Song: The Noble Steed and the Unshaken Heart Inspired by The Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, Vījanī Vagga, Opavuyha Therāpadāna
[Verse 1]
In Padumuttara's sacred time,
A noble steed was offered with faith.
The donor returned to his home,
With a heart that sought a worthy way.
Then Devala came with wise advice,
A messenger of the Dhamma's light.
He showed the gift was not quite right,
For one who lived a simple life.
[Verse 2]
The horse could run as fast as wind,
But wisdom taught him to rethink.
He valued it and chose instead,
To offer robes and things monks need.
A thoughtful gift, a wiser heart,
A lesson in the giving art.
For generosity shines bright,
When guided by wisdom and insight.
[Chorus]
A noble steed may race like wind,
But peace begins within the mind.
Beyond the victory, beyond defeat,
There lies a calm that none can shake.
Give with wisdom, give with care,
Let faith and understanding share.
Release the pride, release the pain,
And walk the path beyond the chains.
[Verse 3]
He ruled the lands in former days,
With power, glory, wealth, and praise.
But worldly treasures fade away,
They cannot end the sorrow's stay.
He left the world and trained his mind,
With insight and the truth to find.
The bonds of craving fell apart,
And freedom blossomed in his heart.
[Bridge]
Listen well, and learn to grow,
Give what others truly need.
Do not let success control,
Or let defeat consume the soul.
The world may praise, the world may blame,
But wisdom keeps the heart the same.
[Final Chorus]
A noble steed may race like wind,
But peace begins within the mind.
Beyond the victory, beyond defeat,
There lies a calm that none can shake.
Give with wisdom, give with care,
Let faith and understanding share.
Release the pride, release the pain,
And walk the path beyond the chains.
Opavuyha Thera: The Offering of a Noble Steed and the Path to Liberation
The Opavuyha Therāpadāna appears in the Khuddaka Nikāya, Apadāna, Vījanī Vagga, Tipiṭaka Volume 32, Discourse 24, Verse 57. It recounts the merit associated with offering a thoroughbred horse to Buddha Padumuttara.
The Story
According to the verses, in a former life, Opavuyha Thera offered a noble thoroughbred horse to Buddha Padumuttara. After making the offering, he returned to his home.
Later, the Buddha's chief disciple, named Devala, who was an heir to the sublime Dhamma, visited him. Devala explained that a thoroughbred horse was not an appropriate offering for the Blessed One, who understood the donor's intention and had accepted the gift out of consideration for that intention.
Having heard this advice, the donor arranged for the horse, a swift Sindh steed said to run like the wind, to be appraised. He then used its value to provide suitable offerings to Buddha Padumuttara.
The verses state that, as a result of this meritorious deed, whenever he was reborn among humans or in the heavenly realms, swift and excellent horses became available to him.
He also reflected that those who entered the monastic life were truly fortunate, and wished to visit and pay homage to the Buddha frequently.
The verses further recount that he became a powerful king who ruled the land extending to the four oceans and was sovereign over the people of Jambudīpa on twenty-eight occasions.
In his final existence, he abandoned both victory and defeat and attained an unwavering state. The account concludes by declaring that he realized the four analytical knowledges, the eight liberations, and the six higher knowledges, and had completed the Buddha's teaching.
The Commentary and the Thera's Life
The commentary explains that the thera had accumulated meritorious deeds under previous Buddhas. During the time of Buddha Padumuttara, he was born into a wealthy family.
After offering the thoroughbred horse, he reflected that horses and elephants were not suitable possessions for monks. He therefore arranged for the horse to be valued and used the proceeds to offer appropriate requisites, including robes and medicinal necessities.
As a result of his merit, he enjoyed prosperity in human and heavenly existences. In the era of a later Buddha, he was born into a respectable family, developed faith in the Dhamma, ordained, practiced meditation, and cultivated insight. Eventually, he attained arahantship.
The Main Dhamma Teachings
Faith Guided by Wisdom: Faith should be accompanied by careful consideration and understanding.
Appropriate Giving: A gift should be suitable and beneficial to the recipient.
Openness to Advice: Listening to wise counsel is an important quality of spiritual development.
Generosity for the Common Good: Giving should support genuine needs rather than merely satisfy the donor's preferences.
Freedom from Victory and Defeat: A peaceful mind does not become arrogant in success or overwhelmed by failure.
Beyond Worldly Prosperity: Wealth and power are temporary; liberation is the higher goal.
The Path to Liberation: Spiritual practice should lead to the abandonment of defilements and the ending of suffering.
Application to Modern Society
The story teaches that the value of giving does not depend solely on the price of a gift. What matters is whether it is appropriate, useful, and offered with sincere intention.
In families, workplaces, charitable organizations, and educational institutions, people should listen to advice, understand genuine needs, and use resources wisely.
In personal life, we should work diligently without becoming attached to praise, victory, or success. We should also learn to accept setbacks without allowing them to dominate our minds.
The deeper message is that generosity should be guided by wisdom, and worldly achievement should ultimately give way to inner peace and liberation.
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