[Verse 1]
In the forest, deep and wide,
Buddha Vessabhū stayed inside.
An elephant came through the trees,
With a heart of faith and peace.
It brought lotus roots and food,
An offering of gratitude.
Not gold or silver, wealth or fame,
But love and faith were in its name.
[Chorus]
The gift of lotus roots, so small,
A heart of kindness gave it all.
The greatest joy is not in gold,
But in a heart that's pure and bold.
Give with love, give with care,
Let compassion fill the air.
Through generosity and light,
We make the world a place of life.
[Verse 2]
The Buddha touched the humble gift,
And joy within the heart was lifted.
A happiness beyond compare,
A precious moment bright and rare.
Through many lives, the good seed grew,
Until the highest truth came through.
He joined the path, embraced the way,
And let all suffering fade away.
[Chorus]
The gift of lotus roots, so small,
A heart of kindness gave it all.
The greatest joy is not in gold,
But in a heart that's pure and bold.
[Bridge]
Fourfold Wisdom, Liberations Eight,
Six Higher Knowledges revealed his fate.
The bonds of existence broke apart,
Freedom blossomed within his heart.
No more defilements, no more chains,
The end of suffering remains.
The Buddha's teaching fully known,
The seeds of wisdom fully grown.
[Verse 3]
Today we have so much to share,
Food and knowledge, love and care.
We need no fortune to be kind,
Just a generous heart and an open mind.
Let technology serve humanity,
Let wisdom guide our destiny.
Through compassion, truth, and peace,
May suffering in the world decrease.
[Final Chorus]
The gift of lotus roots, so small,
A heart of kindness gave it all.
Give with love and wisdom bright,
And walk the path toward freedom's light.
The Story of Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera
The Merits of Offering Lotus Roots and Edible Tubers
1. The Background in the Buddhist Scriptures
The Bhisadāyaka Thera Apadāna appears as the fifth account in the Sakacittaniya Vagga of the Apadāna, Khuddaka Nikāya, Volume 32 of the Pali Canon.
The story describes the meritorious deed of a being who later became Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera.
During the time of Buddha Vessabhū, the third Buddha among the seven Buddhas traditionally recognized in the Buddhist scriptures, the Buddha entered a dense forest and stayed there in solitude.
The future Bhisadāyaka Thera approached the Buddha with lotus roots and edible tubers. Filled with sincere faith and devotion, he offered the food with his own hands.
The Buddha Vessabhū touched the offering with his hand.
The donor experienced extraordinary happiness and declared that no other happiness could compare with the joy of that offering.
He reflected that his final existence had arrived, that all future existence had been overcome, and that he had broken the bonds of existence like an elephant breaking its restraints.
He also declared that he had not experienced an unfortunate rebirth as a result of this meritorious action.
According to the verses, sixteen universal monarchs arose in the thirteenth eon before the present one.
Ultimately, he attained the Four Analytical Knowledges, the Eight Liberations, and the Six Higher Knowledges.
He declared that he had completed the Buddha's teaching.
2. The Commentary and the Life of Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera
According to the commentary, the future Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera had accumulated wholesome qualities through previous lives.
His birth as an elephant
During the time of Buddha Vessabhū, he was born as an elephant in the Himalayan forest.
Buddha Vessabhū wished to live in solitude and travelled to the Himalayan region.
When the elephant encountered the Buddha, it became filled with faith and devotion. It brought edible tubers and lotus roots as an offering to the Buddha.
The fruits of generosity
After passing away from the elephant existence, he was reborn in the six sensual heavenly realms and enjoyed celestial happiness.
He later returned to the human world and experienced prosperity, including the fortune associated with universal kingship.
His final life and enlightenment
During the era of the present Buddha, he was born into a wealthy family.
Inspired by his accumulated wholesome qualities, he developed faith in the Buddha's teachings and entered the monastic order.
Not long after ordination, he attained Arahantship, completely eradicating the mental defilements.
He became known as Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera, a name reflecting his former meritorious offering of lotus roots and edible tubers.
3. Six Important Dhamma Principles
Dāna – Generosity: Giving and sharing what one has with others.
Cetanā – Intention: The wholesome intention behind an act of giving.
Saddhā – Faith: Confidence and devotion toward the Buddha and his teachings.
Pīti – Spiritual Joy: Happiness arising from sincere generosity.
Kamma and Its Results: Understanding that intentional actions have consequences.
Vimutti – Liberation: Freedom from mental defilements and the cycle of suffering.
4. The Spiritual Achievements of the Thera
Venerable Bhisadāyaka Thera attained:
The Four Analytical Knowledges.
The Eight Liberations.
The Six Higher Knowledges, including the knowledge of the destruction of mental defilements.
These achievements represent profound spiritual development and the complete liberation attained by an Arahant.
5. Lessons for Modern Society
The story teaches that generosity does not depend on wealth or social status.
People can practise generosity by sharing food, knowledge, time, skills, and resources.
In the age of artificial intelligence, this principle can inspire technology to serve humanity through accessible education, knowledge sharing, and support for disadvantaged communities.
True greatness does not come from how much we possess, but from how sincerely we give and how wisely we develop our minds.
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