Daily Reading ~ May 23

Hoa Vo Uu (Buddha Dharma Education Association)
Venerable Shravasti Dhammika

The Buddha’s Words of Wisdom

The Lord was once saying near Vesãlĩ, at the Gabled Hall in the great forest. And at that time, the Brãhmin Kãranapãlin built a building for the Licchavis. And Kãranapãlin saw the Bhãmin Pingiyãnin coming in the distance, and as he approached, he said: “Pray, now, from where comes your honour Pingiyãnin so early in the day?” “I come from the presence of the recluse Gotama.”

“Well, what do you think of the recluse Gotama’s clarity of wisdom? Do you think he is a wise man?”

“But what am I compared to him, and who am I to judge his clarity? Is it not only one like him who could judge the recluse Gotama’s clarity of wisdom?”

“High indeed is the praise that your honour gives the recluse Gotama.”

“But what am I compared to him, and who am I to praise the recluse Gotama? Truly praised by the praised is the recluse Gotama. He is the highest amongst gods and men.”

“But what good do you see in him that you have such faith in him?”

“Just as when a man is completely satisfied with some delicious flavor, and longs not for other flavors that are poor—even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all parts, one longs not for the talk of others, the crowd, other recluses or Bhãmins.

“Just as a man overcome by hunger and weakness may come across a honey cake, and whenever he tastes it, he enjoys the sweet, delicous flavour—even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, one experiences sweetness and scenity of mind.

“Just as a man may come across a stick of yellow or red sandalwood, and wherever he smells it, at the root, in the middle or at the top, he comes across an exceedingly fair, delicious fragrance—even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, all grief, sorrow, suffering, lamentation and despair just vanish away.

“Just as a man tortured by heat, by heat overspent, wearied, craving and thirsty, might come to a pool of clear, sweet, cool, limpid water, alovely resting place, and might plunge in, bathe, drink and allay all woe, fagtigue and fretting—even so, when one hears the good Gotama’s Dhamma in all its parts, all woe, fatigue and fretting is wholly allayed.”

When he had said this, the Bhãhmin Kãranapãlin arose from his seat, arranged his upper robe on his shoulder, set his right knee on the ground and bending forth his outstretched hands towrds where the Lord was, said three times: “Homage to the Lord, the Noble One, the fully enlightened Buddha.”

“Wonderful it is, Pingiyãnin, truly wonderful. Just as if one had set upright a thing toppled over, revealed something covered, showed a blind man the way, brought a lamp into the dark so that those with eyes could see—in the same way, you have illuminated this Dhamma in many a way. I too will go to the good Gotama, the Dhamma and the Sangha as my refuge. Look upon me as a lay disciple gone for refuge from now until as long as life lasts.