Chapter 4 16-20

Because Svasti came from a poor family, he never had the opportunity to go to school.Although Shansheng had taught him some basic knowledge, he still didn't know how to use words. Therefore, when recalling the past of meeting the Buddha, he would stop from time to time to think about how to describe it.Those who listened to him tried to help him as much as possible.Besides Rahula and Ananda, there were two others.One was an elderly nun named Mahapajapati, and the other was a monk of about forty years old named Ma Sheng. After being introduced by Rahula, Svasti was very happy to know that Mahapajapati was Queen Gotami's aunt who raised the Buddha from childhood.She was the first woman to be accepted as a nun in the Buddha's Sangha, and she is now responsible for leading the ashram of more than 700 nuns.She had just arrived from the north and was going to discuss with the Buddha about the precepts of bhikkhunis.Svasti had heard that she had arrived only the night before, and since her grandson Rahula knew that she must be very interested in knowing what the Buddha was like in the Uruvela Forest, she was specially invited to come.Svasti closed his palms and bowed deeply to the abbot.Remembering all that the Buddha had told him about the former queen, Svasti was filled with kindness and respect for her.Mahapajapati looked at Svasti with the same warmth and care she looked at her grandson Rahula.

When Rahula introduced Ma Sheng to Svasti, he was surprised to find that Ma Sheng was one of the five people who practiced asceticism with the Buddha near his hometown.At that time, the Buddha had already told him that these friends were leaving him because he had given up his asceticism.Therefore, he was really puzzled that Ma Sheng would now live in the Zhulin Abode and become a disciple of the Buddha.He planned to ask Rahula later. In the process of telling the past, Gotami bhikkhuni helped Svasti the most.The questions she asked were all about details that Svasti thought were unimportant, but which interested her.She asked Svasti where he cut the kushi grass for the Buddha's cushion, and how long it took for the Buddha to replace it with new grass.She also wondered if the buffalo would have enough grass to eat at night after giving the grass to the Buddha.She even wanted to know if he had beaten and scolded the owner of the buffalo.

Although there was still much to say, Svasti asked for their permission to call it a night and continue tomorrow.But before leaving, he wanted to ask Gautami Bhikkhuni some questions that had been in his heart for ten years.Gotami smiled at him and said, "Go ahead and ask. If I can answer your question, I will be happy to do so." There were a few things that Svasti wanted to know.First, when Siddhartha opened the curtain to see his wife and children before leaving the palace, was Yasodhara really asleep? Svasti also wondered when Channa held Siddhartha's dagger, necklace and How did the king, queen and Yasodhara react when the severed hair was returned to the palace? How did his family live during the six years that the Buddha was away? Who was the first to hear the news of the Buddha's enlightenment? When the Buddha returned to Kapilavatthu, who was the first person to greet him, and did the whole city come out to welcome him?

"You do have a lot of questions!" Gotami exclaimed.She smiled kindly at Svasti. "Let me give you a simple answer. First, is Yasodhara asleep? If you want to know the truth, it's best to ask Yasodhara herself. But if you ask me, I don't believe she is asleep Yasodhara put Siddhartha’s shoes, hat and clothes on the chair with his own eyes that night, and asked Channa to prepare the saddle and gold hooves. He knew that Siddhartha would leave that night. How could she fall asleep in one night? I believe she pretended to be asleep on purpose so that she and Siddhartha would not have to face the pain of parting. Svasti, you don’t know Rahula’s mother, but Yashoda Luozhen is a very decisive woman. She has always understood Siddhartha's ambitions, and silently supported him wholeheartedly. I know this very well, because of all the people who are close to Yasodhara, I am the only one except Siddhartha. Besides, the person who knows her best."

Bhikkhuni Gotami told Svasti that Yasodhara was the only one who did not show any shock when they found out that Siddhartha had gone the next morning.King Jingfan was furious and complained loudly that the others did not try their best to keep the prince.Queen Gotami immediately went to Yasodhara and found her sitting alone, weeping quietly.The imperial court sent a search four to find the whereabouts of the prince.A party facing south encountered Channa and the unridden Golden Hoof.Channa told them that they didn't need to continue searching.He said: "Let the prince pursue his spiritual path. I have begged him with tears, but he is very determined to seek the path. Forget it, he has entered the forest now, in the land of another country .You're not going to find him."

When Chennai returned to the palace, he kowtowed his head on the ground three times to express his repentance, and then handed over the dagger, necklace and hair to the king.Queen Gotami and Yasodhara were also present.Seeing Chana's face covered with tears, the king didn't blame him anymore.But he did ask about everything that had happened.He told Channa to hand over the dagger, necklace and Siddhartha's hair to Yasodhara for safekeeping.The palace was full of gloom and mist.Losing the crown prince is like losing the light of day.Afterwards, King Yao withdrew to his own palace and did not come out for a period of time.His ministers such as Fushan Mita had to handle all state affairs on his behalf.

After the golden hoof was brought back to the stable, he refused to accept food and died a few days later.In great grief, Channa sought permission from Yasodhara to have the golden hooves cremated with funeral rites. As soon as Bhikkhuni Qiaotar said this, he heard the bell ringing for meditation.Although they were all a little disappointed, Ananda reminded them that no matter how good the story is, they still have to sit in meditation.He agreed that they would come back to his house the next day.Svasti and Rahula bowed their palms together to Bhikkhuni Gotami, Ananda, and Mashen, and then returned to the house of their teacher Sariputta.The two young friends walked side by side, but did not speak.The slow oscillating sound of the bell rings, one over the other like a sea wave, increasing the frequency.Svasti followed his breath and silently recited a verse about hearing the bell: "Listen, listen, this wonderful sound brings me back to my true self."

17. Pippolo leaves Under the pippala tree, the recluse Gotama focused his deep concentration on observing his body deeply.He observed that each cell goes through the process of birth, existence, and death, like a drop in a never-ending stream.He could not find anything in the body that was eternal and independent.The flow of feelings merged in the flow of his body, and each feeling is a drop of water.These countless bits and pieces are squeezed together in the process of birth, existence and death.Some feelings are good, others are unpleasant, and most feelings are neither good nor bad.But all sensations are impermanent: they arise and disappear, like cells in the body, which are impermanent.

Next, Gotama used his concentration to probe the stream of thought that ran alongside the body and the river of feeling.The bits and pieces of the stream of thought mingle and influence each other in the process of birth, existence, and death.If one's thinking is right, the reality of all phenomena is easily revealed; but if one's thinking is wrong, the reality is obscured.Ordinary people are trapped in the endless sea of ​​suffering because of their wrong views: they believe that impermanent things are permanent; They again divide the indivisible into different parts. Gautama then shines his insight on all mental states that produce suffering—fear, anger, hatred, arrogance, jealousy, greed, and ignorance.His attentive awareness burns like a scorching sun, and he uses the light of this awareness to illuminate the very essence of all negative mental states.He saw that they all arise out of ignorance.They are the opposite of mindfulness.They are the absence of darkness-light.He realized that the key to liberation is to get rid of ignorance and go deep into the reality to directly experience it.

Siddhartha used to try to find a way out of fear, anger and greed.But these methods have no real effect because they are only trying to suppress feelings and emotions.Now, Siddhartha understood that their origin was due to ignorance, so once liberated from ignorance, all mental obstacles will dissipate by themselves, just like the shadow disappears before the sun rises.These in-depth understandings of Siddhartha are the fruits of his meditation practice. Smiling, he looked up at a pippolo leaf against the blue sky, its wagging tail as if calling to him.Looking deeply at the leaves, he clearly saw the existence of the sun and the stars. Without the sun, without light and warmth, the leaves cannot survive.It's this way because that's it.He also saw earth, time, space, and consciousness all at the same time hidden in the leaves.In fact, at that moment, the entire universe exists within that leaf.The reality of that leaf is nothing short of an arcane miracle.

We usually assume that a leaf only grows in spring.But Gautama saw it already existed in the sun, the cloud, the tree and himself from long ago.If he saw that the leaf had never been born, he would also see that he himself had never been born.Both the leaves and himself were merely appearances—they were never born and could never perish.With this enlightenment, life and death, appearance and disappearance, all dissolve together, and the true face of the leaf and himself is revealed.He realized that the existence of any kind of phenomenon has the possibility of leading to other phenomena.The One contains all, and all is contained in the One. That leaf was one with his body.Neither of them has a separate, eternal self to each other.None of them can survive independently of everything else in the universe.Seeing the interdependence of all phenomena, Siddhartha realized the emptiness of all dharmas—that everything has no individuality at all.He understood that the two principles of interdependence and selflessness are the keys that open the door of liberation.Thin clouds floated across the sky, sweeping the white background of the translucent Pippolo tree industry.Maybe this night, the white clouds will meet the cold front and turn into rain.Clouds are one phenomenon; yet another.Clouds also have no birth and no death.Gautama thought, if the white cloud understands this truth, when it turns into rain and falls on the mountains, forests and rice fields, it will definitely sing happily. Having ignited the stream of his body, feelings, thoughts, thoughts and consciousness, Siddhartha now understood that impermanence and selflessness are the necessary conditions of life.Without impermanence and anatta, nothing can grow and develop.Just like a grain of rice, if it is not impermanent and non-self, it will not grow into rice.If the cloud were not impermanent and selfless, it would not become rain.If it were not for impermanence and impermanence, a child would not grow into a man. "Therefore," he thought, "to give and receive life is to accept impermanence and selflessness. The root of suffering comes from the false view of permanence and differentiated individuals. Realizing this truth, you can understand that everything is neither birth nor death, nor arising. There is no extinction, no one without many, no inside and no outside, no big or small, no dirt and no net. The concept of permanent self is a false distinction produced in thinking. As long as you understand the emptiness of all things, all spiritual All obstacles can be overcome, and thus freed from the wheel of pain." From one night to the next, Gautama sat under the pippala tree in meditation, allowing the light of his awareness to shine upon his body, mind, and entire universe.His five companions had long since deserted him.His current fellow practitioners are forests, rivers, birds, and thousands of insects and ants living in trees or in the soil.This gigantic pippala tree was his brother on the path.Every night when he sits down to meditate, the evening star that appears in the sky is also his fellow practitioner.He often meditated until late at night. Children from the village usually visit him after noon.One day, Shansheng brought him some milk porridge with honey, and Svasti brought a handful of fresh grass.After Svasti left to bring the buffalo home, Gautama was seized with a deep feeling that he would be fully enlightened that night, the Way.Just the night before, he had had some strange dreams.In one, he saw himself lying on his side with his knees against the Himalayas, his small left hand touching the shore of the East Sea, his right hand touching the shore of the West Sea, and his feet resting on the shore of the South Sea.In another dream, a lotus flower the size of a wheel arose from his belly and rose to the highest sky.In the third dream, countless birds of different colors flew towards him from all directions.These dreams seemed to foretell him that he was about to attain great enlightenment. That evening, Gotama was walking meditation by the river.He wades into the water to take a bath.As the first night approached, he returned to sit under the Pippiro tree.He looked at the newly laid Gushi grass under the tree, and smiled slightly.It was under this tree that he made some important discoveries in meditation.Now, the moment he's been waiting for is getting closer.The door to the Great Way is about to open. Not in a hurry, Siddhartha slowly crossed his legs and sat in the lotus position.He looked at the river in the distance, flowing quietly in the breeze blowing the grass along the bank.Although the forest at night is quiet, it is still alive.Around him, thousands of insects of all kinds were calling.He turned his attention to his breathing, and gently closed his eyes.The evening star appeared in the sky. Through mindful, focused awareness, Siddhartha's mind, body, and breath were all in perfect unity.His practice of mindfulness has enabled him to develop great concentration.And he uses this concentration to help him observe his body and mind.After entering deep meditation, he can discern the countless beings existing in his body at that time.This includes organic or inorganic, minerals, grasses, insects, animals and humans.At that moment, he also observed that all other beings were himself.He sees his past lives, birth and death in all lifetimes.He saw the construction and destruction of countless stars and worlds.He felt the joys and sorrows of all living beings—including viviparous, oviparous, and differentiated cells.He saw that every cell in his body contained everything in the world, and it spanned the past, present and future.At that time, it happened to be the first watch of the night. Gautama entered into a deeper meditation.He has seen the rise and fall of countless worlds.He saw countless beings go through life after life.He saw these births and deaths as phenomena and not reality.Just like billions of waves undulating on the surface of the sea, the sea itself does not fall into birth and death.As long as the waves understand that they are actually sea water, they too can transcend birth and death, have no fear, and gain inner peace and security. This realization enabled Gautama himself to transcend the net of birth and death.he laughed.His smile is like a flower blooming in the middle of the night, exuding a halo of glory.That is the smile that belongs to Miaocha, because Miaocha can realize the shattering of all troubles.This is the realization he gained in the second watch. At this moment, thunder suddenly sounded, and a giant flash of lightning flashed across the sky, as if tearing the sky into two pieces.Heavy black clouds cover the moon and stars.Followed by torrential rain.Gautama was soaked, but he didn't move at all.He continued to meditate. Unmoved at all, he shone awareness onto his mind.He saw beings suffering because they did not understand that they were truly one with all things.This ignorance produces infinite sorrow, confusion and confusion.Ignorance is the root of greed, anger, arrogance, doubt, jealousy and fear.When we learn to calm our minds to see the truth of things clearly, we can achieve a comprehensive understanding of everything, so we can accept our distress and turn it into love. Gautama now realized that understanding and love are one.There can be no love without understanding.Every man's situation is the crystallization of his physical, mental and social condition.Knowing this, we will not hate even the cruelest man.We can only hope to do what we can to help him improve his physical, mental and social condition.Its understanding of everything will generate compassion and love in us, which will lead to right behavior.To give love, one must first understand.Therefore, understanding is the key to liberation.To gain clear understanding, we must live attentively, experience life directly in each moment, so as to gain insight into what is happening inside and outside ourselves.Practicing mindfulness and observation can enable us to see the core of everything and make it invisible.This is the treasure house of mindfulness - it can lead us to liberation and enlightenment.The igniting of life depends on correct views, correct thinking, correct language, correct behavior, correct work, correct diligence, correct thoughts and correct concentration.Siddhartha called these the right path (aryamarga) Looking deeply into all beings, Siddhartha could read the minds of everyone, no matter where they were.He could hear everyone's cries again, whether they were crying out for sorrow or joy.At the same time, he also proved the supernatural powers of the heavenly eye, the heavenly ear, and the ability to come and go without hindrance.It is now the third watch, and the thunder and lightning have stopped.The clouds also rolled up, and the bright moon and stars reappeared in the sky. Gautama felt that the prison that had imprisoned him for thousands of lives suddenly burst open.Ignorance is the jailer who imprisons him.All along, his mind has been clouded by ignorance, just like the stars and the moon are covered by black clouds in a storm.Because it is constantly clouded by waves of delusions, the mind mistakenly divides reality into relative consciousnesses such as subject and object, self and other, existence and death, birth and death.From these discriminating minds arise false views—the prisons of sensation, craving, grasping, and existence.The pain of birth, old age, sickness, and death can only be thickened by thickening the walls of the prison.The only way is to capture the culprit prison guard and see his true colors.And the culprit is ignorance.As long as he is dealt with, the prison will naturally disintegrate and will never be rebuilt again. Gautama smiled and murmured to himself, "O jailer who imprisoned me, I see you now. How many lives have you imprisoned me in the prison of life and death? But now I see you clearly. From From this moment on, you can no longer build a prison around me." Looking up, Siddhartha saw the morning star appearing in the sky, shining like a giant diamond.For some time, he had seen this Zhanxing under the Pippolo tree.But this morning, it was like seeing the morning star for the first time.Its radiant splendor is like the joyful smile of enlightenment.Siddhartha stared at the stars, and his compassion spontaneously made him sigh: "All sentient beings hide the seeds of enlightened wisdom, but it is a pity that we have been submerged in the ocean of life and death for so many lives!" Siddhartha knew that he had found the way and achieved his goal, so he was at peace.He recalled the years of searching, the disappointments and hardships he had experienced.He thought of his parents, his aunt, Yasodhara, Rahula and his friends.He also thought of the royal palace, Kapilavastu, his people and country, and all those living in misery and poverty, especially children.He promised himself that he would share his discoveries with the public so that they would be freed from their misery.What emerges from his thorough enlightenment is a stream of deep love for all living beings. On the lawn by the river, small brightly colored flowers bloom in the morning sun.The sun's rays danced on the leaves and on the water.His pain was all gone.All the mysteries of life are fully revealed.Everything is surprisingly fresh.How wonderful is the blue sky and white clouds!He felt that he and the whole universe were newly created. At that moment, Svasti appeared.Siddhartha smiled when he saw the young cowboy running towards him.Svasti stopped suddenly, opened his mouth wide, and stared at Siddhartha.Siddhartha shouted, "Svasti!" The child woke up and responded, "Master!" Svasti clasped his hands and bowed.After he took a few steps forward, he stared at Siddhartha in amazement again.Feeling a little embarrassed about his performance, he said half-stopped, "Teacher, are you different today?" Siddhartha motioned him to come closer.Hugging Svasti in his arms, Siddhartha said, "How am I different today?" Looking at Siddhartha, Svasti replied, "It's hard to say, you are just different. You, you are like a star." Siddhartha patted Gai's head and said, "Really? What else am I like?" "You look like a lotus flower that has just opened. Also, like the moonlight on the top of Mount Gaya." Siddhartha looked into Svasti's eyes and said, "What's the matter, Svasti, you are a poet! Now tell me, why are you so early today? Also, where is your buffalo." Svasti explained that he didn't need to look at the cows today because all the buffaloes had gone to the field and only the dairy cows were left in the stable.His job today is just to cut fresh grass.Last night, he and his siblings were awakened by thunder.Hao Yu poured down from the broken roof and wet their beds.They had never seen such a fierce storm, so they also worried about Siddhartha in the forest.The few of them squatted together until after the storm passed before falling asleep again.At dawn, Svasti ran to the cowshed, took a knife and a pole, and came to Senxiu to see if Siddhartha was all right. Siddhartha clings to Svasti's hand. "Today is the happiest day in my life. If you can, bring all the children to meet me under the Pippolo tree in the afternoon. Don't forget to bring your younger siblings. But now, go cut some kushi grass Go back to the buffalo." Svasti walked and jumped away happily, and Siddhartha began to take his slow steps on the sun-drenched river bank. At noon that day, when Shansheng brought food to Siddhartha, he found him sitting under the Pippala tree, as beautiful as the morning sun.His face and body radiated serenity, joy and peace.She had seen Siddhartha sit majestically under the pippala tree no less than a hundred times, but he was clearly different today.Looking at Siddhartha, Shansheng felt that her own troubles had disappeared, and her heart was filled with happiness like a spring breeze.She felt that she had no more needs or longings in this world.Everything in the universe is already so beautiful, no one needs to worry anymore.Shansheng took a few steps forward and placed the food in front of Siddhartha.Following, she bowed to him.She felt Siddhartha's peace and joy pouring into her own body. Siddhartha smiled at her and said, "Come, sit with me. I am very grateful to you for bringing me food and water these months. Today is the happiest day of my life, because I have realized The Way. Please rejoice in it too. I will soon be teaching others the way." Shansheng looked up in surprise. "You're leaving? You mean you're leaving us?" Siddhartha smiled kindly and said, "Yes, I must leave, but I will not abandon you children. Before I leave, I will let you know the path I have discovered." Shansheng is still not sure.Just as she was about to ask further questions, Siddhartha said, "I will stay with you for a few more days so that you can share what I have learned. I will not go on the road until then. That is Just because I'm gone doesn't mean I'll leave you forever. Every once in a while, I'll come back to visit you." Shansheng felt comforted.She sat down and lifted the banana leaves, and served the rice balls.She sat quietly watching Siddhartha eat.She watched as Siddhartha broke apart the rice balls and dipped each small ball in sesame salt.She was filled with indescribable joy. After dinner, Siddhartha asked Shansheng to go home first.He said he wanted to meet the village boys in the forest in the afternoon. Many children came, including Svasti's younger siblings.All the boys had been bathed and changed into clean clothes.The girls wore beautiful saris.Shansheng's sari was ivory, Nanda Bana wore a banana-colored one, and Bhima's was pink.Like bright flowers, they sat around Siddhartha under the pippala tree. Shansheng specially brought a blue coconut and olive candy.The children scooped out the coconut meat and ate it with delicious sugar cubes.Nanda Bana and Shan Boxi brought a blue orange.Siddhartha's happiness was utterly complete, sitting with the little boy. Lupek offered Siddhartha some coconut and olive sugar on a banana leaf.Nanda Bana sent another orange.Siddhartha took them and ate them with the children. While they were eating happily, Shansheng announced to everyone: "My dear friend, today is the happiest day for our mentor. He has found the way. I think this day is also very important to me. Brothers and sisters, let us treat today as a Happy day. You should celebrate your master's enlightenment. My dear master, the way has been found. We know you will not be with us forever. Please teach us what you think we can understand." Shansheng closed his palms and bowed to Gotama to show respect and sincerity.Nanda Bana and other children also clapped their hands together and bowed. Siddhartha asked the children to sit up softly, and said: "You are all very smart children, you must have no problem understanding and doing what I want to share with you. The way I have discovered is very profound, but any Those who are willing to learn wholeheartedly will be able to understand and follow suit. "You usually peel and eat oranges. You can eat them with or without focus. How can you eat with focus? That is, when you eat oranges, you clearly know that you are eating oranges. You can thoroughly Feel the aroma and sweetness of an orange. When you peel an orange, you know you are peeling it; when you peel a slice of orange and put it in your mouth, you know you are peeling a slice of orange and putting it in your mouth When you enjoy a fragrant and delicious orange, you will be aware that you are experiencing that delicious aroma. Nanda Bana gave me nine slices of orange. As I eat each slice, I am aware of how it is It's rare and beautiful. When I eat an orange, I never forget it. So for me, the orange is very real. If the orange is real, the person who eats it is also real. This is how to focus eat oranges. "Children, how can you eat an orange without paying attention? When you eat an orange, you don't know that you are eating an orange. You don't experience the aroma and sweetness of the orange. When you peel the orange, you don't know You're peeling it; you tear a piece and put it in your mouth, but you don't know you're putting a slice of orange in your mouth; you don't know it when you smell it and taste it You are smelling it or tasting it. Eating an orange like this, you do not appreciate its precious and beautiful nature. When you are not aware that you are eating an orange, the orange is not real .If the orange isn't real, then the person who eats the orange isn't real. Kids, that's eating oranges without mindfulness. "Children, what it means to eat an orange mindfully is to eat it in real contact and communication with the orange. Your mind is not thinking about yesterday or tomorrow, but you are fully absorbed in this moment. That's when the orange truly exists. Live life To be mindful and focused is to live in the present moment, and put your body and mind into the here and now.” "A person who practices mindfulness can see in an orange what others cannot see. A person who pays attention can see the orange tree, the flowers of the orange tree in spring, and the sunshine and rain that nourish the orange. Carefully Looking at it, we can see that ten thousand barley leads to oranges. Looking at oranges, a person who practices concentration can see the mystery of the universe and the interrelationship of all things. Children, our daily life is like oranges Just like every orange is composed of slices of orange flesh, every day is also composed of 24 hours. One hour is like a piece of orange flesh. Living for 24 hours is like eating all the orange flesh. The way we found is to live every hour in focused awareness, and our minds are always devoted to the present moment. The opposite approach is to live in confusion. If we live like this, we don’t actually know that we are Alive. We are not experiencing life fully because my body and mind are not in the here and now." Gautama looked at Shan Sheng and called her name. "Teacher, what's the matter?" Shansheng clasped his palms together. "Do you think that a person who lives with care and attention has more or less chances of making mistakes?" "Dear Master, this man must seldom make mistakes. My mother used to tell me that a girl pays attention to how she walks, stands, talks, laughs, and works, lest she make mistakes in thought, speech, and action through inattentiveness, hurt others or yourself." "That's right, Shansheng. A person who is mindful and focused in life always knows what he is thinking, saying, and doing. Such a person can prevent his thoughts, words, and actions from causing harm to himself or others." "Children, mindful living is about living in the present moment. You need to be aware of what's going on in your body and mind, and at the same time be aware of what's going on in your environment. You should be in direct contact with life. .If you continue to live like this, you will understand yourself and your environment very well. Understanding and understanding will lead to tolerance and love. When everyone understands others, all people will be reconciled, Love each other. Then there will be no more suffering in this world. What do you think, Svasti? Can one have love without understanding?" "Dear Master, it is difficult to love without understanding. This reminds me of what happened to Bimo. One night, she kept crying until Bana couldn't bear it anymore and spanked her ass. I didn't know that Bimo cried even more. I picked up Bimo and found that she was a little hot. I was sure that she had a headache because of the fever, so I asked Bana to put her hand on Bimo's forehead. She did this Afterwards, I understood why Bimo was so annoyed. She softened her eyes, hugged Bimo, and sang nursery rhymes to amuse her with love. Although Bimo was still feverish, he stopped crying. Dear Teacher, I think this is because Bana understands the reason of Bima's uneasiness and changes her attitude. Therefore, I believe that there can be no love without understanding." "That's it, Svasti! With understanding comes love. And with love, there can be acceptance and tolerance. Children, practice mindfulness in life, it will deepen your understanding of everything. ...then you will understand yourself, others and everything. Then you will be more loving. This is the beautiful way I have found." Svasti clasped his hands together. "Dear Master, may we call it the 'Path of Awareness'?" Siddhartha smiled. "Of course. We can call it 'The Way of Awareness.' I like the name. The 'Way of Awareness' leads to full awakening." Shansheng clapped his palms together and wanted to speak. "You are Awakened, and you have taught us to live mindfully in awareness. Shall we call you 'Awakened'?" Siddhartha nodded. "That would make me very happy." Shansheng's eyes lit up.She continued: "'Awake' means 'Buddha' in Magadha. An awakened person should be called 'Buddha' in Magadha. We will call you 'Buddha'." Siddhartha nodded.All the village boys were very excited.The oldest boy, fourteen-year-old Naloka, said: "Dear Buddha, we are happy to accept that you taught us the 'Way of Awareness'. Shansheng once told me how you have been living in this Bipo tree for the past six months. Sit under the pippala tree and practice until last night to achieve great enlightenment. Dear Buddha, this pippala tree is the most beautiful tree in the whole forest. Can we call it the tree of awakening, 'Bodhi tree'? 'Bodhi' It has the same root as 'Buddha', which means awakening." Gautama nodded.He is also very excited.He didn't expect that being with this group of children would give him, the path he attained, and even the tree some special names.Nanda Bana folded her palms together and said, "It's getting dark soon, we're going home. But tomorrow we'll come back to listen to more teachings from you." They all stood up and clasped their palms like lotus buds. form to express gratitude to the Buddha.On the way home, they talked about this and that while walking, happy like a flock of jumping birds.Buddha is also very happy.He decided to stay in the forest for a while in order to explore the best way to sow the seeds of awakening.At the same time, he also intends to give himself some time to enjoy the great freedom brought about by attaining the Dao. The Buddha bathed in the Nelian Chan River every day.He would meditate on the banks of the river or on the trails he walked in the forest.He would meditate by the river or under the linden tree where the birds were singing.He has fulfilled his great wish.He knew that he should go back to Kapilavatthu to meet all the people who were waiting for him to get the news.He thought again of King Bimbisara in Rajagaha.He had a special fondness for the young king, and therefore wanted to visit him.And his five former companions.He knew that they had the conditions to achieve liberation soon, so he also hoped to find them as soon as possible.They should still be around. The river, the sky, the stars and the moon, the mountains and forests, as well as every leaf of grass and every speck of dust have all been transformed by the Buddha.他知道多年来对大道的寻觅是没有白费的。其实，那些艰辛和考验，是有助于他最后的证道。所有众生都本具开悟的心性。每个人都存藏着开悟的种子。众生都不用向身外求悟，因为他们本身就含藏着宇宙间的所有智慧和力量。这是佛陀的伟大发现，更是所有众生应该为之庆幸的。 村童常常都来探望他。佛陀很高兴看到解脱之道可以这么简单和自然地表达出来。就是从未读过书的穷苦村童也能明白他所教的。这对他是很大的鼓舞。 一天，小童带了一大蓝橘子来。他们想练习佛陀对他们说教的第一课，专注地把橘子在留心察觉中吃。善生有礼的向佛陀鞠躬后，便把蓝子放在他面前。佛陀合上掌，然后拿起一个橘子来。跟着，善生把蓝子传给坐在佛陀身边的缚悉底。他也同样合起掌来，拿了一个。善生继续把蓝子传送给每一个孩子，直至每人都有一个橘子。然后，她才自己坐下来，如其他人一样，合上双掌拿了一个橘子。他们全部默默地坐着。佛陀嘱他们随着他们的呼吸而微笑。左手拿起一个橘子，深深的望着它。小孩们都跟他这样做。他慢慢的把橘子的皮剥下，孩子们也把自己橘子的皮剥下。老师和学生一起在静默察觉中专注地享受着他们的橘子。当大家吃完后，芭娜把全部的橘子皮收集起来。他们都十分高兴和佛陀一起这样专念的吃橘子。与小孩一起修习，佛陀也感到无限快慰。 村童通常在午后来探访佛陀。他教他们怎样坐着，跟着呼吸以使恼怒或悲伤的心境平静下来。他又教他们行禅来帮助使身心清新舒畅。他更教他们去深深体察其他人和他们的行为，以使自己能体会、能了解和去爱。孩子们都明白他所教的一切。 难陀芭娜和善生花了一整天缝制一件新的僧袍送给佛陀。它的颜色像瓦砖，如佛陀的旧袍一样。当善生知道佛陀身上的衣服，原来就是她因伤寒死去的仆人宝珠尸体上的布时，她差点哭了起来。 当两个女孩子把新衣送来时，佛陀正在菩提树下坐着。她们静候佛陀从禅坐中出来，才奉上新衣。佛陀很高兴。 “我很需要这件衣服啊。”他说。他又告诉她们会把旧的留着，以使他洗衣时可作替换。善生和难陀芭娜私底下决定再做一件给他。 一天，善生的十二岁朋友芭娜崛多请佛陀教她们交友之道。就在前一天，她与她最要好的朋友佳莉嘉闹翻了。来看佛陀的路上，虽然经过佳莉嘉的家，但芭娜崛多也不肯进去。直至后来因善生的相劝，她才免为其难的进内。佳莉嘉也只是因为善生同行，才答应一起前来。当几个女孩抵达后，芭娜崛多和佳莉嘉距离彼此很远的各坐一方。 佛陀告诉她们一个关于一只鹿、一只小鸟和一只海龟的故事。他说这是发生在几千年以前的事。在那一生中，他是一只鹿。孩子们觉得有点奇怪，但他解释说:“在过去世中，我们都曾是土、石、露、风、水、火。我们也曾是苔、草、树、虱、鱼、龟、鸟和哺乳类动物。这些都是我在禅定中很清楚见到的。因此，在那一世，我是一只鹿。这其实是很平常的事。我仍记得自己曾是兀立在山峰上的一块畸石，又有一生是棵梅子树。你们也都是一样。我将要告诉你们的故事，是关于一只鹿、一只小鸟、一只龟和一个猎人的。或许们其中一个曾是那只小鸟或海龟。 我们都曾在地球上还未有人类或其他鸟兽的时期生活过。那时，只有海洋里的植物和地球表层的树木。在那个时候，我们可能是沙石、露水或植物。之后，我们便经历雀鸟动物的生命，终于而为人类。现在，我们就不单只是人类了。我们是稻米、橘子、河流和空气，因为没有这些，我们都不可能存在。当你们看见稻米、椰子、橘子和水，请仅记你们在这一生，是要靠很多其他的生物来生存的。这些生物都是你们的一部份。如果你们能体会这个，你们就会经验到真正的了解和爱。 “虽然我将要说的故事发生在几千年前，但同样的故事是可以随时发生在这个时代的。细心听下去，看看你们和故事里的动物有没有相似的地方。” 于是，佛陀开始述说这个故事。那时，佛陀是在森林里的一只鹿。它很喜欢到附近一个湖喝清澈的湖水。湖水里住着一只海龟，而湖边一棵杨柳树则住着一只喜鹊。鹿、龟和喜鹊成为很好的朋友。一天，一个猎人跟着鹿儿的足迹来到湖边。他就在那里用绳索布下罗网，然后才回到森林外的房子去。 那天，当鹿儿前来喝水的时候，它不意踏着陷阱，不能摆脱。它的叫喊声被海龟和喜鹊听到。于是，海龟从水里爬出来，喜鹊也从树上飞下来。它们一起商量救它们朋友的最好方法。喜鹊说:“海龟姐姐，你的牙力较强，可以把绳子咬断。我则会想办法去拖延猎人，阻止他前来。”说完之后，喜鹊便赶快飞去了。 海龟在那里开始磨咬绳索。喜鹊飞到猎人的房子后，便在他正门的一棵芒果树上整夜守着。破晓时份，猎人拿着利刀走出门来。喜鹊一见这样子，便立刻用尽全力飞扑到猎人的脸上去。被这一袭，猎人被吓得手忙脚乱，不知所措，立即走回房子里。他躺在床上休息了一会。当他起来时，又再次拿起利刀，但今次却从后门出去。可是聪明的喜鹊早有准备，已在房子后面的一棵桑树上等着。他又一次被喜鹊扑击。两次被袭后，猎人回到房子里仔细思量。他自认当天倒霉，只有等到翌日再出去。 猎人第二天大清早起来，拿着刀，准备出去。但为了防止再被袭击，他带上帽子，把头保护。看见无法再阻挡猎人，喜鹊唯有立刻飞回去提醒它的朋友。 “猎人已经上路了!” 海龟已把绳索差不多全咬断了，只剩下一条。而这一条绳索就如钢铁般坚硬。它的牙颚都已因两日一夜的不停磨咬而损伤流血。到现在，它仍没有停下来。就在这时，猎人出现了。在极度恐慌之下，鹿儿大力踢开了最后的绳索。它跑到森林里去。喜鹊也飞回杨柳树上。只有海龟因已耗尽体力而想动也动不得。看见鹿子跑了，猎人满胸愤怒。他把海龟拿起来，扔到他挂在杨柳树上的皮袋里。然后，他走去找那只鹿。 鹿儿在树丛中看到海龟的遭遇。它想:“我的朋友为了我而冒生命的危险。现在该是我替它们做点事的时候了。”它故意行出来让猎人看见它，然后假装很疲弱的跛着走下山径。 猎人想:“这只鹿已快没气力了。让我跟着它找时机宰杀它吧。” 他尾随着鹿子走进森林的深处，而鹿儿又故意与猎人保持着一段距离。一直等到他们行至离湖边很远的地方，鹿儿突然飞奔，去无踪影。它把自己的足印用泥盖掉，便立即回到湖边去。它用鹿角把皮袋挑下来，再把它摇松放海龟出来。喜鹊这时也飞来与它们会合。 “你俩今天真的把我的命从猎人的刀下救回来！”鹿儿说。“我恐怕他不久之后会再回来。喜鹊，你先飞回林中安全的地方。海龟姐姐，你也快点游回水里躲起来。我会走到森林里。” 当猎人回到湖边，他发觉空着的皮袋，掉在地上。懊恼非常，他唯有拾起皮袋，手上仍执利刀，拖着疲乏的脚步回家。 小孩出神听着佛陀讲这个故事。当佛陀说到海龟因咬绳索而导致口上鲜血淋漓，卢培克和善柏锡都差点儿哭了。佛陀问他们:“孩子们，你们认为怎样?很久以前，我是那只鹿。你们有谁是海龟吗?” 四个孩子举起手来，共中一个是善生。 佛陀再问:“那谁是喜鹊?” 缚悉底立即举手。佳莉嘉和芭娜崛多也同时把手举起。 善生望着佳莉嘉，又望着芭娜崛多。“如果你们两个都是喜鹊，那你们便是一个人了。喜鹊生喜鹊的气，有何好处?我们为何不可以像鹿、龟和喜鹊那样做好朋友?” 芭娜崛多站起来，走到佳莉嘉那里。她用自己小小的双手执着她朋友的手。佳莉嘉把芭娜崛多拉到身旁，移开一点让她坐下来。 佛陀笑了。“你们很明白这个故事。你们记着吧，像这样的故事，在我们的日常生活中不时都在发生。”