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🌺 ASHTAVAKRA GITA🌺
🌿Chapter - 28🌿
~ Seva And The Art Of Enthusiasm ~
🌱 Day - 161 🌱
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There is another instance from the life of Buddha. The rule for every meditator (a householder) was that he should do some seva, contribution or service. Otherwise, the meditation would not be fruitful. There was a very rich merchant during Buddha's time and he was very miserable. It is usual for a merchant's life to become very miserable and uncertain, as there is no security in their lives. Someone took him to Buddha. He learnt and meditated. He felt so wonderful. Then he thought how wonderful it would be if this knowledge could reach many people! Many people would be relieved of their misery and suffering. So he started looking for a place for Buddha. It needed to be near a town, but not too near not too far away. He wanted such a place because then people could come and go without any problems. He found a beautiful place, with a wonderful garden and lovely trees. He went around trying to find out who the property belonged to. He discovered that it was the pleasure park of the prince. So he went to the prince and said that he wanted to buy the park because it was ideal. It was very close to the town and had much greenery. It was away from traffic. Therefore, he wanted the place for a purpose.
At first, the prince took it as an insult. He thought the man has come to insult him by wanting to buy his park! To ridicule him the prince agreed, and asked if he could pay the prince for it. The man asked what he meant and the prince replied that he would have to spread land there with gold. That was the price of the park. And the merchant agreed! He went home and started bringing gold. He started spreading it on the land. The prince really could not believe it. He wondered what was happening to him and if the man had gone crazy? When he had spread half the land with gold, the prince was so amazed, he told him that it was enough. He could take the land. That he did not want any more money or gold from him. That place became Buddha's ashram. And thousands of people started coming, meditating and getting enlightened. At one time the prince came when ten thousand people were meditating. There was pin drop silence and everyone was still and blissful. He was really frightened. He thought that it seemed a lonely place, but there were ten thousand people there and there was complete silence and peace. So, he also learned to meditate. And it so happened, in a while, the merchant became a pauper. Just as every businessman undergoes ups and downs, he lost everything i.e. his business and all his money. He had no money but he had this dharma - he would everyday bring something to contribute to the ashram when he came. Then he could meditate and and go home.
Now, how did he do that? He was penniless. What could he bring to the ashram? He would go to the garbage or compost pile in his backyard and would take some of it to the ashram. There he would put a little of it under the little plants and trees. Others were amazed that,even in such dire straits, he was doing something and asked him what he was doing. He replied he would put some compost under a small plant. It would grow and become a shade-giving tree. Many people would sit under it. They would find peace in their hearts and be comforted in the face of their miseries and problems. Many people could meditate just by sitting under it. It could benefit so many people for centuries to come. He said that the tree was not just a tree for that one day. The manure that he was putting was not just for that day. It was for generations to come. It would grow bigger, and bring shade and solace to many souls who are burnt down in the heat of the world. This is an attitude of seva, a feeling that blossoms within us; an expression of our inner love. The love in us blossoms and has to flow out and find an expression. Otherwise it will suffocate inside. This brings one totally to the present moment. When you are with nature, with the earth,with the trees, or around people, it stirs something deep inside you, making you very natural, simple, and innocent. Dharma (the righteousness) is an attitude when there is no other. It is not a favour that one dies for somebody. It is not some work that one is doing. But it is one's experience of inner being; expression of love.
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