(Part
One) 30. Wakkali and the Buddha
In
Savatthi there was a young man called Wakkali who
admired the Buddha's beauty. One day he thought,
"So long as I am living at home I cannot see
the Buddha, but if I become a monk I would see him
daily." So he went to the temple and was ordained
by the Buddha.
Now
he had the opportunity to always admire the Buddha's
appearance. He did nothing all day but follow the
Buddha like a shadow. The Buddha waited for Wakkali's
wisdom to ripen, saying not a word. But instead
of reading, learning and meditating Wakkali just
admired the Buddha. The Buddha thought, "Unless
this monk gets a shock he will never come to understand."
So
one day the Buddha had an invitation to spend the
three months rains retreat in Rajagaha and he left
Wakkali behind.
Wakkali
was very disappointed and began to think, "Three
months is a long time. What a miserable period I
will have to spend. What is the use of living any
longer? I will throw myself off Vultures' Peak."
Now
the Buddha, staying in Rajagaha, saw with his mind's
eye Wakkali about to jump off Vultures' Peak. "If
this monk gets no comfort or consolation from me
he will kill himself," he thought. The Buddha
immediately sent forth a radiant image of himself
and there, on the edge of the summit at Vultures'
Peak, Wakkali saw the Buddha before him and felt
his sorrow vanish. Wakkali's mind was filled with
joy and he thought, "The person who has perfect
faith in the Buddha will be full of joy and satisfaction.
The person who has perfect faith in the Buddha will
reach the place of peace and happiness."
