(Part
One) 22.
Returning Home
.
When
King Suddhodana came to know that the Buddha was teaching
in Rajagaha he sent nine messengers, one after the
other, inviting him to come to Kapilavatthu. All the
messengers became monks. They listened to the Buddha's
teachings and found them so appealing that they forgot
to convey the king's message.
The
king had made arrangements for the Buddha to stay
in a park called Nigrodha. But when the Buddha did
not arrive, the king sent Kaludayi, a childhood playmate
of Buddha's, to invite him back to Kapilavatthu.
When
the people of Kapilavatthu discovered that the Buddha
had come to their city they flocked to see him. Prince
Siddhartha's own relatives came as well and said,
"He is our younger brother, our nephew, our grandson."
Then
the Buddha realised that some people, even then, did
not understand that he was already enlightened but
felt they were his elders. He showed them a miracle
called the "Twin miracle". Even the king,
seeing this miracle, worshipped him.
The
next day the Buddha took his begging bowl and went
from door to door begging for food. The king, seeing
this, was very annoyed. "Why do you disgrace
me, my son? Why do you ruin me like this? Why don't
you take food in the palace? Is it proper for you
to beg for food in this very city where you used to
travel in golden sedan chairs? Why do you put me to
shame, my dear son?"
"I
am not putting you to shame, O Great King. This is
our custom," replied the Buddha calmly.
"How
can this be? Nobody in our family has ever begged
like this. How can you say 'it is our custom'?"
the confused king asked.
"Oh
Great King, this is not the custom of the Royal family,
but of the Buddhas. All the former Buddhas have lived
by receiving food this way."
However,
when the king begged the Buddha to take food in the
palace the Buddha kindly did so.
