No.13 - A Shield Against Criticism

A Shield Against Criticism

AT ONE TIME, the Lord Buddha said, "Atula, kings are criticised, kings are praised. The sun, the moon, the earth are criticised by some, and praised by others. I too, the Lord Buddha, am criticised; I too am praised. There is no need to heed the criticism of fools, but of the wise, take heed to win their praise and to escape their censure.

Criticising others is not something new. This has been so from ancient times. Those who are silent are criticised, those who talk much are criticised, those who talk in moderation are criticised. No one is free from criticism.

There never has been, there never will be, nor is there now, anyone who is always praised, not anyone who is always blamed."

Let this discourse be as a shield against criticism.

No.12 - Why We Must Do Good Deeds.

The Elephant in the Parileyya Forest.

Wishing to be alone for some time the Buddha set out for the Parileyya Forest. On reaching the forest and after meeting with some of his devoted disciples who were living alone there, the Buddha rested under a huge sala tree.

Now a certain full-grown male elephant, the leader of a herd was living in the forest with females and young ones. Feeling a bit restless, the elephant left the herd and wandered off. After a while it happened to come to the sala tree where the Buddha was alone by himself. The elephant on seeing the Buddha seated at the foot of the sala tree, felt calm like a man who had his grief allayed by the cool waters of a thousand pools. A great feeling of devotion to the Buddha arose in him and he stood gazing at the Buddha. From that moment, he wanted to serve the Buddha and made it his daily duty to sweep the ground where the Buddha set. Daily he brought water to the Buddha for washing His face, he fetch water for bathing, he offered swall twigs as tooth cleaner, he brought sweet, delicious fruits of different sizes and offered them to the Buddha and cared for the Buddha in any way he could.

When the Buddha entered the village for alms food, the elephant would carry the Buddha's alms bowl and robe on his head and accompanied him up to the edge of the village. There the Buddha would take the bowl from him and the elephant would await His return, whereupon he would again take the alms bowl and robes and return to the tree with the Buddha. Whilst the Buddha was meditating he would stand guard to ensure that the Buddha was not endangered in any way. He would fan and ward off any pests and insects from disturbing the Buddha.

Later, when the Buddha returned to Savatthi, the elephant died of a broken heart. For the good deed that he had done, the elephant was reborn in Tavatimsa Heaven and lived in a golden palace, where he came to be known as Parileyyaka-devaputta.

No.11 - Why Is It So Important To Practise Patience So As To Eliminate Anger.

Why Is It So Important To Practise Patience So As To Eliminate Anger.

Knowing that he was about to pass away, Sariputta, approached the Buddha and asked His permission to return to his mother's home. The Buddha, knowing his intention, gave His blessings and sent him off together with 500 monks. Sariputta's mother was a wealthy person, worth more than 40 million of money, and it was her hope that her son, Sariputta would inherit this great wealth after her death.

Arriving at his home village, he saw many of his nieces and nephews, whereupon, he requested that they go and inform their grandmother that he will be returning home and that he would like to stay in the room of his childhood. Upon hearing this news, his mother was filled with joy thinking that her son has finally come to his senses and is returning home to his inheritance.

Upon reaching his mother's house, Sariputta stood outside, hoping that his mother would see him and come to offer him some food. His intention was to give his mother the opportunity to do Dana so that she would gain some merits. His mother, who was now 120 years of age, upon seeing her son, began to complain. "I have a wealth worth 40 million money, and my son is not even interested in them. And now he is standing there like a beggar begging for food." Sariputta, suffering from diarrhoea and feeling very sick, acknowledged her and entered his room. Seeing that he was sick, his mother stood outside and observed him from the window of his room.

That night, while she was still patiently sitting outside Sariputta's room waiting for the right moment to enter, she saw four beings appearing in her son's room. These four beings were radiating rays of light from their bodies with the brightness of the morning star. She saw these four beings paying respect to her son before going away.

After some time, she say another being appearing in her son's room. This being was radiating light from his body with the brightness of the full moon. This being too, paid respect to her son before going away. And not so long after that, at about 3 am in the morning, she saw yet another being appearing in her son's room and paid respect to her son before going away. This being was radiating light from his body with the brightness of the afternoon sun. She became very curious at these unusual happenings.

The next morning, Sariputta knew that it was time to let his mother into the room. Upon entering the room, she questioned her son regarding the unusual sights she had seen the night before. She first asked about the four beings whose brightness was equal to the morning star. Sariputta replied that they were the Four Heavenly Guardian Kings. her mother was surprised to find out that the Four Guardian Kings had actually visited her house. She then wanted to know, who was the more superior: the Four Great Kings or her son. Sariputta answered; "you have seen them paying their respects to me." Upon hearing her son's reply, she was impressed. A certain degree of joy began to develop in her heart knowing that her son, after renunciation had achieved a level greater than the Four Guardian Kings.

She then continued to inquire about the second being whose brightness was as the full moon. Sariputta replied, "He is Sakka, the King of Heaven." She was even more impressed that Sakka himself had actually visited her house and again wanted to know who was the more superior? And Sariputta answered; "You have seen Sakka paying his respects to me." The mother was greatly impressed.

Coming to the third being whose brightness was as the afternoon sun. Sariputta told; "He is Maha Brahma, the deity you have been worshipping everyday at home." His mother then exclaimed with great surprise; "You mean the same Maha Brahma I have been worshipping everyday actually came to my house?" She again wanted to know who was the more superior? And Sariputta answered; "You have seen Maha Brahma paying respects to me." Realising the great achievements of her son, tears of joy flowed from her eyes.

A thought entered her mind: "If even the Maha Brahma and the heavenly gods pay respects to my son, who is only a disciple of the Buddha, what about his teacher the Buddha? He must be far more superior than my son."

When Sariputta saw the thoughts of his mother through his Arahant eyes, he began to preach the Dhamma to her;

Such indeed is He the Exalted One: Worthy, Supremely Enlightened, endowed with Knowledge and Conduct, Well-gone, Knower of the worlds, Enlightened and Exalted.

Upon contemplating the verses on the perfection of the Buddha, Sariputta's mother became a stream winner.

This is one of the tenth good deed. It is to practise patience so as to eliminate anger.