[Verse 1]
In Hansavati, a florist walked,
With three red lotuses in his hand.
He planned to bring them to the king,
Until he saw the Buddha stand.
[Verse 2]
What wealth could royal favor bring?
What gift could last beyond this life?
He chose the path of faith and truth,
Beyond the reach of worldly strife.
[Chorus]
Three lotuses rose into the sky,
Their blossoms shining, floating high.
A simple gift, a heart sincere,
A light of wisdom drawing near.
Three lotuses, a gift of grace,
A moment filled with faith and praise.
Beyond all wealth, beyond all fame,
The path to freedom calls his name.
[Verse 3]
The people watched in great surprise,
The heavens echoed words of praise.
The Buddha spoke of future fruits,
Of countless lives and brighter days.
[Bridge]
All worldly treasures fade away,
And fleeting pleasures cannot stay.
But wisdom helps the heart to see,
The path toward true serenity.
[Final Chorus]
Three lotuses rose into the sky,
A symbol of a heart held high.
Give with kindness, live with care,
Let wisdom guide you everywhere.
Three lotuses, their lesson clear,
A faithful heart can overcome fear.
Beyond rebirth, beyond all pain,
The peace of Nibbana shall remain.
The Story and Teachings of the Tipadumiya Thera Apadana: The Offering of Three Lotus Flowers
The Tipadumiyathera Apadana appears in the Khuddaka Nikaya, Apadana, Volume 32 of the Pali Canon, in the Nagasala Section. It tells the story of a former life in which the venerable elder offered three beautiful red lotus flowers to Padumuttara Buddha.
1. The Story
In the time of Padumuttara Buddha, the future Tipadumiya Thera was born into a family of flower makers in the city of Hansavati. He worked as a florist and one day carried three beautiful red lotus flowers.
While walking through the marketplace, he encountered Padumuttara Buddha, who was accompanied by well-trained disciples. Seeing the Buddha, he reflected on the value of his flowers. If he offered them to the king, he might receive money, land, or other worldly rewards. But if he offered them to the Buddha, the teacher of the world and the guide of beings, he might gain something far more precious: the path toward the deathless.
With a joyful and devoted mind, he threw all three lotus flowers into the air as an offering. Miraculously, the flowers blossomed and remained suspended above the Buddha's head, with their stems pointing upward and their blossoms facing downward.
The people who witnessed this extraordinary event expressed their amazement, while heavenly beings praised the offering and declared their wish to honor the Buddha and listen to his teachings.
Padumuttara Buddha then prophesied the fruits of this meritorious deed. According to the verses, the donor would enjoy heavenly happiness, attain great worldly prosperity in future lives, become a universal monarch many times, and eventually attain Nibbana.
In his concluding verses, the elder declared that he had destroyed his defilements, eliminated the causes of further existence, exhausted all mental intoxicants, and would have no further rebirth.
2. The Elder's Life According to the Commentary
The Pali commentary explains that the elder had accumulated meritorious deeds under previous Buddhas, cultivating conditions conducive to liberation.
During the time of Padumuttara Buddha, he was born into a family of florists in Hansavati. After making the offering of three red lotus flowers, he experienced the results of his good deeds in the heavenly and human realms.
Later, during the time of Gotama Buddha, he was born into a wealthy household. Having grown up, he developed faith in the Buddha's teaching, listened to the Dhamma, entered the monastic life, and attained arahantship not long afterward.
3. The Dhamma Teachings
1. Faith guided by wisdom
The florist did not make his offering without reflection. He considered the difference between temporary worldly rewards and the lasting value of spiritual development.
2. Choosing what is truly valuable
He chose to honor the Buddha rather than seek immediate material gain. His decision illustrates the importance of recognizing what is most meaningful in life.
3. Giving with a pure mind
The verses emphasize that he first developed a joyful and devoted mind before making his offering. The quality of giving depends not only on the object given but also on the intention behind it.
4. Accumulating wholesome causes
The story illustrates the accumulation of meritorious actions and their results. However, a single offering should not be understood as automatically guaranteeing enlightenment. Liberation requires the cultivation of wisdom and the abandonment of defilements.
5. Liberation as the highest goal
Although the verses describe heavenly and human prosperity, the elder's final emphasis is on the destruction of defilements and the end of rebirth. Nibbana is presented as the highest achievement beyond worldly possessions and pleasures.
4. Spiritual Attainments
The elder declared that he had realized:
Four Analytical Knowledges (Patisambhida): Understanding of meaning, Dhamma, language, and discernment.
Eight Liberations (Vimokkha): Eight levels or modes of meditative liberation.
Six Higher Knowledges (Abhinna): Supernormal powers, divine ear, mind-reading, recollection of past lives, divine eye, and the knowledge of the destruction of mental intoxicants.
The final attainment, the destruction of the mental intoxicants, is directly associated with liberation from suffering and the end of future rebirth.
5. Conclusion
The Tipadumiya Thera Apadana teaches that a seemingly small offering can become deeply meaningful when made with sincere faith and a pure intention. The florist's three lotus flowers symbolize the choice to value spiritual development above temporary worldly rewards.
The deeper message is that generosity should be accompanied by wisdom, and that the ultimate purpose of Buddhist practice is not merely to gain merit or worldly happiness, but to overcome defilements and attain liberation.
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