Mental
Suffering
Once, when the Buddha was
in Sravasti, there was a rich man who had been orphaned as a child and hence
had not received proper education. As he was a prejudiced and stubborn person
with also a fiery temper, no one liked his company and he was left without any
real friends. He did not respect the Buddha but instead adored the Six Masters
of heretic beliefs. When he came of age and fell ill, there was no one to look
after him and the Six Masters deserted him.
Moments
before the end of his final struggle to live on, the rich man suddenly realized
that his present misery was the result of his own shortcomings in character. He
suddenly had this thought that if anybody could cure his sickness, he would be
willing to serve this person for the rest of his life. However, he knew that no
one who knew of his bad temper would bother to care about him except the
Buddha. He knew the Buddha was kind to all, and he desperately wished that the
Buddha were there with him.
In the
Jetvana Vihara some distance away, the Buddha knew of the rich man’s
remorse and saw that the time had come for him to be delivered. There and then,
the Buddha projected a light ray of his kindness towards the rich man, who
instantly felt cool and rejuvenated. Seeing the image of Buddha in the light, the
rich man regained more consciousness and was aware of the benevolence bestowed
upon him by the Buddha. He was overwhelmed with joy, and prostrated himself on
the ground to show his gratitude and respect.
With his
transcendental powers, the Buddha appeared before the rich man and said:
“ What kind of suffering do you find most unbearable?”
“
Master, physical suffering is difficult to endure, but more so is that of
mental turmoil. Now that I am wrought with ill health in both body and mind, my
suffering is really hard to bear.”
Once again
using his transcendental powers, the Buddha concocted a special potion from
milk for the rich man. As soon as he had consumed the medicine, the rich man
was relieved of his illness and felt like a different person. Having
established strong trust and respect for the Buddha, the rich man made
exquisite offerings of food and necessities to the Buddha and the Sangha. He
also made a vow to practise compassion in every life to come by alleviating all
beings from suffering of both body and mind.
The Buddha
was glad to hear of the rich man’s vow and smiled. Seeing this, the
venerable Ananda joined his palms in respect and enquired the Buddha on the
reason for his smile. The Buddha said: “ I smile so gladly not because
this rich man has made us offerings but because of his Bodhi resolve to deliver
all beings.”
[The Buddha
would not abandon any being. Those who repent their past wrongs will surely be
delivered by the Buddha when the right karmic condition arises.]