The purpose of cultivation
There was once a Brahman who came to Jetvana Vihara to antagonise the Buddha. He raised such a question:" I am a Brahman who would make offer my service and also recieve offerings from others. This is surely an act of good which will benefit a lot of people. The followers of the Buddha, however, are only concerned with their own cultivation after having been renounced and ordained. This is surely not to benefit the public, is it?"
The Buddha replied:" Before I answer your question. I want to ask you to consider this: Take a man who cultivates steadily until he is liberated from life and death. Having reached such a state of peacefulness and tranquility, he convinces many others to cultivate for wisdom, and they too attain enlightenment. Now, what do you think of this?"
The Buddha's clever way of answering struck the Brahman speechless. He could only say casually:" Buddha! I do know that although your followers have renounced for liberation, they cherish even more the important task of delivering all beings. They have not really renounced for their own sake but for the sake of all those who wish to be liberated from suffering."
[ Renunciation is not for self liberation only. It is for the subsequent deliverance of other sentient beings. Making it a life-long career in the propagation of the Dharma to benefit all, those who renounce to cultivate are considered to be pursuing a task which even generals and dignitaries of state may find daunting.]
