Good Conditions

In last week's Monday classes, we read of how Anathapindika and Prince Jeta gave the Deer Park Monastery in Shravasti to the Buddha.

Very simply, when Anathapindika heard what a wonderful teacher the Awakened One—the Buddha—was, Anathapindika covered the ground of Deer Park with gold to buy the land as a gift for the Buddha.

Subsequently, the Buddha spent much of his time at Deer Park and delivered many of his great teachings there. Even though he was not a monastic and thus did not stay with the Buddha in the park, Anathapindika heard many of those teachings.

He was able to do so because of good conditions.

He had the conditions to be extremely wealthy. But he did not keep his wealth to himself. He had been given the name of Anathapindika for it meant the Benefactor of the Destitute. When he heard from his sister what a wonderful teacher the Buddha was, Anathapindika wanted to make an offering and decided that the Deer Park would be a fitting one. 

What is helpful to learn from this is that Anathapindika did not wait for Prince Jeta to have the idea of offering the land to the Buddha or for someone else to invite the Buddha to stay in Shravasti. Anathapindika planted the seeds to have the right conditions to be able to be close to the Buddha. Planting the right seeds, he reaped his good results.

Comments

[anybody]

This is such a beautiful love story with generosity at the heart; just knowing the right thing to do. Generosity from the heart and not from a misplaced "I should do this or I should do that because I will look good with the other wealthy people." but because I am moved from a sacred place called love. Being in love with the Buddha is a special relationship that calls on every cell of our body, every part of our being to be the carriers of loving kindness,caring and compassion; generous giving (with hopefully some active wisdom engaged).

The Buddha is greatly loved and appreciated in this wonderful story and it seems to repeat itself in many ways in this lifetime.

Amitoufou,
anybody