The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 11

Once, two ladies arrived to meet Buddha with the offerings.  They prostrated before the venerable Buddha and expressed their desire to serve him honeyed milk rice in a golden plate.  Buddha could not refuse the plea of his devotees.  He took bath in the pond and consumed the meal, after that he took the golden plate near the pond and left it to float on the water offering a prayer  “ If I have succeeded in the process of achieving enlightenment, may this golden tray float on the water. If not, let it float down on the stream.”  The golden tray went down the stream and set on the top of the other two golden trays which was already rested underwater.  The water creature seated near the trays guessed it “ There is another soul is going to achieve enlightenment and become Buddha” .  Buddha resumed his journey to conduct penance. 

In the sixth week, Buddha immersed in deep meditation under the Bodhi tree which was the dwelling place of Mucalinda/King of Naga.  He was enjoying the supreme bliss in an unending heavy downpour.  The King of Naga, a seven hooded serpent found Buddha immersed in meditation under the Bodhi tree in a heavy downpour, it spread the hood above the head of Buddha protecting him from the heavy downpour.   Once the rain has stopped, the serpent removed its hoods over the head of Buddha and assumed the form of a young man, prostrated before Buddha and left.

Buddha find peace in the silence, happiness in the seclusion, realized freedom from lust and sensuality are the highest happiness in the world, eradication of self-importance is the greatest happiness of all.  He has attained the highest of knowledge of Dharma, which is difficult to understand or practice for ordinary people.  There are different types of people, some are quick-witted to learn the teachings, like a lotus flower blooms in the brilliant rays of Sun.  The people with moderate knowledge have to receive a further explanation of the teachings of Dharma and practice it to understand within a short time like a lotus flower which is yet to receive the Sun light to blossom.  The slow-witted, after receiving the constant teachings and practices with the perseverance and faith realizes the truth, like a lotus bud below the water, waiting for its turn to come up and blossom.  The final kinds of persons are unlikely to grasp the meanings of the Dharma, listens to the teaching for a cause of realization in the future, like the lotus buds on the dirt become prey to fish and turtles, they neither raise up or blossom.  Buddha took a vow to teach people about the Dharma and protect them from the pain, miseries and sorrows.