The Life of the Buddha: Return of the Buddha to Kapilavatthu.
In the meanwhile it was reported to Suddhodana that his son, who for six years had devoted himself to mortification, had attained to Perfect Enlightenment, had set rolling the Wheel of the Law, and was residing at the Bambu Grove near by Rajagaha. And he sent a messenger with a retinue of a thousand men with the message "Your father, kind Suddhodana, desires to see you." They reached the monastery at the hour of instruction, and standing still to listen to the discourse, the messenger attained to Arahatta with all his retinue, and prayed to be admitted to the Order; and the Buddha received them. And being now indifferent to the things of the world, they did not deliver the king's message. In the same way the king sent other messengers, each with a like retinue, and all of these, neglecting their business, stayed away there in silence. Then the king prevailed upon his minister Kaludayin to bear the message, and he consented to do so only upon condition of receiving permission to become a member of the Order himself. "My friend," the king said, "thou mayst become a hermit or not, as thou wilt, only bring it about that I may see my son before I die."
Kaludayin repaired to Rajagaha, and standing beside the disciples at the hour of instruction, he attained to Arahatta, and was received into the Order. Now at this time eight months had passed since the Enlightenment, and of this time, the first Lent or Rainy Season was spent at the Deer Park in Benares, the next three months at Uruvela, and two months at Rajagaha. And now the cold season was over, the earth was decked with green grass, and the trees with scarlet flowers, and the roads were pleasant to the traveller. And on the full-moon day in March, Kaludayin, a full week since his admission to the Order, spoke with the Buddha, and proposed to him that he should visit his father, who desired to see him. And the Master, foreseeing that salvation of many would result, assented, saying to Kaludayin: "Well said, Udayin, I shall go." For it was in accordance with the Rule that the Brethren should travel from place to place. Attended by twenty thousand well-born Arhats, and travelling each day a league, he reached Kapilavatthu in two months. But Kaludayin went instantly through the air, and informed the king that his son had taken the road, and by praising the virtues of the Buddha ever day, he predisposed the Sakyas in his favour.
The Sakyas considered what would be the most pleasant place for his residence, and they chose the Nigrodha-grove near by the city. With flowers in their hands, and accompanied by children of the place and the young men and maidens of the royal family, they went out to meet him, and led him to the grove. But regarding him as younger than themselves, as it were a younger brother, a nephew, or a grandson, they did not bow down. But the Buddha, understanding their thoughts, performed the miracle of taking his seat upon a jewelled platform in the air, and so preaching the law. And the king seeing this wonder said: "O Blessed One, when Kala Devala bowed down to your feet on the day of thy birth I did obeisance to thee for the first time. And when I saw that the shadow of the Jambu-tree remained motionless upon the occasion of the ploughing festival I did obeisance for the second time; and now, because of this great miracle, I bow again to thy feet." And there was not one of the Sakyas who did not bow to the Buddha's feet at the same time. Then the Blessed One descended from the air, and sat upon the throne that had been prepared for him, and there he delivered a discourse, to wit, the story of his former birth as Prince Vessantara.
In the meanwhile it was reported to Suddhodana that his son, who for six years had devoted himself to mortification, had attained to Perfect Enlightenment, had set rolling the Wheel of the Law, and was residing at the Bambu Grove near by Rajagaha. And he sent a messenger with a retinue of a thousand men with the message "Your father, kind Suddhodana, desires to see you." They reached the monastery at the hour of instruction, and standing still to listen to the discourse, the messenger attained to Arahatta with all his retinue, and prayed to be admitted to the Order; and the Buddha received them. And being now indifferent to the things of the world, they did not deliver the king's message. In the same way the king sent other messengers, each with a like retinue, and all of these, neglecting their business, stayed away there in silence. Then the king prevailed upon his minister Kaludayin to bear the message, and he consented to do so only upon condition of receiving permission to become a member of the Order himself. "My friend," the king said, "thou mayst become a hermit or not, as thou wilt, only bring it about that I may see my son before I die."
Kaludayin repaired to Rajagaha, and standing beside the disciples at the hour of instruction, he attained to Arahatta, and was received into the Order. Now at this time eight months had passed since the Enlightenment, and of this time, the first Lent or Rainy Season was spent at the Deer Park in Benares, the next three months at Uruvela, and two months at Rajagaha. And now the cold season was over, the earth was decked with green grass, and the trees with scarlet flowers, and the roads were pleasant to the traveller. And on the full-moon day in March, Kaludayin, a full week since his admission to the Order, spoke with the Buddha, and proposed to him that he should visit his father, who desired to see him. And the Master, foreseeing that salvation of many would result, assented, saying to Kaludayin: "Well said, Udayin, I shall go." For it was in accordance with the Rule that the Brethren should travel from place to place. Attended by twenty thousand well-born Arhats, and travelling each day a league, he reached Kapilavatthu in two months. But Kaludayin went instantly through the air, and informed the king that his son had taken the road, and by praising the virtues of the Buddha ever day, he predisposed the Sakyas in his favour.
The Sakyas considered what would be the most pleasant place for his residence, and they chose the Nigrodha-grove near by the city. With flowers in their hands, and accompanied by children of the place and the young men and maidens of the royal family, they went out to meet him, and led him to the grove. But regarding him as younger than themselves, as it were a younger brother, a nephew, or a grandson, they did not bow down. But the Buddha, understanding their thoughts, performed the miracle of taking his seat upon a jewelled platform in the air, and so preaching the law. And the king seeing this wonder said: "O Blessed One, when Kala Devala bowed down to your feet on the day of thy birth I did obeisance to thee for the first time. And when I saw that the shadow of the Jambu-tree remained motionless upon the occasion of the ploughing festival I did obeisance for the second time; and now, because of this great miracle, I bow again to thy feet." And there was not one of the Sakyas who did not bow to the Buddha's feet at the same time. Then the Blessed One descended from the air, and sat upon the throne that had been prepared for him, and there he delivered a discourse, to wit, the story of his former birth as Prince Vessantara.
Footer section, if any
place time topic people language
India - Ancient - Religion/philosophy - Indians/Buddhists - English
India - Ancient - Religion/philosophy - Indians/Buddhists - English
Footer section, if any