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According to the Avadānaśataka (A Hundred Stories of Karmic Deeds), there is a story about Śakra, the Emperor of Heaven, making offerings to the Buddha. When the Buddha was in Rajagriha, Devadatta, a member of the Sangha, became jealous of the great respect the Buddha received from the lay people. He persuaded King Ajatashatru to order everyone to stop making offerings to the monastics. Devadatta wanted to see how powerful the Buddha’s spiritual abilities really were and how he would lead the Sangha through difficult situations.
After the royal decree was issued, the people were afraid to disobey the king. However, they were filled with anger and sadness. Their sorrow was so great that it reached the heavenly realm. Śakra, the Emperor of Heaven, came down with other celestial beings, carrying precious vessels filled with delicious food, and pleaded with the Buddha to allow them to make offerings to him for the rest of his life. The Buddha did not consent to that. Śakra refused to give up and continued to plead with the Buddha. He first shortened the period from a lifetime to five years, then to five months, and continued reducing it. Finally, when he asked to make offerings for only five days, the Buddha agreed.
For those five days, the celestial beings faithfully made offerings to the Buddha, and miraculous signs could be seen throughout the city. When King Ajatashatru saw these signs, he regretted what he had done. He went before the Buddha and repented. He then withdrew the ban and allowed the people to resume making offerings to the monastic community. The Buddha then expounded the Dharma to everyone, and people were all filled with joy.
The True Meaning of Offering
Even the Buddha faced difficulties with others during his lifetime. Devadatta, the Buddha’s cousin, believed that he understood the Dharma and deserved the respect of others. However, he lacked the wisdom and virtue to lead people. He also became jealous of the Buddha and repeatedly tried to create obstacles for him. The Buddha did not wish to be supported by the celestial beings for life. Instead, he hoped that through the opportunity to make offerings, all beings could come into contact with the Sangha and experience the universal and ever-relevant truth of the Dharma.
The truth of the Dharma remains unchanged throughout the ages. Since we have the affinity to learn the Buddha’s teachings, we should seek to understand the Buddha’s heart, listen to the Dharma with sincerity, and earnestly seek to put the Dharma into practice. It is easy for us to say that we understand the Buddha’s teachings, but without thoroughly understanding them or putting them into practice, we may even forget the good intentions we had when we first started learning Buddhism as we face challenges from different people, situations, and circumstances. When our minds are not focused and our intentions are not sincere, we allow ignorance to obscure our true nature and afflictions to constantly trouble us, causing us to drift further and further away from our pure nature.
The Buddha had both wisdom and compassion. He treated all sentient beings with care, as if they were his own children, and hoped that everyone could understand the Dharma and become enlightened beings with compassion for all. As stated in the Lotus Sutra, in the Parable of the City of Illusions chapter: “With the great power of loving-kindness and compassion, guide suffering sentient beings to liberation.” For those weighed down by troubles and afflictions, the Buddha compassionately expounded the Dharma, helping them open their hearts and gain understanding, dispel their doubts, and find peace and joy in their hearts.
This is why a true offering is not simply about giving money or other material things. More importantly, it is about learning from the Buddha’s compassion and wisdom, staying true to the Dharma, and helping others who are going through difficult times. Life brings both material hardship and suffering of the mind. The Dharma is a remedy for the suffering we encounter in life, like a light in the darkness, helping us see things more clearly and find the right direction in life.
We should follow the Buddha’s example by cultivating compassion and wisdom in our hearts, extending kindness to all sentient beings sincerely, and guiding everyone to transform their afflictions into wisdom. This is how the Dharma provides a way to guide and liberate others. It is hoped that everyone can hear the Dharma, expound the Dharma, and pass on the Dharma, so that the light of the Dharma can illuminate minds clouded by ignorance.
Translated by Michelle Lee
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