Rude Awakenings - Forest Sangha Publications

^0 L E T T I N G G O 06main road, toward the gap in the hills that separated Old and New Rajagaha.Right next to it stood a huge and immaculate temple of the NipponzanMyohoji; the monks and their supporters had done a wonderfuljob in restoring and caring for the ancient park. The grove had no buildings—itnever had—but there was a lovely pond in the centre of thetowering stands of bamboo. It had been a very special gift—the first giftof land to the Buddha, and an indication of the devoted support of oneof the most powerful kings of the region. Even before Gotama’senlightenment, Bimbisara had recognised the quality of the youngrecluse and had asked him to return when he had realised his goal.Within a year or two of the wakening, the Buddha returned as promised,and the king brought his retinue out to pay their respects and listento the Master. At the end of the discourse, all those present declaredthemselves to be the Buddha’s disciples. The king’s proclamation wasparticularly moving:As a prince, Lord, I had five wishes; now they have been fulfilled. “Ifonly I might be anointed on a throne.” That was the first wish andit has been fulfilled. The second was: “If only I might encounter afully enlightened One.”...The third was: “If only I might be able tohonour that Blessed One.”...The fourth was: “If only that BlessedOne would teach me Dhamma.”...The fifth was: “If only I might beable to understand that Blessed One’s Dhamma.” And that too hasbeen fulfilled....Lord, let the Blessed One receive me as a lay followerwho has gone to him for refuge for as long as breath lasts.It was painful to think that such devotion had not prevented the kingfrom meeting a cruel death some thirty-five years later at the hands ofhis son. I turned away. Nobody was around in the nearby temple, so Idrifted back to the homely Burmese Vihara. It was friendly now, and tojudge from appearances, had aspired to elegance a few years ago. Themeal had been served on a table with a tablecloth and old-fashioned,shiny cutlery. The Indian couple were quiet, friendly, and efficient;2 2 9