Monthly Archives: January 2014
116. The Bodhisatta And A Clear, Serene Mind
Once upon a time, when Brahmadatta was king of Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in the family of a brahmin. When he grew up, he studied under a famed teacher of Takkasila, where he learnt all magic charms. After returning to Benares he taught these charms to a large number of Brahmin and kshatriya youths.
Amongst these youths was one young Brahmin who had learnt the Three Vedas by heart; he became a master of ritual, and could repeat the whole of the sacred texts without stumbling in a single line. By and bye he married and settled down. Then household cares clouded his mind, and no longer could he repeat the sacred verses.
115. The Bodhisatta Admonishing Kassapa
Once upon a time when Brahmadatta reigned in Benares, the Bodhisatta came to life in a brahmin family in a town of the Kasi country. When he was grownup, his mother died. And after due performance of her funeral rites, at the end of six weeks he gave away in alms all the money that was in the house, and taking his father and younger brother with him he put on the bark garment, and adopted the religious life of an ascetic in the Himalayas. And there he lived in a pleasant grove, supporting himself by gleaning in the fields and living on roots and wild fruits.
114. The Bodhisatta – Utensil Merchant
Once upon a time in the kingdom of Seri, the Bodhisatta born as utensil merchant who sold them in the streets os Seri. He was called ‘the Serivan.’ In the same kingdom there was a greedy fellow who was also known as ‘the Serivan.’ He came across the river Telavaha and entered the city of Andhapura. Apportioning the streets between the two of them, the Bodhisatta set about hawking his wares round the streets of his district, and the other did the same in his district.
113. The Bodhisatta – Treasurer
Once on a time when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares in Kasi, the Bodhisatta was born into the Treasurer’s family. Growing up, He was made Treasurer, being called Treasurer Little. He was a wise and clever man with a keen eye for signs and omens. One day on his way to wait upon the king, he came on a dead mouse lying on the road; and, taking note of the position of the stars at that moment, he said, “Any decent young fellow with his wits about him has only to pick that mouse up, and he might start a business and keep a wife.”
