[Intro]
A simple bowl, a heart sincere,
A gift of love, a spirit clear.
Beyond the riches people own,
A seed of goodness can be sown.
[Verse 1]
Long ago, a wealthy man,
Prepared a gift with his own hands.
A bowl of milk-rice, pure and bright,
For a sacred offering that night.
He walked into the forest green,
A wondrous vision he had seen.
Vipassī Buddha, golden and bright,
Surrounded by monks in heavenly light.
[Verse 2]
The Buddha walked upon the air,
A miracle beyond compare.
The Brahmin stood in awe and grace,
With deep devotion in his face.
He placed his bronze bowl on the ground,
And bowed before the Buddha renowned.
"O Great Sage, compassionate and wise,
Please accept this gift I offer with pride."
[Chorus]
The gift of milk-rice, offered with love,
A humble prayer rising above.
A simple act, a heart sincere,
A beautiful lesson we hold dear.
It is not wealth that makes us great,
Nor treasures that determine fate.
Give with kindness, give with care,
And let compassion fill the air.
[Verse 3]
The Buddha knew his pure intention,
And accepted the food with compassion.
The monks received the sacred meal,
A moment of goodness, true and real.
Through many ages, time moved on,
His wholesome deeds continued strong.
In a later life, he joined the way,
And reached the freedom of Nibbāna's day.
[Bridge]
Give what you can, both great and small,
A helping hand can serve us all.
Keep your precepts, train your mind,
Leave selfishness and greed behind.
With meditation, wisdom grows,
The truth of suffering becomes known.
The Noble Path will lead us through,
To peace beyond what words can do.
[Final Chorus]
The gift of milk-rice, offered with love,
A humble prayer rising above.
Though years may pass and flowers fade,
The seeds of goodness still remain.
Give with kindness, live with care,
Let wisdom guide us everywhere.
May all beings be free from pain,
And find true peace beyond the rain.
[Outro]
One simple gift, one noble deed,
A timeless lesson for all to heed.
With faith and wisdom as our guide,
May Nibbāna shine inside.
Venerable Pāyāsadāyaka Thera: The Offering of Milk-Rice to Vipassī Buddha
A Story of Generosity, Faith, Wholesome Karma, and the Attainment of Arahantship
The story of Venerable Pāyāsadāyaka Thera is recorded in the Pāyāsadāyaka Thera Apadāna, Book 32 of the Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, in the Sereyyaka Vagga of the Pali Buddhist Canon.
In a previous existence, during the time of Vipassī Buddha, he prepared a special offering of milk-rice, placing it in a bronze tray with his own hands. Originally, he intended to use the food for a traditional sacrificial ceremony.
While travelling to a forest of silk-cotton trees, he encountered Vipassī Buddha, whose complexion shone like gold. The Buddha possessed the thirty-two marks of a great man and was accompanied by an assembly of monks.
At that time, the Buddha demonstrated an extraordinary miracle by walking in meditation along a pathway in the sky.
Witnessing this remarkable event, the Brahmin was filled with wonder and deep reverence. He immediately placed his bronze tray on the ground, bowed respectfully before Vipassī Buddha, and made his offering.
He addressed the Buddha:
"Great Sage, you are the Omniscient Buddha in the world of gods and human beings. Out of compassion, please accept this milk-rice that I offer."
Understanding the donor's intention, Vipassī Buddha compassionately accepted the offering.
According to the Apadāna, the wholesome merit of this offering brought the donor freedom from unfortunate destinations throughout many aeons. The text also records that, in the forty-first aeon, he became a powerful Universal Monarch named Buddha, possessing the seven treasures.
Eventually, he attained the four analytical knowledges, the eight liberations, and the six higher knowledges.
He declared that he had completed the Buddha's teaching.
Additional Biography from the Commentary
The commentary provides further details about his previous life.
During the time of Vipassī Buddha, he was born into a wealthy family and became a prosperous householder. He possessed elephants, horses, gold, agricultural wealth, and the seven treasures.
He was also a person of faith who believed in karma and the results of actions.
According to the commentary, he instructed his servants to prepare one thousand golden trays filled with fresh milk and milk-rice and bring them to the forest.
After witnessing Vipassī Buddha walking in the sky, he became deeply devoted and offered all the food to the Buddha.
Out of compassion, the Buddha accepted the offering and shared the food with an assembly of approximately one thousand monks. The food was distributed among thousands of monks.
As a result of this wholesome deed, the donor experienced fortunate rebirths. In the era of the present Buddha, he was born into a respectable family, developed faith, entered the monastic order, and attained arahantship within a short time.
Buddhist Lessons
His story teaches six important principles:
Generosity: Giving helps overcome selfishness and attachment to possessions.
Faith: Confidence in the Buddha and his teachings inspires wholesome actions.
Right Intention: The purity of one's intention is central to the value of giving.
Respect: Honoring those who teach and guide us is an important virtue.
Karma: Wholesome actions are causes and conditions for beneficial results.
Liberation: The highest goal of Buddhist practice is the complete eradication of mental defilements.
Conclusion
Venerable Pāyāsadāyaka Thera reminds us that generosity is not measured merely by the amount of wealth offered, but by the sincere intention behind the gift.
Whether we possess great wealth or only a little, we can cultivate generosity according to our ability.
The ultimate purpose of Buddhist practice, however, is not simply to accumulate merit or worldly happiness, but to develop virtue, concentration, and wisdom until liberation from suffering is attained.
May all beings cultivate generosity, faith, and wisdom, and progress toward Nibbāna.
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