Angulimala

     

                                      Angulimala trying to kill Buddha 

 During our schooling most of us have learned about the story of Angulimala.Today I would like to narrate my version of the story and tell the readers what I learned from this story.Once Buddha came to a village.People of the village looked sad and scared.On inquiry they told Buddha reason for their worry was Angulimala (garland of fingers).Angulimala was a bandit leaving in nearby forest.He had taken a vow to kill hundred people.After killing his victim he would chop off their fingers.Then he would make a garland with the chopped fingers and wear it around his neck.He did this to keep a count of the number of people he had killed.

         He had already killed ninty nine people and needed to kill only one person to fulfill his vow.People feared Angulimala so much that no body dared to enter the forest.The villagers adviced Buddha not to go via the forest route to avoid being killed by Angulimala.On hearing this Buddha said he was supposed to take other route.But now as the villagers have told him about Angulimala he wanted to encounter him.Buddha told to the villagers ,if Angulimala killed him then he would become his hundredth victim. Angulimala would fulfill his vow and this would make him happy.Buddha told to the villagers that any way he would die one day.So it wont make any difference to him  if he died today at the hands of Angulimala.Buddha started walking towards Angulimala's direction.

         In the forest suddenly Angulimala appeared in front of Buddha with intention of killing him.Buddha aura was so good that on seeing him Angulimala for first time experienced emotions like compassion,peace,calmness and love.He told Buddha that as he looked  innocent and he would like to let him go.But Buddha asked Angulimala to kill him. Angulimala raised his sword to kill Buddha,but his hands started to tremble for the first time in his life.Buddha asked Angulimala that why he was scared to kill him.Angulimala said he was scared as Buddha was the first man he had met who was not afraid to die.Then Angulimala told Buddha that he was doing some magic on him.Buddha replied in the affirmative and told him he was indeed performing magic. Buddha told him ,"you kill people physically but I will kill you psychologically".

         Buddha told Angulimal that he had a final wish before dying.His wish was that Angulimala should pluck some leaves from the tree.After plucking the leaves Buddha told Angulimala that the second half of his wish was that ,he should again fix back the leaves on the tree.To his Angulimala replied that this was not possible for him.Buddha told him that even a kid can destroy but very few people can create.So in life be a creater and not a destroyer. Angulimalas act of killing people was cowardly and he should stop killing people.Angulimala surrendered himself before Buddha and became his disciple.

Moral

1.If we overcome fear of death nothing can bother us in life.Victory is always possible only by overcoming our fears.

2.Dont hate bad people.But hate their bad tendencies and habits. Dont kill them physically but beat them in their mind.If the mind is tamed then taming body is very easy.

3.Any battle in life has to be first won in the mind then only physical victory is possible.

4.Dont be a destroyer in life.But be a creator.Leave the world a little better than what was handed out to you.