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From the Dhammapada Commentary
By E. W. Burlingame (translator)

56 Buddhist stories for young and old bundled into 8 convenient categories.

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===

Free Buddhism ebook

A Treasury of Buddhist Stories
From the Dhammapada Commentary
By E. W. Burlingame (translator)

56 Buddhist stories for young and old bundled into 8 convenient categories.

Free download here:

https://www.lotuslibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/2062-treasury-of-Buddhist-stories_Burlingame.pdf
===

The Story about the Twin Miracle

Yamakapāṭihāriyavatthu

From the Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā
By E.W. Burlingame and Ānandajoti Bhikkhu

Part 1 of 2

The Buddha Promises to Perform a Miracle

When the sectarians heard that the ascetic Gotama had caused that bowl to be broken to pieces and that he had laid down a precept forbidding his disciples to perform miracles, they said: “Even if their lives depend upon it, the disciples of the ascetic Gotama will not disobey the precept which he has laid down.

Moreover the ascetic Gotama will also keep that precept. Now is our chance!”

So they went through the streets of the city proclaiming: “It is our wont to keep our own powers hidden, and it was for this reason that on a recent occasion we refused to display our own powers for the sake of a wooden bowl.

But the disciples of the ascetic Gotama displayed their powers to the multitude all for the sake of a paltry bowl. The ascetic Gotama in his wisdom caused that bowl to be broken to pieces and laid down a precept forbidding his disciples to perform miracles. Henceforth we will perform miracles only with him.”

King Bimbisāra heard their talk, went to the Teacher, and said: “Venerable Sir, is the report true that you have forbidden your disciples to perform miracles?” –“Yes, great king.” – “The sectarians are saying: ―We will perform miracles with you, "what do you intend to do about this?” – “If they perform miracles, I will do the same.” – “Have you not laid down a precept forbidding the performance of miracles?” – “Great king, I have not laid down a precept for myself; the precept was intended to apply only to my disciples.” – “Do you mean that the precept which you laid down was intended to apply to everyone but yourself?”

“Well, great king, I will answer that question by another. Great king, it is true, is it not, that you have a pleasure-garden in your kingdom?” – “Yes, venerable Sir.” – “Great king, if the populace should eat the mangoes and other fruits in your garden, what would you do to them?” – “I should inflict punishment upon them, venerable Sir.” – “But you would have the right to eat them yourself?” –“Yes, venerable Sir: I am not liable to punishment; I should have the right to eat whatever belongs to me.” – “Great king, even as your authority extends throughout your kingdom thirty leagues in extent, and you are not yourself liable to punishment for eating mangoes and other fruits in your own garden, while others are liable to punishment for doing so, even so my authority extends throughout hundreds of thousands of millions of worlds, and while I may overstep the precepts which I have myself laid down, others may not so do; therefore, great king, I shall perform a miracle.”

When the sectarians heard these words, they said to each other: “Now we are lost; the ascetic Gotama declares that the precept which he laid down was intended to apply to his disciples, but not to himself, and he further declares that it is his intention to perform a miracle himself; what are we to do?” And they took counsel together.

The king asked the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, when do you intend to perform this miracle?” – “On the day of full moon of the month Āsāḷha (July), four months hence.” – “Where will you perform it, venerable Sir?” – “Near Sāvatthī, great king.”

Now why did the Teacher appoint a place so far distant? Because Sāvatthī is the place where all the Buddhas have performed their great miracles; it was likewise to permit the assembly of a great multitude. For these reasons the Teacher appointed a place far distant.

The sectarians, hearing these words, said to each other: “Four months hence the ascetic Gotama will perform a miracle at Sāvatthī. Henceforth, therefore, we must pursue him unremittingly. When the populace see us, they will ask: ―What does this mean?, and we will reply: ―You will remember that we said: “We will perform a miracle with the ascetic Gotama,” now he is running away from us; but since we are not willing that he should get away from us, we are pursuing him.”

When the Teacher had gone his rounds for alms in Rājagaha, he came forth from the city. The sectarians likewise came forth in his train. Wherever he took his meal, there they lodged for the night; wherever he lodged for the night, there they took their breakfast. When the people asked them: “What does this mean?” they gave the same answer they had before agreed upon. “We will see the miracle,” cried out the multitude, and followed after. In due course the Teacher reached Sāvatthī. The sectarians accompanied him there. On reaching the city they stirred up their retainers, obtained for themselves 100,000 coins, caused a pavilion to be erected with pillars of acacia wood, and caused it to be covered with blue lotus flowers. Having so done, they sat down and said:

“Here we will perform a miracle.”

King Pasenadi Kosala approached the Teacher and said: “Venerable Sir, the sectarians have caused a pavilion to be erected; shall I also erect a pavilion for you?” – “There is no need of so doing, great king; I have a pavilion-maker.” –

“Venerable Sir, who is there here besides me that can build a pavilion for you?”
– “Sakka, the Lord of the Devas, great king.” – “Venerable Sir, where will you perform the miracle?” – “At the foot of what is called Gaṇḍa's mango tree, great king.” The sectarians heard the words: “He will perform the miracle at the foot of a mango tree.” Straightaway they tore up by the roots all of the mango trees for a league around, even those that had sprung up that very day, and threw them all into the forest.

Preliminary Miracles

On the day of full moon of the month Āsāḷha (July) the Teacher entered the city.

On the same day Gaṇḍa, the king's gardener, seeing a large ripe mango in a basket of leaves made by red ants, drove away the crows which had been attracted by its savor and flavor, picked up the mango, and set out with it, intending to take it to the king. But seeing the Teacher by the way, he thought to himself: “If the king eats this mango, he will possibly give me eight or sixteen coins for it, and that will not suffice to keep me alive during one state of existence; but if I give this to the Teacher, it will be beneficial for time without end.” Accordingly he presented the ripe mango to the Teacher.

The Teacher looked at the Elder Ānanda. The elder removed the outer covering from the gift intended for the great king and placed the mango in the Teacher's hands. The Teacher presented his bowl, received the ripe mango, and intimated that he desired to sit down right there. The elder spread his robe and presented it. When the Teacher was seated, the elder strained water, crushed the ripe mango, made a sherbet, and gave it to the Teacher. When the Teacher had drunk the mango-sherbet, he said to Gaṇḍa: “Dig up the earth right here and plant the seed of the mango.” The gardener did as he was told.

The Teacher washed his hands over the place where the mango had been planted. The very moment he washed his hands, a mango tree sprang up, with a stalk as thick as a plow-handle, fifty cubits in height. Five great branches shot forth, each fifty cubits in length, four to the four cardinal points and one to the heavens above. Instantly the tree was covered with flowers and fruits; indeed on one side it bore a cluster of ripe mangoes. Approaching from behind, the bhikkhus picked the ripe mangoes, ate them, and then withdrew. When the king heard that a mango tree so wonderful had sprung up, he gave orders that no one should cut it down, and posted a guard. Because the tree had been planted by the gardener Gaṇḍa, it became known as Gaṇḍa's mango tree.

Men of the baser sort also ate the ripe mango fruits and cried out: “You rascally sectarians, when you heard that the ascetic Gotama would do a miracle at the foot of Gaṇḍa's mango tree, you caused all the young mangoes for a league around, even those that have sprung up this very day, to be torn up by the roots; yet here is Gaṇḍa's mango tree.” So saying, they took the seeds and cores of the mango fruits which remained, and threw them at the sectarians.
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Part 1 of 2:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/dhammapadas/2986


Part 2 of 2:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/wordsofbuddha/4213

===
Dhammapada, beloved and favorite teachings of the Buddha channel:

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Offering as high as Mount Meru, farmers offers their farm harvest for the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, Java island, Indonesia.

“In the wilderness, at a tree’s root, or an empty hut, O mendicants, recollect the Buddha, and no fear will come to you.

If you can’t recollect the Buddha—the eldest in the world, the chief of men—then recollect the teaching, emancipating, well taught.

If you can’t recollect the teaching—emancipating, well taught—then recollect the Saṅgha, the supreme field of merit.

Thus recollecting the Buddha, the teaching, and the Saṅgha, mendicants, fear and terror and goosebumps will be no more.”

SN 11.3 : Dhajaggasutta

The Story about the Twin Miracle

Yamakapāṭihāriyavatthu

From the Dhammapada Aṭṭhakathā
By E.W. Burlingame and Ānandajoti Bhikkhu

Part 2 of 2

Sakka ordered the Devaputta Vātavalāhaka (Wind-Cloud): “Uproot the pavilion of the sectarians with your winds and throw it into the cesspool.” Devaputta Vātavalāhaka did so. Then Sakka ordered the Devaputta Sun: “Check the course of the sun's disk and scorch them.” The Devaputta Sun did so. Then Sakka again ordered Vātavalāhaka: “Vātavalāhaka, set the chariot of the wind in motion and go forth.” Vātavalāhaka did so. Now the bodies of the sectarians were streaming with sweat, and Vātavalāhaka sprinkled them with a shower of dust until they looked like red ants. Then Sakka again ordered Vātavalāhaka: “Cause countless great drops of rain to fall.” Vātavalāhaka did so, and the sectarians looked like mottled cows. Naked as they were, they fled helter-skelter.

As they were running away, a certain farmer who was a supporter of Pūraṇa Kassapa, thought: “Tomorrow is the day when my noble teachers will perform their miracle; I must go see the miracle.” So unyoking his cattle and taking with him a vessel of broth which he had brought with him early in the morning, and a rope, he set out to return home. When he saw Pūraṇa running away in such wise, he said to him: “Venerable Sir, I set out with the thought in my mind: ―I will go see my noble teachers perform their miracle, "Where are you going?” Pūraṇa replied: “Why should you wish to see a miracle? Give me your waterpot and rope.” The farmer did so. Pūraṇa took the waterpot and rope, and going to the bank of the river, tied the waterpot to his neck with the rope, and threw himself into the stream. There was a splash of water-bubbles, and Pūraṇa died and was reborn in the Avīci Hell.

The Jeweled Walk

The Teacher created a jeweled walk in the air, one end of which rested upon the eastern rim of the world and the other upon the western rim. As the shadows of evening drew on, there assembled a multitude thirty-six leagues in extent. The Teacher, thinking to himself: “This is the time for me to perform the miracle,” came forth from the Perfumed Chamber and stood on the terrace.

At that moment a female lay disciple named Gharaṇī, a woman possessed of psychic power, who had attained the fruition of Non-returning, approached the Teacher and said: “Venerable Sir, so long as you have a daughter like me remaining alive, you will have no occasion to weary yourself; I will perform a miracle.” – “Gharaṇī, what miracle will you perform?” – “Venerable Sir, I will convert the great earth which lies enclosed within the circle of the world into water, and then I will dive into the water like a water-bird and reappear at the eastern rim of the world. Likewise will I reappear at the western rim, and at the northern rim, and at the southern rim of the world, and at the centre. People will ask: ―Who is that? and other people will answer: ―That is Gharaṇī. If such is the supernatural power of a mere woman, what must the supernatural power of a Buddha be like? Under such circumstances the sectarians will flee away without so much as waiting to see you.”

The Teacher replied: “I know very well, Gharaṇī, that you are perfectly able to perform such a miracle as you describe; but this basket of flowers was not prepared for you.” With these words he declined her offer. Gharaṇī said to herself: “The Teacher declines my offer; doubtless there is someone else able to perform a greater miracle than that which I am able to perform.” So saying, she stepped aside.

The Teacher thought to himself: “Thus will the merits of these persons also become manifest; thus will they send up their shouts of applause in the midst of a company thirty-six leagues in extent.” And he asked yet others: “What manner of miracle will you perform?” – “Thus and thus will we perform a miracle, venerable Sir,” they replied; and standing before the Teacher, they sent up shouts of applause.

It seems that among others Culla Anāthapiṇḍika thought to himself: “So long as the Teacher has a son like me alive, a lay disciple who has attained the fruition of Non-returning, he will have no occasion to weary himself.” Accordingly he said to the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, I will perform a miracle.” – “What manner of miracle will you perform?” asked the Teacher. “Venerable Sir, I will assume a form like that of Mahā Brahma, twelve leagues in size, and in the midst of this company, with a sound like the roar of thunder that accompanies a heavy rainstorm, I will shake the earth even as Mahā Brahma shakes the earth. The multitude will ask: ―What sound is that? and the answer will be: ―That is the sound of an earthquake produced by Culla Anāthapiṇḍika. The sectarians will say: ―If such is the supernatural power of a lay disciple, what must be the supernatural power of a Buddha?, "And they will flee away without so much as waiting to see you.”

The Teacher repeated the answer he had given to Gharaṇī: “I know that you possess this power,” and declined his offer to perform the miracle.

Now a certain seven-year-old girl, a novice named Cīrā, who had attained the analytic knowledges, worshipped the Teacher and said: “Venerable Sir, I will perform a miracle.” – “What miracle will you perform, Cīrā?” –

“Venerable Sir, I will fetch Mount Sineru here, and the range of mountains that encircles the earth, and Himālaya likewise, and I will set them up in a row; and then I will soar like a wild-goose up and over the tops of these mountains without so much as touching them and return here. When the populace see me, they will ask: ―Who is that? and the answer will be: ―That is the female novice Cīrā. The sectarians will say: ―It is a mere seven-year-old novice who possesses this supernatural power; what must the supernatural power of a Buddha be like?

So saying, they will flee away without so much as waiting to see you.”

The same words are to be understood here as occurred in the previous answers.

To her likewise did the Fortunate One reply: “I know your supernatural power,” and declined her offer to perform the miracle.

Now a certain novice named Cunda, who, although he had attained the analytic knowledges and the destruction of the pollutants, yet was only seven years old, worshipped the Teacher and said: “Fortunate One, I will perform a miracle.” –“What miracle will you perform?” asked the Teacher. Cunda replied:

“Venerable Sir, I will take upon my shoulder a great rose-apple tree, which is the emblem of Jambudīpa, and I will wave it back and forth, and I will bring fragments of rose-apple and give to this company to eat thereof, and I will also bring flowers of the coral tree.”

Then the bhikkhunī Uppalavaṇṇā worshipped the Teacher and said: “Venerable Sir, I will perform a miracle.” – “What miracle will you perform?” asked the Teacher. “Venerable Sir,” replied Uppalavaṇṇā: “Before the eyes of a multitude extended twelve leagues on all sides, I will surround myself with a retinue thirty-six leagues round about, and I will take the form of a Universal Monarch and will come to you and will worship you.” The Teacher said: “I know your supernatural power,” and declined her offer to perform the miracle.

Then the Elder Mahā Moggallāna worshipped the Fortunate One and said:

“Venerable Sir, I will perform a miracle.” – “What miracle will you perform?” asked the Teacher. “Venerable Sir, I will put Mount Sineru, king of mountains, between my teeth and crunch it like a kidney-bean.” – “What else will you do?” – “I will roll up this earth like a mat and thrust it between my fingers.” – “What else will you do?” – “I will cause the earth to revolve like a potter's wheel and I will give the multitude the essence of earth to eat.” – “What else will you do?” – “I will place the earth in my left hand, and I will remove all these living beings to another continent.” – “What else will you do?” – “I will use Mount Sineru as an umbrella-stick, uplift the great earth, place it thereon, and taking it in one hand, even as a bhikkhu carries an

umbrella in his hand, walk about in the air.”

The Teacher said: “I know your supernatural power,” but declined to permit him to perform the miracles. Moggallāna said: “Doubtless the Teacher knows of someone able to perform a miracle more wonderful than any that I am able to perform.” So saying, he stepped aside.

Then the Teacher said to him: “Moggallāna, this basket of flowers was not prepared for you. The burden which I bear is like the burden of none other; mine is a burden which none other is able to bear. Indeed it is not strange that there is now no one who can bear my burden. In previous states of existence, also, in which, solely through my own volition, I was born as an animal, no one was able to bear my burden.”

When the Teacher had thus spoken, the elder asked him: “When was this, venerable Sir, and how was this?” The Teacher then related in detail.
===
Part 1 of 2:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/dhammapadas/2986


Part 2 of 2:

https://news.1rj.ru/str/wordsofbuddha/4213

===

Words of the Buddha channel:

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===

11. Mase mase kusaggena
balo bhuñjetha bhojanam
Na so saïkhatadhammanam
kalam agghati soëasim. 70.

REALIZATION IS FAR SUPERIOR TO MERE FASTING

11. Month after month a fool may eat only as much food as can be picked up on the tip of a kusa grass blade; 5 but he is not worth a sixteenth part of them who have comprehended the Truth. 6 70.

Story

An ascetic, as the result of a past evil action, used to live on excreta. One day, with the tip of a blade of grass, he placed on the tip of his tongue a little butter and honey. The Buddha visited him and made him attain Arahantship.
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Ajahn Chah, Buddhist teacher of Thai forest meditation of Theravada Buddhism channel:


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Buddham Saranam Gacchami
Dhammam Saranam Gacchami
Sangham Saranam Gacchami

I go to the Buddha for refuge.
I go to the Dhamma for refuge.
I go to the Sangha for refuge.

बुद्धं शरणं गच्छामि। धर्मं शरणं गच्छामि। संघं शरणं गच्छामि।

If you find an alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, overcoming all adversities, wander with them, joyful and mindful.

If you find no alert companion, an attentive friend to live happily together, then, like a king who flees his conquered realm, wander alone like a tusker in the wilds.

Partial excepts from Snp 1.3 : Khaggavisāṇasutta

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Good Question, Good Answer
By Bhante Shravasti Dhammika


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Free Buddha Dharma ebook


Good Question, Good Answer
By Bhante Shravasti Dhammika

QUESTION: What is Buddhism?

ANSWER: The name Buddhism comes from the word budhi which means ‘to wake up’ and thus Buddhism can be said to be the philosophy of awakening. This philosophy has its origins in the experience of the man Siddhattha Gotama, known as the Buddha, who was himself awakened at the age of 35. Buddhism is now more than 2,500 years old and has about 380 million followers worldwide. Until a hundred years ago Buddhism was mainly an Asian philosophy but increasingly it is gaining adherents in Europe, Australia and the Americas.

Free download available:

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Grande Buda de Ibiraçu, gigantic Buddha statue located in Morro da Vargem Zen Buddhism Monastery,
Ibiraçu, Espírito Santo, Brazil, the largest Buddha statue in America continent.

12. Na hi papam katam kammam
sajju kharam'va muccati
ôahantam balam anveti
bhasmacchanno'va pavako. 71.

EVIL TAKES EFFECT AT THE OPPORTUNE MOMENT

12. Verily, an evil deed committed does not immediately bear fruit, just as milk curdles not at once; smouldering, it follows the fool like fire covered with ashes. 71.

Story

An indignant farmer set fire to the hut of a Private Buddha and was born as a Peta resembling a snake. The Buddha related why he was born in such a state and commented on the effects of evil deeds.
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Wat Arun Ratchawararam Ratchawaramahawihan Buddhist temple, Thonburi, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok, Thailand.