Once upon a time, the Enlightenment Being was born as a fish in a pond in
northern India.
There were many kinds of fish, big and small, living in the
pond with the Bodhisatta.
There came to be a time of severe draught. The rainy season did not come as
usual. The crops of men died, and many ponds, lakes and rivers dried up.
The fish and turtles dug down and buried themselves in the mud, frantically
trying to keep wet and save themselves. The crows were pleased by all this.
They stuck their beaks down into the mud, pulled up the frightened little
fish, and feasted on them.
The suffering of pain and death by the other fish touched the Enlightenment
Being with sadness, and filled him with pity and compassion.
He realized
that he was the only one who could save them. But it would take a miracle.
The truth was that he had remained innocent. by never taking the life of
anyone. He was determined to use the power of this wholesome truth to
make rain fall from the sky, and release his relatives from their misery and
death.
He pulled himself up from under the black mud. He was a big fish, and as
black from the mud as, polished ebony. He opened his eyes, which sparkled
like rubies, looked up to the sky, and called on the rain god Pajjunna. He
exclaimed, “Oh my friend Pajjunna, god of rain, I am suffering for the sake
of my relatives. Why do you withhold rain from me, who am perfectly
wholesome, and make me suffer in sympathy with all these fish?”
“I was born among fish, for whom it is customary to eat other fish - even our
own kind, like cannibals! But since I was born, I myself have never eaten
any fish, even one as tiny as a rice grain. In fact, I have never taken life from
anyone. The truthfulness of this my innocence gives me the right to say to
you: Make the rains fall! Relieve the suffering of my relatives!”
He said this the way one gives orders to a servant.
And he continued, commanding the mighty rain god Pajjunna: “Make rain
fall from the thunderclouds! Do not allow the crows their hidden treasures!
Let the crows feel the sorrow of their unwholesome actions. At the same own nothing of any value to robbers. So why should I be afraid of them? I
have no anxiety in a village, and no fear in the forest. Possessing only
loving-kindness and compassion, I follow the straight path leading to
Truth.”
In this manner he preached the way of fearlessness to the lucky people of
the caravan. His words made them feel peaceful, and they honored him.
After a long life developing the Four Heavenly States of Mind, he died and
was reborn in a high heaven world.
Wish you happy Modhu Purnima .
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