talking about bees, reminds me...
I am reminded of another story that is a matter of public
record.
When you recite the Buddha’s name, you should transfer the
merit
to all living beings; you shouldn’t just recite for your own
sake.
When you recite the name of a Buddha even once and dedicate
the
merit and virtue from your recitation to all living beings,
you
thereby increase the merit and virtue of the recitation, and
you
make it penetrate without obstruction.
Once, Shakyamuni Buddha went to a certain country to collect
alms, accompanied by all of his disciples except
Mahamaudgalyayana
only to find that no one there would give them offerings.
Neither the king, nor his government officials, nor the
citizens
made offerings to the Buddha or his disciples. Later,
however,
when Mahamaudgalyayana arrived in that country, there was a
complete change of heart. The king, the officials, and all
the
citizens very respectfully gathered around to welcome
Mahamaudgalyayana
and to bow to him. They beseeched him to let them know
what he needed so they could make offerings to him. The
Buddha’s
disciples did not understand why the Buddha, one of such
great
virtue, received no offerings from the people of this country,
while
when the Buddha’s disciple arrived, the whole town turned out
to
greet him and everyone made offerings to him. “What’s the
meaning of this?” the disciples asked the Buddha.
The Buddha told his disciples: “The great officials and
the
citizens made no offerings to me because in a past life I failed to
set
up conditions with them and consequently we have no affinity
with
one another. Once long, long ago, ages prior to this one,
Mahamaudgalyayana
was a firewood gatherer. One day while picking up
firewood he bumped against a nest of bees, and they swarmed
out
to attack him. Mahamaudgalyayana simply recited the Buddha’s
name and made a vow saying, ‘Namo Buddha. You bees, don’t
sting me! In the future when I have realized the Way, you will
be
the first ones I take across to Buddhahood. Renounce your
evil
thoughts and stop harming people.’ As a result of this vow, the
bees
did not sting him. Eventually the queen bee became the king of
this
country and the drones and workers became the officials and
citizens. When Mahamaudgalyayana, now a Bhikshu, came to this
city, the former bees whom he had to take across all bowed
and
welcomed him. Such is the power of his former vow.”
Taking this situation to heart, we should always establish
wholesome affinities by being kind to everyone. We should vow
to
lead all people and all creatures to Buddhahood. A vow is
invisible,
but living beings have the equivalent of a radio receiver in
their
minds, so they can tune in to it. A vow is not tangible or visible,
but
beings will instinctively know if you are good to them. You
should
resolve to rescue all living beings. Anyone who maintains
this
frame of mind will have affinities wherever he goes. -- late
Master Hsuan Hua
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