Difference between revisions of "Buddhist Story: The Tamarind Tree"
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[[File:Tamarind_tree.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | [[File:Tamarind_tree.jpg|thumb|250px|]] | ||
| − | ;The {{Wiki|Tamarind}} Tree | + | ;The {{Wiki|Tamarind}} [[Tree]] |
| − | One bright and cool summer day the [[Buddha]] took a walk along the forest [[path]], simply enjoying the beauty of the [[earth]]. At a cross road, he saw a man in [[grief]] praying earnestly. | + | One bright and cool summer day the [[Buddha]] took a walk along the {{Wiki|forest}} [[path]], simply enjoying the [[beauty]] of the [[earth]]. At a cross road, he saw a man in [[grief]] praying earnestly. |
| − | The man [[recognized]] the [[Buddha]] and fell on his knees. He cried, "[[Lord]] [[Buddha]], [[life]] is indeed bitter and [[painful]]! I was once a man with great [[wealth]], living a [[life]] of ease and [[happiness]]. By trikery and [[deceit]], those I trusted and loved took everything from me. I am now a wretched man with noone to turn to. How many more times must I be [[reborn]] into this [[world]] of [[suffering]] before I can be librated?" | + | The man [[recognized]] the [[Buddha]] and fell on his knees. He cried, "[[Lord]] [[Buddha]], [[life]] is indeed [[bitter]] and [[painful]]! I was once a man with great [[wealth]], living a [[life]] of ease and [[happiness]]. By trikery and [[deceit]], those I trusted and loved took everything from me. I am now a wretched man with noone to turn to. How many more times must I be [[reborn]] into this [[world]] of [[suffering]] before I can be librated?" |
Pointing to the mango [[tree]] by the road, the [[Buddha]] said, "Do you see that mango [[tree]]? You must be [[reborn]] as many times as the number of mangoes on that [[tree]] before you know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]] from the [[sufferings]] of this fleeting [[world]]." | Pointing to the mango [[tree]] by the road, the [[Buddha]] said, "Do you see that mango [[tree]]? You must be [[reborn]] as many times as the number of mangoes on that [[tree]] before you know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]] from the [[sufferings]] of this fleeting [[world]]." | ||
| − | Seeing that there are at least dozens of mangoes hanging on the [[tree]], the man gasped, "But [[Lord]]! I have lived a righteous [[life]] in accord with the [[precepts]]! Why am I condemned to [[suffer]] so much longer?" | + | [[Seeing]] that there are at least dozens of mangoes hanging on the [[tree]], the man gasped, "But [[Lord]]! I have lived a righteous [[life]] in accord with the [[precepts]]! Why am I condemned to [[suffer]] so much longer?" |
The [[Buddha]] sighed. "That is the way it must be." And he continued his walk. | The [[Buddha]] sighed. "That is the way it must be." And he continued his walk. | ||
| − | He came across another man praying by the road and this man too, fell on his knees and cried, "[[Lord]] [[Buddha]], [[life]] is indeed bitter and [[painful]]. I have lost all those I loved to the king of [[death]]. I am now forlorn and lonely. [[Life]] is full of anguish. How many more times must I be [[reborn]] into this [[world]] of [[suffering]] before I know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]]?" | + | He came across another man praying by the road and this man too, fell on his knees and cried, "[[Lord]] [[Buddha]], [[life]] is indeed [[bitter]] and [[painful]]. I have lost all those I loved to the [[king]] of [[death]]. I am now forlorn and lonely. [[Life]] is full of anguish. How many more times must I be [[reborn]] into this [[world]] of [[suffering]] before I know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]]?" |
| − | The [[Buddha]] pointed to the field of wild flowers along the road and said, "Before you know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]] from the [[sufferings]] of this fleeting [[world]], you must be [[reborn]] as many times as the number of flowers in that field." | + | The [[Buddha]] pointed to the field of wild [[flowers]] along the road and said, "Before you know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]] from the [[sufferings]] of this fleeting [[world]], you must be [[reborn]] as many times as the number of [[flowers]] in that field." |
| − | Seeing so many hundreds of flowers in the field, the man cried, "But [[Lord]]! I have done many [[good deeds]] and have followed you teachings by [[heart]]. Why must I endure so much more [[suffering]]?" | + | [[Seeing]] so many hundreds of [[flowers]] in the field, the man cried, "But [[Lord]]! I have done many [[good deeds]] and have followed you teachings by [[heart]]. Why must I endure so much more [[suffering]]?" |
The [[Buddha]] sighed, "That is how it must be." And he continued on his way. | The [[Buddha]] sighed, "That is how it must be." And he continued on his way. | ||
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The [[Buddha]] looked up to the tamarind [[tree]]--each branch of it bearing many stems and each stem has dozens of leaves. The [[Buddha]] said, "Look at that tamarind [[tree]]. Before you know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]] from the [[sufferings]] of this fleeting [[world]], you must be [[reborn]] as many times as the number of leaves on that tamarind [[tree]]." | The [[Buddha]] looked up to the tamarind [[tree]]--each branch of it bearing many stems and each stem has dozens of leaves. The [[Buddha]] said, "Look at that tamarind [[tree]]. Before you know the [[bliss]] of [[liberation]] from the [[sufferings]] of this fleeting [[world]], you must be [[reborn]] as many times as the number of leaves on that tamarind [[tree]]." | ||
| − | As the man looked up at the tamarind [[tree]] and its thousands of leaves, his [[eyes]] filled with tears of [[gratitude]] and [[joy]]. "How merciful!" he said as he prostrated to the ground at the [[Buddha]]'s feet. | + | As the man looked up at the tamarind [[tree]] and its thousands of leaves, his [[eyes]] filled with {{Wiki|tears}} of [[gratitude]] and [[joy]]. "How [[merciful]]!" he said as he prostrated to the ground at the [[Buddha]]'s feet. |
| − | To this day the tamarind's seeds are the [[symbol]] of [[faithfulness]] and forbearance. | + | To this day the tamarind's [[seeds]] are the [[symbol]] of [[faithfulness]] and [[forbearance]]. |
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Latest revision as of 18:30, 29 February 2016
One bright and cool summer day the Buddha took a walk along the forest path, simply enjoying the beauty of the earth. At a cross road, he saw a man in grief praying earnestly.
The man recognized the Buddha and fell on his knees. He cried, "Lord Buddha, life is indeed bitter and painful! I was once a man with great wealth, living a life of ease and happiness. By trikery and deceit, those I trusted and loved took everything from me. I am now a wretched man with noone to turn to. How many more times must I be reborn into this world of suffering before I can be librated?"
Pointing to the mango tree by the road, the Buddha said, "Do you see that mango tree? You must be reborn as many times as the number of mangoes on that tree before you know the bliss of liberation from the sufferings of this fleeting world."
Seeing that there are at least dozens of mangoes hanging on the tree, the man gasped, "But Lord! I have lived a righteous life in accord with the precepts! Why am I condemned to suffer so much longer?"
The Buddha sighed. "That is the way it must be." And he continued his walk.
He came across another man praying by the road and this man too, fell on his knees and cried, "Lord Buddha, life is indeed bitter and painful. I have lost all those I loved to the king of death. I am now forlorn and lonely. Life is full of anguish. How many more times must I be reborn into this world of suffering before I know the bliss of liberation?"
The Buddha pointed to the field of wild flowers along the road and said, "Before you know the bliss of liberation from the sufferings of this fleeting world, you must be reborn as many times as the number of flowers in that field."
Seeing so many hundreds of flowers in the field, the man cried, "But Lord! I have done many good deeds and have followed you teachings by heart. Why must I endure so much more suffering?"
The Buddha sighed, "That is how it must be." And he continued on his way.
When he came across a tamarind tree, another man fell down on his knees and cried before him, "Oh Lord! Life is full of suffering! During the days I toiled like a slave under the scathing sun; at night I have nothing to sleep on except a pile of grass on the cold, damped earth. Life is nothing but hunger, thirst and loneliness! How many more times must I be reborn into this world of suffering before I know the bliss of liberation?"
The Buddha looked up to the tamarind tree--each branch of it bearing many stems and each stem has dozens of leaves. The Buddha said, "Look at that tamarind tree. Before you know the bliss of liberation from the sufferings of this fleeting world, you must be reborn as many times as the number of leaves on that tamarind tree."
As the man looked up at the tamarind tree and its thousands of leaves, his eyes filled with tears of gratitude and joy. "How merciful!" he said as he prostrated to the ground at the Buddha's feet.
To this day the tamarind's seeds are the symbol of faithfulness and forbearance.
