Again, Wesak is around the corner. To a lot of Buddhists, Wesak is the day to remember 3 important mile stone in the history of Buddhism, the Birth, Enlightenment and Parinirvana of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha. As usual, a lot of Buddhist around the globe will do the celebrations with a lot of devotions, prayers and charitable deeds.
No matter how they celebrate it, it is a day to do something with good intentions. As for me, I plan to do my special 'puja' in an extradordinary way. I used to go to a lot of Buddhist temples, do participate in the rituals and merit making, to get blessings and holy water from the monks, to recite the scriptures and mantras during the ceremonies, etc, etc. This time around, I just plan to do a simple 'Puja' at home, I have a shrine at home, my home is also my own temple.. So it is much easier to be in an environment I am most comfortable to perform pujas and meditation.
And the other day, I had a very brief but wonderful short text message with a friend about the meaning of doing dana or merit. Do you need money to do dana? Some people would answer yes, we do need money to do dana, so the money can be use to build temples, buy offerings, donation as part of temple maintenance and buying kathina robes for the sangha community. What if a very poor person wld want to do dana but can't afford to? There is a story from the Buddhist scriptures and it was written that there was once a very poor old woman who begged for alms from kind samaritans. The old beggar heard from the people in the streets that a great wise teacher is coming to their town and will be giving teachings. And so the town folks begin to organize a drive to buy oil lamps, garlands of flowers and food to be given as offerings to the Buddha and His retinue of monks and nuns. The old women had this beautiful intention of offering light to the Buddha, but as she could only afford very tiny oil lamp burner, she bought with the money she had that she begged for the day and went to buy the wick, oil and burner. As she turned up at the sanctuary where the Buddha and the Sangha was residing and she placed her offering amongst the hundreds of light offerings the size of bull cart wheels. She made a simple but sincere prayer. Although these lamps shone brightly, but none shone more brighter than her offering. Everyone was puzzled, Someone asked the Buddha and the Buddha answered:
"The donor of this lamp was very sincere and was moved by good intentions when performing this offering", Hence the Buddhas asked the donor to step forward, the audience was shocked to see an old beggar coming forth and prostrated in front of the Buddha, The woman asked: 'O Holy One, why is that so?" The Buddha replied "As your intention for this offering is pure and not evil, your lamp shines brilliantly like a bright stars amongs the dim twinkles of the rest"
It is a simple story that teaches that what ever we do, our intentions must be pure and to benefit others.
Another wonderful story was a story of a poor farmer who was working really hard tilling his land, He came to know that the Bhagavan was in town and he too would like to see Him and make an offering, but he was too poor and he couldn't afford to buy any kind of offering as the money he has worked very hard is to feed his family and his cows. Distraught and saddened, he felt he couldn't make any kind of offering. The Buddhas at that moment was walking past his field along with his attendant, The farmer has not personally met the Buddha before sensed someone very holy was near by and he searched for Him, the farmer found the Buddha and asked the Buddha what would be the best solution for his predicament: The Buddha revealed himself and the Farmer was so happy and yet so sad, he knelt down and told Him that he couldn't afford to offer the Buddha some offering. The Buddha looked around and saw some pile of stones, he pointed to the farmer and said, get me some stones. The farmer did so and asked what did the Buddha wanted, The Buddhas said: "You can offer these stones to me as an offering". The farmer was stunned, "But what good can these stones do for you, Venerable One?" The Buddha replied, "As long as your intention to offer is pure and not evil, I can accept this offering". With that, the farmer was over joyed with tears and he respectfully carved the Buddhas name onto the rock and offered it to the Buddha.
When we offer our good conduct, intentions and actions as an offering to the Triple Gem, it is as worthy as offering diamonds and gold. With our palms joined we bow to the triple Gem, that is an offering as well.
When I heard of these two stories, my perception of dana has changed tremendously. Doing dana has now given me a new depth in the Dharma.
As I share this with you, I do hope you can share this with everyone and may all be well, happy and free from suffering.
Kâyena vâcâ cittena - Pamâdena mayâ katam
If by deeds, speech or thought heedlessly, I have done anything wrong,
Accayam khama me bhante - Bhûri-paññâ Tathâgata
forgive me O Master! O Teacher, Great Wise!
Kâyena vâcâ cittena - Pamâdena mayâ katam
If by deeds, speech or thought heedlessly, I have done anything wrong,
Accayam khama me Dhamma - Sanditthika akalika
forgive me O Dhamma! Immediately seen and timeless!
Kâyena vâcâ cittena - Pamâdena mayâ katam
If by deeds, speech or thought heedlessly, I have done anything wrong,
Accayam khama me Sangha - Supatipanna anuttara
forgive me O Sangha! Nobles Ones who have taken the right path, unparallel!
Idam te natinam hotu sukhi hontu natayo
