There was a time when Lord Buddha was residing in Jetwana Monastery in Savatthi the Buddha uttered Verse 2 of Dhammapada, with reference to Matthakundali, a young Brahmin.
Matthakundali was a young brahmin, whose father was Adinnapubbaka, the story says that he was not at all a man of charity, never gave anything anyone, he was such a person that you can’t expect from him even a glass of water.
He was so much in love of money that he didn’t use most of it, the story says that even the gold ornaments for his only son were made by himself to save payment for workmanship. A times comes when his only son fell ill, but no physician was consulted, until it was too late. When Adinnapubbaka realised that his son was dying, he had the youth carried outside on to the verandah, so that people coming to his house would not see his possessions.
On the same morning, Lord Buddha arising early from his deep meditation of compassion saw, Matthakundali lying on the verandah. So when entering Savatthi for alms-food with his disciples, the Buddha stood near the door of the brahmin Adinnapubbaka.
Anyone who has attained the harmony like Lord Buddha have special ways to communicate with people, and they communicate willingly even though we are not attentive. Lord Buddha sent forth a ray of light to attract the attention of the youth, who was facing the interior of the house.
Matthakundali saw the Buddha; but as he was very weak he could only profess his faith mentally. But that was enough. This is very interesting on terms of faith, one needs to know that you don’t need gigantic actions to receives the blessings of divine being or the who can transform your lives But one just needs to be in the right attitude, like Matthakundali.
When Matthakundali passed away with his heart in devotion to the Buddha he was reborn in the Tavatimsa celestial world.
From his celestial abode the young Matthakundali, seeing his father mourning over him at the cemetery, appeared to the old man in the likeness of his old self. He told his father about his rebirth in the Tavatimsa world and also urged him to approach and invite the Buddha to a meal.
At the house of Adinnapubbaka the question of whether one could or could not be reborn in a celestial world simply by mentally professing profound faith in the Buddha, without giving in charity or observing the moral precepts, was brought up. So the Buddha willed that Matthakundali should appear in person; Matthakundali soon appeared fully decked with celestial ornaments and told them about his rebirth in the Tavatimsa world.
Then only, the audience became convinced that the son of the brahmin Adinnapubbaka by simply devoting his mind to the Buddha had attained much glory.
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
मनोपुब्बङ्गमा धम्मा, मनोसेट्ठा मनोमया।
मनसा चे पसन्नेन, भासति वा करोति वा।
ततो नं सुखमन्वेति, छायाव अनपायिनी ॥
All mental phenomena have mind as their forerunner; they have mind as their chief; they are mind-made. If one speaks or acts with a pure mind, happiness (sukha) follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.
This is astounding sutra or verses from Dhammapada which professes that your mind is everything, what you think and act comes from your mind. If and when one reaches to the clarity of mind, one receives what this world has to offer.
Vivek ji
On dialogue “Dhammapada ” ( English)
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