KRSA GAUTAMI AND THE MUSTARD SEED1

HOW TO MANAGE SUFFERING

KRSA GAUTAMI AND THE MUSTARD SEED1

Once upon a time, there was a woman who was the mother of a toddler. One day deep grief came upon her suddenly because her son, her only child, died. Her grief was so terrible she could not admit to herself her child was dead. She carried her child to all her neighbors in her city and begged them for medicine to heal her boy. The people of the city felt her loss keenly but could only shake their heads no to her request. The mother continued to wander the streets, crying and begging for medicine and help.

She saw a man and grabbed his clothes and said “Please sir, give me medicine to heal my boy.”

The man looked at the boy and knew he was dead. He said, “I am sorry but I cannot help you. But I know someone who may be able to help you.”

She replied, “Please tell me where this person is so I can go at once!”

He answered, “Go to the park outside the village. There you will find a man called Buddha. He is residing there.”

Without saying a word, the woman ran to the park with her dead child in her arms.

Upon arriving at the park, she told some of Buddha’s followers she wanted to meet him. She was brought to Buddha.

She cried out, “O great sir, I employ you, give me the medicine for my son!”

Buddha observed the dead boy and the ocean of grief in the woman’s heart. He felt her pain and her sorrow and it moved him deeply.

Buddha said, “ Mother, you acted wisely to come and meet me. Here is what you must do. Return to the city and obtain a handful of mustard seeds.”

The mother interrupted, “That is easily done.”

Buddha continued, “There is one more detail. The mustard seed must be obtained from a house where no one has suffered the loss of a child, husband, parent or friend.”

She replied, “Yes. I shall do this at once.

The mother returned to the city and with increased vigor went from house to house making her request. The people responded freely to her request and went to get her some mustard seeds.

Then the mother would ask, “Did a child, or parent die in your family?”

The response she received was, “Please do not remind us of our grief. The living are few but the dead are many.”

Undeterred, Krsa the mother moved to another house and another house all through the evening. But, there was no home that had not experienced grief and suffering.

Weary beyond exhaustion and without hope, she sat down with the dead body of her son. She watched night arrive and observed the lights of the city go out one by one until she was sitting in darkness.

She began to consider this life and the fate of human beings. How short this life is! Suddenly she realized what Buddha had done. He had not healed her son but he had healed her mind and awakened her to reality. She recognized how selfish she had been in her grief. She said aloud, “Death is universal. Suffering touches all people”.

She stood up and carried her son’s body to a outcropping of colorful wildflowers. She laid his body amongst the flowers and said, “Little son, I thought death had only happened to you and that somehow my grief was unique. Now, I know it is how this life is. All my neighbors and all my friends and in fact all people experience suffering.” She sang her son a final song and then with the sunrise returned to Buddha.

When she arrived Buddha asked, “Did you obtain a handful of mustard seed from a home which had never lost a child, spouse or parent?”

Krsa replied, “That old attitude of mine is dead great Lord. Compassion for others has replaced my grief. I want to join your following and help ease the sufferings of others.”

Buddha remained in silence a moment.

Then he said, “Krsa, if you will first be faithful to extend loving-kindness to yourself and the sufferings you will have in this life, then it would be a blessing to have you share in the work of easing the suffering of all beings.”

It is said, the Krsa the mother was the first woman to have attained Nirvana and her story, which occurred 2500 years ago is told to this day.

1. Based on the Buddhist story, “Krsa Gautami and the Mustard Seed.”