Difference between revisions of "Nanda Presented a Lantern"
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| − | North Wall, Cave 98, Five Dynasties, 907-960 | + | [[North]] Wall, {{Wiki|Cave}} 98, [[Five Dynasties]], 907-960 |
| − | On the fourteenth and fifteenth of the first month of the lunar year, [[Buddhists]] held a large lantern festival to worship [[Buddha]] and his followers. Thousands of colorful lanterns were lit up in front of [[temples]]. Under the initiation of [[Pasenadi]], the devotees of [[Buddha]] came to hang lanterns one after another to show their sincerity. All the [[people]], old or young, gathered and vowed with each other to appreciate the lantern show and worshiped their [[Buddha]]. Among the [[people]] coming to the show, there was a girl named [[Nanda]]. Due to the fact that her parents [[died]] when she was only a little girl, poverty forced her to beg and to [[live]] a vagrant [[life]]. | + | On the fourteenth and fifteenth of the first month of the [[lunar]] year, [[Buddhists]] held a large lantern {{Wiki|festival}} to {{Wiki|worship}} [[Buddha]] and his followers. Thousands of colorful lanterns were lit up in front of [[temples]]. Under the [[initiation]] of [[Pasenadi]], the {{Wiki|devotees}} of [[Buddha]] came to hang lanterns one after another to show their sincerity. All the [[people]], old or young, [[gathered]] and [[vowed]] with each other to appreciate the lantern show and worshiped their [[Buddha]]. Among the [[people]] coming to the show, there was a girl named [[Nanda]]. Due to the fact that her [[parents]] [[died]] when she was only a little girl, {{Wiki|poverty}} forced her to beg and to [[live]] a vagrant [[life]]. |
[[File:336-1-0.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:336-1-0.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | She would become very upset when she saw girls coming around with new [[clothes]] while she only had ragged ones for herself. There happened to be an old [[Buddhist nun]] passing by and the girl stopped her and asked respectfully, “Elder, what has made me so poor since I was born?” The [[nun]] responded, “That’s a simple question, because you don’t believe in [[Buddha]] and have never worshiped him. [[Happiness]] will only fall on you if you go readily to [[light]] a lantern and worship [[Sakyamuni]] in the [[temple]] yourself. When you really become a believer of [[Buddha]], you will be free of poverty.” She was so poor that she could not afford to buy a lantern. Therefore, she went begging from one door to another and finally she begged some [[money]], and she bought a lantern. Then she wanted to buy oil for the lantern, but she found that there was little [[money]] left. The owner of the oil asked her; “Why did you buy such a little amount of oil? How can you buy oil with such little [[money]]?” [[Nanda]] begged, “This is the only property I have. I am buying oil to worship my [[Buddha]]. Please, please give me some oil in charity.” | + | She would become very upset when she saw girls coming around with new [[clothes]] while she only had ragged ones for herself. There happened to be an old [[Buddhist nun]] passing by and the girl stopped her and asked respectfully, “Elder, what has made me so poor since I was born?” The [[nun]] responded, “That’s a simple question, because you don’t believe in [[Buddha]] and have never worshiped him. [[Happiness]] will only fall on you if you go readily to [[light]] a lantern and {{Wiki|worship}} [[Sakyamuni]] in the [[temple]] yourself. When you really become a believer of [[Buddha]], you will be free of {{Wiki|poverty}}.” She was so poor that she could not afford to buy a lantern. Therefore, she went begging from one door to another and finally she begged some [[money]], and she bought a lantern. Then she wanted to buy oil for the lantern, but she found that there was little [[money]] left. The [[owner]] of the oil asked her; “Why did you buy such a little amount of oil? How can you buy oil with such little [[money]]?” [[Nanda]] begged, “This is the only property I have. I am buying oil to {{Wiki|worship}} my [[Buddha]]. Please, please give me some oil in [[charity]].” |
| − | On [[hearing]] this, the owner filled up the oil for her and she quickly lighted the lantern and began to worship [[Buddha]]. After showing her [[gratitude]], [[Nanda]] was happily heading towards the [[temple]]. But she was stopped by the little [[novice]] [[Buddhist]] who was guarding the gate. At that precise moment, [[Buddha]] had just finished his [[Buddhism]] delivery. He said to an aide named [[Ananda]], “An important [[person]] is coming here to worship me but was stopped by the [[novice]]. Come bring her here.” [[Ananda]] took the order. Actually King [[Pasenadi]] was also listening to [[Buddhism]] there, assuming that he was the most honorable [[person]] in the whole country. “Who is the [[person]] superior to me?” [[Pasenadi]] really felt resentful when he saw the girl [[Nanda]] led by [[Ananda]]. He [[thought]] that this important [[person]] was only a poor girl. On seeing [[Buddha]], [[Nanda]] worshiped on bended knees and wished, “The [[brightness]] of the lantern is shining on us, which will bring [[happiness]] to all who see it.” Having finished, she hung the lantern on the road. | + | On [[hearing]] this, the [[owner]] filled up the oil for her and she quickly lighted the lantern and began to {{Wiki|worship}} [[Buddha]]. After showing her [[gratitude]], [[Nanda]] was happily heading towards the [[temple]]. But she was stopped by the little [[novice]] [[Buddhist]] who was guarding the gate. At that precise [[moment]], [[Buddha]] had just finished his [[Buddhism]] delivery. He said to an aide named [[Ananda]], “An important [[person]] is coming here to {{Wiki|worship}} me but was stopped by the [[novice]]. Come bring her here.” [[Ananda]] took the order. Actually [[King]] [[Pasenadi]] was also listening to [[Buddhism]] there, assuming that he was the most honorable [[person]] in the whole country. “Who is the [[person]] {{Wiki|superior}} to me?” [[Pasenadi]] really felt resentful when he saw the girl [[Nanda]] led by [[Ananda]]. He [[thought]] that this important [[person]] was only a poor girl. On [[seeing]] [[Buddha]], [[Nanda]] worshiped on bended knees and wished, “The [[brightness]] of the lantern is shining on us, which will bring [[happiness]] to all who see it.” Having finished, she hung the lantern on the road. |
| − | There was a big storm during the night. The next morning when [[Moggallana]] went to check the lanterns, he was so surprised that all the lights in the lanterns had been blown out by the strong wind last night, but only the [[light]] in the girl Nanda’s lantern was still on. He began adopting his strong magical [[power]] and bringing the heavy rains and a fierce tornado, aiming to blow out the [[light]], but it was still on. Finally, [[Moggallana]] turned to [[Buddha]] for an explanation. [[Buddha]] said to him, “The poor girl used the [[money]] she begged to buy the lantern and oil in order to worship me and the good deed of which greatly shows her sincerity to [[Buddha]]. Owing to that fact, no matter how powerful you are, her [[light]] cannot be blown out.” When the {{Wiki|sun}} was rising, girl [[Nanda]] came to see her lantern. It was much brighter than before. She had prayed the whole night for the [[light]] to shine forever and her wish came true. [[Nanda]] happily went to the [[temple]], bowing and kneeling in worship. [[Buddha]] knew her wish and released colorful lucky lights and turned [[Nanda]] to a [[Buddhist nun]]. After years of studious practice of [[Buddhism]], she finally became an [[arhat]]. | + | There was a big storm during the night. The next morning when [[Moggallana]] went to check the lanterns, he was so surprised that all the lights in the lanterns had been blown out by the strong [[wind]] last night, but only the [[light]] in the girl [[Nanda’s]] lantern was still on. He began adopting his strong [[magical]] [[power]] and bringing the heavy rains and a fierce tornado, aiming to blow out the [[light]], but it was still on. Finally, [[Moggallana]] turned to [[Buddha]] for an explanation. [[Buddha]] said to him, “The poor girl used the [[money]] she begged to buy the lantern and oil in order to {{Wiki|worship}} me and the good [[deed]] of which greatly shows her sincerity to [[Buddha]]. Owing to that fact, no {{Wiki|matter}} how powerful you are, her [[light]] cannot be blown out.” When the {{Wiki|sun}} was [[rising]], girl [[Nanda]] came to see her lantern. It was much brighter than before. She had prayed the whole night for the [[light]] to shine forever and her wish came true. [[Nanda]] happily went to the [[temple]], [[bowing]] and kneeling in {{Wiki|worship}}. [[Buddha]] knew her wish and released colorful [[lucky]] lights and turned [[Nanda]] to a [[Buddhist nun]]. After years of studious practice of [[Buddhism]], she finally became an [[arhat]]. |
Translated by Song Yunjie | Translated by Song Yunjie | ||
Latest revision as of 04:37, 20 February 2024
North Wall, Cave 98, Five Dynasties, 907-960
On the fourteenth and fifteenth of the first month of the lunar year, Buddhists held a large lantern festival to worship Buddha and his followers. Thousands of colorful lanterns were lit up in front of temples. Under the initiation of Pasenadi, the devotees of Buddha came to hang lanterns one after another to show their sincerity. All the people, old or young, gathered and vowed with each other to appreciate the lantern show and worshiped their Buddha. Among the people coming to the show, there was a girl named Nanda. Due to the fact that her parents died when she was only a little girl, poverty forced her to beg and to live a vagrant life.
She would become very upset when she saw girls coming around with new clothes while she only had ragged ones for herself. There happened to be an old Buddhist nun passing by and the girl stopped her and asked respectfully, “Elder, what has made me so poor since I was born?” The nun responded, “That’s a simple question, because you don’t believe in Buddha and have never worshiped him. Happiness will only fall on you if you go readily to light a lantern and worship Sakyamuni in the temple yourself. When you really become a believer of Buddha, you will be free of poverty.” She was so poor that she could not afford to buy a lantern. Therefore, she went begging from one door to another and finally she begged some money, and she bought a lantern. Then she wanted to buy oil for the lantern, but she found that there was little money left. The owner of the oil asked her; “Why did you buy such a little amount of oil? How can you buy oil with such little money?” Nanda begged, “This is the only property I have. I am buying oil to worship my Buddha. Please, please give me some oil in charity.”
On hearing this, the owner filled up the oil for her and she quickly lighted the lantern and began to worship Buddha. After showing her gratitude, Nanda was happily heading towards the temple. But she was stopped by the little novice Buddhist who was guarding the gate. At that precise moment, Buddha had just finished his Buddhism delivery. He said to an aide named Ananda, “An important person is coming here to worship me but was stopped by the novice. Come bring her here.” Ananda took the order. Actually King Pasenadi was also listening to Buddhism there, assuming that he was the most honorable person in the whole country. “Who is the person superior to me?” Pasenadi really felt resentful when he saw the girl Nanda led by Ananda. He thought that this important person was only a poor girl. On seeing Buddha, Nanda worshiped on bended knees and wished, “The brightness of the lantern is shining on us, which will bring happiness to all who see it.” Having finished, she hung the lantern on the road.
There was a big storm during the night. The next morning when Moggallana went to check the lanterns, he was so surprised that all the lights in the lanterns had been blown out by the strong wind last night, but only the light in the girl Nanda’s lantern was still on. He began adopting his strong magical power and bringing the heavy rains and a fierce tornado, aiming to blow out the light, but it was still on. Finally, Moggallana turned to Buddha for an explanation. Buddha said to him, “The poor girl used the money she begged to buy the lantern and oil in order to worship me and the good deed of which greatly shows her sincerity to Buddha. Owing to that fact, no matter how powerful you are, her light cannot be blown out.” When the sun was rising, girl Nanda came to see her lantern. It was much brighter than before. She had prayed the whole night for the light to shine forever and her wish came true. Nanda happily went to the temple, bowing and kneeling in worship. Buddha knew her wish and released colorful lucky lights and turned Nanda to a Buddhist nun. After years of studious practice of Buddhism, she finally became an arhat.
Translated by Song Yunjie
