The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 23

Angulimala/garland of the finger was a notorious murderer who kills the passersby in the Jalini forest and adorns the garland made of their finger bones.  Buddha, who was in deep meditation envisaged that Angulimala is going to commit matricide very soon, which will bring the severest sin to him.  This sin would stop Angulimala in achieving the path of Dharma and Nirvana, all these years he was committing the sin out of ignorance, and it was not intentional.  Buddha thought Angulimala is wandering in the darkness of ignorance, he is lacking the guidance of a preceptor, he still has the right to attain the path of Dharma and Nirvana.  Buddha decided to help Angulimala from the deadly snare of killing his own mother.

Angulimala while wandering through the woods of Jalini, was proud of himself for collecting finger bones of 999 people.  He wanted to follow the instruction of his master to complete the killing of 1000 people and make a garland of their finger bones.  While he was wandering through the pathways, he saw Buddha was walking away all alone.  Angulimala rushed behind Buddha, but he could not chase Buddha.  He felt deeply exhausted, finding the same distance between them always, he could not get closer to Buddha.  Angulimala screamed “ Oh! Ascetic, stop there.” Buddha said, “ I have already stopped, it is you did not stop yet.”  Angulimala could not understand anything of Buddha’s speech.  He shouted “ Holy man should speak only the truth, you are still moving forward.  I am standing still, but you did not stop.”  Buddha said “ I am following non-violence/Ahimsa, I have stopped killing,  stopped harming and stopped pursuing the wrong livelihood, I have stopped all kinds of misconduct.  It is you have not yet stopped doing all the above I have mentioned.  How can you say that you have already stopped harming? You are still running with the sword behind me.”  Angulimala threw away his sword and fallen at the feet of Lord Buddha with the folded hand said “ You have spoken the truth.  I have not heard, not even in my master’s hermitage.” Buddha spoke “Everything arises and cease, the sword you were carrying laid down now.  Therefore leave all those thoughts associated with your wrong actions, don’t carry those thoughts in your mind that will spoil you,  focus your mind on good actions, your heart becomes cheerful and radiant.  Always be enthusiastic to earn merit by performing pious deeds,  follow good discipline, and morality that would brighten your mind.”  Angulimala attained wisdom by listening to the passionate speeches of Buddha. He took a vow to follow Buddhism and practice the same.  He was taken to Jetavana Monastery, later he was ordained as a monk, finally attained Nirvana.