow, the kind that lives near villages. I knew he was filled with the ‘Ten Bad Qualities’. He was being followed and served by golden swans, the kind seen as kings by other birds."

“This too indicates a distant time when all kings will be weaklings. They will be no good at riding elephants or horses, or fighting battles. So you can easily see there is nothing for you to fear, mighty king.

“Those weakling kings will be so afraid of being overthrown that they will be afraid to give powerful positions to worthy well-educated nobles. Instead they will appoint foot servants, bath attendants, barbers and so forth. And the nobles will have to become the lowest servants of the untrained new officials — just like royal golden swans waiting on a bad village crow.

“At last we have reached your 16th dream, oh king. Describe it to me.?’

“Your reverence, I will tell you my last dream, the only one that still frightens me. Ordinarily, leopards chase and eat goats. But in my 16th dream, I saw goats chasing leopards! And when they caught them they ate them up, making the sound, ‘munch, munch, munch!’ All the other animals who heard this frightening sound and saw the meat-eating goats approaching, ran and hid in the forest. The memory of this dream still frightens me, holy one."

“Alas, even this dream applies only to the far-off time when the world will be ruled by unwholesome kings. The lowly, who are unaccustomed to power, will become closest to the kings. They will gain power while the nobles become poor and unknown."

“In the law courts, the newcomers will confiscate the inherited wealth from the nobles — all their lands, homes and possessions. And when the nobles go to the courts to protest, they will be told, ‘How dare you argue with us! You do not understand the situation you are in. We will tell the king and have your hands and feet cut off!’ The nobles will run away and hide in fear. Likewise, bad monks will injure good monks as much as they please. With no one to support and defend them, the good monks will leave the cities and villages. They will live in the jungle in fear of the bad monks. It will be like all those who hear the sound of ‘munch. munch, munch’, and live in fear of meat-eating goats."

“Oh king, now you know the meanings of all 16 dreams. The last eight have foretold: overtaxed people fleeing to the borderlands, an unwholesome world with uneven rains, Truth being taught by preachers greedy for money, ignorant and unwholesome words gaining respect, wise words and Truth losing respect, husbands enslaved by desires for their youngest wives, educated nobles in the service of untrained newcomers, noble and good living in fear of powerful and bad."

The Sixteen Dreams: [Chapter 3:The Frightening Sound of ‘Munch, Munch, Munch’

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/03/19/the-sixteen-dreams-chapter-3the-frightening-sound-of-munch-munch-munch/

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77. The sixteen Dreams [chapter 2: Roaring Bulls With No Fight]

King Brahmadatta knelt down before the holy man and then sat next to him. He asked, “Your reverence, can you tell me the meanings of my sixteen dreams?"

“Of course I can," said the forest monk. “Tell them to me, beginning with the first eight."

The king replied, ‘These were the first eight dreams: roaring bulls with no fight, midget trees bearing fruit, cows sucking milk from calves, calves pulling carts with bulls trailing behind, a horse eating with two mouths, a jackal urinating in a golden bowl, a she-jackal eating a rope maker’s rope, one overflowing pot with all the rest empty."

‘Tell me more about your first dream," said the monk.

“Your reverence, I saw four pure black bulls who came from the four directions to fight in the palace courtyard. People came from miles around to see the bulls fight. But they only pretended to fight, roared at each other, and went back where they came from."

“Oh king," said the holy man, “this dream tells of things that will not happen in your lifetime or in mine. In the far-off future, kings will be unwholesome and stingy. The people too will be unwholesome. Goodness will be decreasing while evil increases. The seasons will be out of whack, with sunstroke on winter days and snow storms on summer days. The skies will be dry, with poor clouds and little water. Harvests will be small and people will starve. Then dark clouds will come from the four directions, but even after much thunder and lightning, they will depart without letting rain fall – just like the roaring bulls who leave without fighting.

“But have no fear, there will be no harm to the people of today. The priests say this dream requires sacrifice, only because that is how they earn their money. Now tell me your second dream."

“Your reverence, I had a dream where tiny midget plants grew no more than one foot tall, and then flowered and gave fruit."

“Oh king," said the holy man, the soil will be poor for growing crops, and humans will live short lives. The young will have strong desires, and even young girls will have babies — just like midget trees bearing fruit.

“But this will not happen until the distant future when the world is declining. What was your third dream, oh king?"

“Your reverence, I saw cows sucking milk from their own calves, born the same day," said the king, shuddering with fear.

“Be calm," said the monk, “this too will not happen in our lifetimes. But someday people will no longer respect their mothers, fathers, mothers-in-law and fathers-in-law. People will give everything to their own children, taking over the savings of their elder parents and in-laws. Then, by whim alone, they may or may not feed and clothe their elders. So the elderly will be at the mercy of their own children — just like cows sucking milk from their day-old calves.

“But clearly it is not like that today, oh king, so you have nothing to fear. Now tell me your fourth dream."

Somewhat relieved, the king continued, “Your reverence, I dreamed I saw big strong full-grown bulls following behind bullock carts. They were being pulled by frail awkward calves. The calves stopped and stood still, unable to pull the heavily loaded carts. Caravans could no longer travel and goods could not be taken to market."

“There will be a time," said the holy man, “when unwholesome stingy kings will no longer respect wise experienced judges. Instead they will appoint young foolish judges, granting them the highest privileges. But they will not be able to make difficult decisions. They will become judges in name only, doing no real work — just like the calves who can’t pull the carts. Meanwhile, the older wiser ones will offer no help, thinking it is no longer their concern – just like the bulls trailing behind.

“Again you have nothing to fear, oh king, from those far-off times when all the nations will be poorly run by the young and foolish. What was your fifth dream?"

“Your reverence, my fifth dream was very strange indeed. I saw a horse eating with two mouths, one on each side of his head!" Again the king trembled as he spoke.

The forest monk said, “This will happen in another far-off future time, when unwholesome foolish kings appoint unwholesome greedy judges. Not caring in the least about right and wrong, they will take bribes from both sides in the same case — just like a horse eating greedily with two mouths.

“Now tell me your sixth dream."

“Your reverence, I dreamed I saw a golden plate worth a hundred thousand pieces of money. People were holding it and coaxing an old skinny jackal to urinate in it. And that’s just what he did!" said the king, making a face.

“Oh king, this too will come to pass in a far-off time when the kings will be outsiders, not born in the ruling families of the countries they rule. So they will not trust the experienced ministers from the native noble class. They will replace them with low class ministers they can control more easily. Meanwhile the old nobles will depend on the new ruling class. So they will offer their high class daughters in marriage to the low class ministers — just like golden bowls urinated in by jackals.

“But this will not happen in your time, oh king. What was your seventh dream?"

“Your reverence, I dreamed I saw a man making a rope and letting it pile up under his chair. There a hungry female jackal was eating the rope as it fell, without the man knowing it."

“There will come a time," said the monk, “when women’s cravings will increase. They will desire men, strong liquor, jewelry and all sorts of useless possessions. They will spend a lot of time window shopping. Paying more attention to their lovers than to their husbands, they will ignore even the most important household activities. And they will waste all the money earned by their husbands — just like the jackal devouring the rope that is produced by the rope maker.

“But as you can see, oh king, these times are not upon us. Tell me about your eighth dream."

“Your reverence," said the king, “I saw one big pot full of water, and many small empty pots, in front of the palace gate. All the warriors, priests, merchants and farmers were bringing water from all directions. But they were pouring it only into the big pot. That one was overflowing and wasting the water, while all the little pots remained empty!" Again the king shook in fear as he spoke.

“Have no fear, oh king," said the holy man. “Way off in the future the world will be declining. The land will be less fertile, so crops will be harder to grow. The richest will have no more than 100,000 pieces of gold — there will be no more millionaires! Even the kings will be poor and stingy.

“The kings and the wealthy will make all the rest work for them only. The poor will be forced to bring all their products, grains, vegetables and fruits to the warehouses of the rich and powerful. And the barns of the hard working poor will remain empty — it will be like the big pot filled to overflowing, with all the little ones empty.

“So now you know the meanings of your first eight dreams. They have foretold: thunderclouds with no rain, young girls having babies, the elderly at the mercy of their children, young foolish judges with no help from the wise, greedy judges taking bribes from both sides, low class ministers with high class wives, wives wasting the earnings of their husbands, the rich taking from the poor leaving them nothing.

“So your mind may be at peace, oh king, regarding these first eight dreams. Clearly such times are not upon us, and these dangers are not to be feared in the present day."

77. The sixteen Dreams [chapter 2: Roaring Bulls With No Fight]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/03/11/77-the-sixteen-dreams-chapter-2-roaring-bulls-with-no-fight/

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77. The sixteen dreams [Chapter 1. Panic]

Once upon a time there was a king called Brahmadatta who was ruling in Benares, in northern India. One night he had sixteen frightening nightmare dreams. He awoke in the morning in a cold sweat, with his heart thumping loudly in his chest. The sixteen dreams had scared him to death. He was sure they meant that something terrible was about to happen. In a panic, he called for his official priests, to ask their advice.

When the priests arrived at the royal bed chamber, they asked the king if he had slept well. He told them that it had been the worst night of his life, that he had been scared to death by sixteen dreams, and that he was desperate to find out their meanings.

At this the priests’ eyes lit up. They asked him, “What were these dreams, your majesty?" King Brahmadatta told them all sixteen dreams. The priests pounded their foreheads and exclaimed, “Oh what horrors! It couldn’t be worse, your majesty. Such dreams as these can mean only one thing — danger!"

The king asked them, ‘What danger, oh priests? You must tell me the meaning at once!" They replied, It is certain, your majesty, these dreams show that one of three disasters will take place — terrible harm to the kingdom, to your life, or to the royal wealth."

The king had feared as much. He wrung his hands as the sweat kept pouring from his body. He was shaking all over with terror and panic. He asked, “Tell me, oh worthy royal priests, is there any way to avoid this disaster?" “Indeed, it is very dangerous," they said. “If you do nothing, the end is certain. But we can prevent it. If we couldn’t, then all our training and learning would be useless. Trust us, lord."

The panic-stricken king cried out, “Just tell me what to do, priests. I’ll do anything! What can you do to save me, my kingdom and my wealth?" “We must offer the greatest animal sacrifice that has ever been seen," they said. “We must kill, as sacrificial offerings, four of every type of animal that lives!"

Although he was usually a gentle, kind and merciful ruler. King Brahmadatta was so frightened that he couldn’t think straight at all. Paralyzed with fear, he put all his hope and faith in his priests. He gave them permission to prepare the gigantic slaughter.

The priests said, “Have no fear, your majesty, we will take care of everything. We will prevent the coming doom!" They knew they would be paid well to perform the sacrifice. And the meat from the killed animals would be theirs as well. Their secret thoughts were, “This is a great way for us to get piles of money, and the best food and drink too!"

The priests got to work organizing the biggest sacrifice Benares had ever seen. Just outside of town they dug a huge pit. Into it they put the most perfect ones they could find of all the animals — land animals, birds and fish. From each kind they selected four to be killed in the ceremony. It became known as the ‘Four-from-all’ sacrifice.

Meanwhile, the king’s senior teaching priest had a promising young pupil. He was gentle and compassionate, and very well-educated. He wondered about all that was happening. So he asked the teacher priest, “Oh master, you have taught me well the wise teachings of old. Can you show me anywhere it says the killing of one will save the life of another?"

The priest answered, “What kind of question is that? Open your eyes and be realistic, my boy. Don’t you see that this great sacrifice, the Four-from-all, will make us rich? You must be trying to help the king hold onto his riches! “

The idealistic and sincere pupil said, “You have not answered my question, master. If this sacrifice is to be your work, it shall be mine no longer!" With these words he departed and went to the royal pleasure garden to consider what he would do.

It just so happened that the Enlightenment Being had been born into a rich high class family. For many generations the men in that family had been priests, just like the ones who were now preparing the Four-from-all sacrifice. But when the Bodhisatta grew up he abandoned the life of a rich priest. Instead he went to the Himalayas and lived as a humble forest monk. He concentrated his mind in meditation and entered high mental states. He gained the sweetest inner happiness, and even miraculous supernatural powers.

This forest monk loved all the animals. When he heard about what was happening in Benares he was filled with tenderness and compassion. He decided, “I must teach the ignorant people and release them from the chains of superstition. I will go to the city at once!" Then he used his supernatural power to fly through the air to Benares. In an instant he was seated on a rock in the king’s pleasure garden. His gentle nature made him glow like a golden sunrise.

The idealistic young student approached and recognized him as a great holy man. He bowed respectfully and sat on the ground. The forest monk asked him, “Young man, do you have a good and just king reigning here in Benares?"

“Yes", said the student, “our king is kind and good. But he is being misled by the royal priests. He had sixteen dreams which left him completely panic-stricken. The priests took advantage of this when he told them his dreams. They have convinced him to have a huge sacrifice and kill many animals. Oh holy one, please tell the king the true meanings of his dreams. Free the many helpless beings from fear and death."

The holy man said, “If he comes and asks me, I will tell him." “I will bring him, sir," said the young man. “Kindly wait here a short while until I return."

The student went to the king and told him there was a marvelous holy man seated on a rock in the royal pleasure garden. He told him he had said he could interpret the king’s dreams. Hearing this, the king went with him to the garden. A crowd followed behind.

77. The sixteen dreams [Chapter 1. Panic]

Link: https://hhdorjechangbuddhaiiiinfo.com/2024/02/27/77-the-sixteen-dreams-chapter-1-panic/

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