The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 28

King Ajathashathru mourns for the death of Devadatta who performed grave sin against his preceptor Lord Buddha.  He believed that it was Devadatta's wicked Karma against Buddha destroyed him, it was the bad luck Devadatta could not get a glimpse of Lord Buddha before death, even though he has arrived too close to his Tejavana Monastery.  Devadatta must have swallowed up by Earth or sunk deep into hell.  Ajathashathru regretted being in the association of Devadatta and supporting him in performing mischievous deeds against Lord Buddha.  He could not sleep that night thinking of all those evil deeds he has been a part with Devadatta against Lord Buddha. He sought the help of royal physician doctor Jivaka who replied: “ Your Majesty, I feel you should meet Lord Buddha at once, kindly pay your respects to him and apologize for all the sins.” King Ajathashathru felt it is perfect, he owes an apology to Lord Buddha for those wicked deeds. He took the royal physician with him to visit Jetavana Monstrey to meet Lord Buddha and offer his respects.

Ajathashathru bend his knee down before Lord Buddha and said “ Oh! Lord, I have become prey to Devadatta, and I have committed various sins that affected your reputation and belief.  I have realized my mistakes, I sincerely beg your pardon, kindly forgive me.  I promise I will not commit the same mistakes in my life.”  Lord Buddha said “ Your majesty,  It is a timeless law that hatred can be appeased by non-hatred, whoever associates with fools/wicked/deceitful will definitely be doomed to sorrow for a long time, whoever follows virtues and righteousness would shine like a blazing flame.  The people with mindfulness remain happy always and follow the path of righteousness.  A king should rule the kingdom with Dharma, his people remain happy.  Bhikkhus, all conditioned things has the nature to arise, persists for a while and pass away.   Therefore you should have the knowledge of impermanence nature of the living and non-living things on the Earth.  Whatever you are seeing is uncertain and unreliable.  A person who wanders in this worldly existence, shed tears of sorrow and sufferings form birth and being in the Samsara countless times.  The people who cling to the attachments in the form of sounds, smell, tastes, and touches of this world have not the slightest chance to go beyond the worldly existence.”

The Life of Lord Buddha

Pranams at the lotus feet of Lord Buddha!

Chapter – 27

One day Devadatta was sitting under the tree, one of the Monk Kokalika in the Sangha said “ Devadatta cannot you realize that you are not a suitable leader of the Bhikshu Sangha? The foremost disciples of Buddha venerable Moggallana and Sariputta gave instructions and teachings to your followers, after that all of them were left your hermitage and gone to Jetavana Monastery, for your information, only a few foolish and ignorant followers are with you.” Devadatta could not believe the words of the monk Kokalika who said “you are not a real monk, you are wearing a saffron robe to manipulate people, you are foolish and exploiting the emotions of the people to gain fame and honor.  You are boastful, you are wicked who turned down his own preceptor, and compete with him.  Therefore I have no wish to stay with you any longer.”  Kokalika left the hermitage of Devadatta.

After nine months, Devadatta was troubled with a critical illness.    There was no improvement for quite some; he has no one around other than his handful of followers to look after him.  He felt that it was the Karma of his deceitful behavior to Lord Buddha; he also realized that Buddha is a noble soul who has always been kind and compassionate to him.  He remembered Buddha never shown any slightest hatred or resentment towards him all these years. Devadatta understood his death is nearing; he heartily wanted to meet Buddha and beg for forgiveness.  He requested the Monks who were in the service to take to Jetavana Monastery.  The monks carried Devadatta to the Jetavana Monastery to fulfill his last wish, he felt miserable, could not even take breathe.  He got out of the palanquin and slowly walked towards the Monastry, suddenly the weather has changed, sky is burdened with dark clouds, a strong wind swept away the dust and dried leaves, the Earth under his feet split apart,  Devadatta’s half of the body sunk deep into the Earth, eventually his entire body up to neck plunged into mud, he cried out calling for help “ Oh! The noble soul who is the personification of wisdom and knowledge, virtues, Oh! Lord Buddha, who is the remover of darkness of ignorance,  Oh! Supreme preceptor, I sincerely offer greetings to you, I take the lotus feet of Lord Buddha as my shelter place forever.” Thus, Devadatta disappeared from the Earth.