Master Tells Stories: The story of a woman with a pearl on her forehead
We must make good use of time and seize our time to and seize our time to always practice the Dharma in our everyday lives. If we do not pay attention and waste our time away, we will not progress on our path of learning the Dharma. So, we need to be aware and mindful at all times.
The Lotus Sutra is the ultimate teaching that the Buddha patiently waited to impart to everyone. It is the teaching of the One Vehicle. At the Dharma assembly when the Buddha was about to teach the Lotus Sutra, many came to listen to his teachings. At the time, the Buddha was still in meditation and gave forth a magnificent light to show that the teaching he was about to give was different from all his previous teachings.
The Buddha wished everyone to give rise to faith, have sincerity in learning the Mahayana teachings and be determined in seeking the Dharma. Sariputra requested the Buddha on people's behalf: Everyone present has been following you and cultivated together with you, the Buddha.
Now that karmic conditions have ripened, everyone should be full of faith and respect in learning your teachings. This is what Sariputra said to the Buddha. It's very important to have faith. Even though there were still people who didn't believe and had doubts in the Buddha's teachings, Sariputra knew the Buddha's intentions, so he tirelessly requested the Buddha to give his teachings.
The Buddha also trusted Sariputra to not give up. The Buddha would never withhold his teachings because a few people didn't believe in the teachings of the One Vehicle or because a few people were ignorant and could not understand his teachings. The Buddha would not stop because of this. So, the Buddha still continued to teach everyone, wishing for all who wanted to learn the Dharma to have faith in the teachings. To have faith is necessary and very important.
There was a girl in a wealthy family who was born with a shiny pearl on her forehead. Ever since she was born, jewelries would appear in the house, and she was deeply loved by her parents. She was clever and kind, and whenever she saw the poor, she would give the pearl on her forehead to them.
Everyone in town adored this pretty, kind and intelligent girl. There was an elder who had a very handsome son, and as both families were devout Buddhists, the two young people got married. The young couple practiced the Dharma together, agreed to stay pure in body and mind to wait for the opportunity to become monastics.
Finally, after a few years, the Buddha traveled to Sravasti and was giving teachings in Jetavana Monastery. The couple begged their parents to let them renounce the lay life. So, with the blessings from their families, the couple went to take refuge in the Buddha and became monastics together. Everyone admired them very much and wanted to know their karmic affinities.
So, the Buddha started telling their story. In ancient times, there was a Kasyapa Buddha. When he was in Varanasi, there was an elder who was not wealthy but was a devout Buddhist. When he met Kasyapa Buddha, the elder was in awe of his dignified presence. He wished more people could listen to the Buddha's teachings and vowed to hold a large assembly for everyone to learn the Dharma. He went around to raise funds so he could invite Kasyapa Buddha to give his teachings to all.
There was a lady who was very happy to hear of his plans. At the time in India, the wealthy often wore a pearl on the forehead, The lady quickly took off the pearl and gave it to the elder. The elder took the pearl and immediately went to prepare for the event. When the lady returned home, her husband noticed and asked: Where's your pearl? She told him what she saw and heard and how she gave away the pearl happily. Her husband was delighted by her account and rejoiced as well. They both wished to be able to learn the Dharma life after life and become monastics when karmic affinities ripen.
Before the two of them listened to the Dharma, they already had faith in the Dharma, so they made vows together to follow it. From the era of Kasyapa Buddha to the era of Sakyamuni Buddha, the couple's karmic affinities ripened. The husband and wife were reborn as the young couple in the Sakyamuni Buddha era.
In all, giving brings merits and inviting everyone to learn the Dharma also creates great merits on our spiritual path. As we learn the Dharma, we must always give rise to joy and faith and believe in the teachings of the Buddha. To do this, we must be mindful at all times.
Source: Master Tells Stories (DAAI TV)
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