(Photo source: Pexels)
When the Buddha was still around, he had once resided in the Kingdom of Magadha. There was a family of five brothers in this kingdom, and they were all followers of Brahmanism. Except for the youngest brother, who worked on the family farming business, the other four brothers had gone to the mountains to practise Brahmanism.
One day, when the Buddha was out seeking alms, the youngest brother, who was farming in his field, happened to see him walking past in a dignified manner. Upon seeing the Buddha, the farmer stood up straight and felt great respect for the former from the bottom of his heart. Unable to contain his admiration, he rushed towards the Buddha, prostrated to him, and respectfully offered the rice ball that he had brought for himself to the Buddha by putting it into the latter’s alms bowl.
Seeing how reverent the farmer was, the Buddha gave his blessings for him to reap a bumper harvest. The Buddha’s words delighted the farmer very much. In fact, the farmer was not asking for anything in return. He was very happy when he saw the Buddha, so he offered the rice ball to him. And the Buddha gave his blessings for him to continuously reap a good harvest.
The rice plants grew till they were ripe, and the youngest brother’s paddy field was full of laden rice stalks. Then, he started harvesting the rice. After he had cut some rice stalks, new rice stalks started to grow instantaneously and continuously in place of them.
The youngest brother was very puzzled by what he saw and thought, “I have just cut off those rice stalks, why are there full of rice stalks again with just a turn of my head?”
Even after re-harvesting, the stretch of field behind him was covered with ripe rice stalks once again when he turned around to look at it.
Word about the strange phenomenon spread quickly, and everyone ran to the youngest brother’s paddy field to look at what was happening. These people stepped into the field to harvest the rice themselves and witnessed new rice stalks growing immediately in place of those that had been cut off. It was an incredible sight to behold. The strange news even reached the king, who personally came to the youngest brother’s field and harvested the rice himself. And he received the same outcome.
That was very strange; what could be the reason behind it? There had never been such speedy regeneration of crops even though the farmers in this country often enjoyed hefty harvests. Only the youngest brother knew what happened.
Enlightened by the Buddha’s teachings
One day, the four brothers who were cultivating in the mountains had a sudden thought: "The rice should be ready for harvesting by now. We wonder how the harvest is this year. Shouldn’t the four of us go back to visit our youngest brother?"
The four brothers then set off for the trip. Midway along their journey, they heard word of the strange news. So they went to their youngest brother’s paddy field directly and asked him, “How did you cultivate the rice? Why does such a strange phenomenon occur?”
The younger brother replied, "I don't know either. I only remember that one day, when I was farming in the field, I saw the Buddha walk past me in a dignified manner. His dignified demeanour was so overwhelming that I couldn’t help but feel great respect for him, and at the same time, I felt really excited. I piously offered the rice ball I had with me to the Buddha, and my heart was full of joy. The Buddha seemed to have given me his blessing for a good harvest. Could it be due to that?"
The four spiritual cultivators were astonished by what they had heard as they had never encountered anything like that before, despite having cultivated it for decades. They thought: “What kind of spiritual power could it be that made people feel so happy and satisfied?” Their youngest brother was a farmer, and yet he was able to receive the blessing from the Buddha and enjoy such a great harvest. Even the king himself, as well as people from all over the city, had received a share of it. What were the karmic causes and conditions behind it?
The four spiritual cultivators then said to their youngest brother: "Cook the rice that you’ve just harvested. We are willing to offer the rice to the Buddha and his monastic disciples.” (They wanted to find out why the Buddha had made their brother so happy.)
Thus, the four brothers came to the Buddha with the cooked rice and began to offer it to the monks. Upon seeing the Buddha and the dignified monastics, the brothers rejoiced from the heart. So they piously sought the teachings of the Buddha, hoping that he could expound the Dharma to them.
The eldest brother asked, "Buddha, please tell me what Dharma should I receive?"
The Buddha said to him: "All things in the world are impermanent."
Then, the second brother came to the Buddha to seek the Dharma.
The Buddha said, "All things follow the law of arising and ceasing."
And the second brother was very happy to hear the Buddha’s words, too.
The third brother also sought the Dharma from the Buddha, who replied him: “Bring all arising and ceasing to an end.”
The fourth brother quickly came forth to seek the Dharma, too, and the Buddha replied, "The state of cessation (i.e. Nirvana) is bliss.”
The Buddha shared the four verses with the four brothers, and the teaching was well received by the latter. All their afflictions were thus eliminated. Their hearts opened with understanding and were filled with peace and ease. They were all filled with joy, and at that instant, they attained the spiritual state of Anagami.
Therefore, there isn’t a need to recite and listen to too much Dharma, as long as the right teachings enter our hearts, and we mindfully listen to and contemplate on the Dharma, and then put it into practice. What is most important is that we are pious and respectful.
When everyone takes in the Dharma, etches it in their minds and becomes one with the teachings, it is just like “transplanting” the Dharma into their hearts. For example, a person who is unable to produce quality blood requires a bone marrow match from a healthy person. The marrow needs to be transplanted into his body in order for him to restore his hematopoietic function and regain his health.
The Buddha tells us that Buddha nature is inherently part of every living being. The enlightenment of the Buddha is what everyone innately has within them. But our minds are shrouded by ignorance. As our minds are sick, the Buddha gives us healthy Dharma-marrow. And if we mindfully take it in and let the Dharma flow into our minds bit by bit, then naturally, the teachings will become ours. And we will be able to put them to great use. Such is the power of love.
Extracted from Tzu Chi Taiwan website
Translated by the Tzu Chi Singapore translation team
Share 
