Where,OH Where,Is Such A House ?

"A handful of mustard seed;
but it must come from
a house where no one
has lost a loved one . "

Ther was a woman named Kisa who was much devoted to the Tathagata (Buddha) and liked to sit at his feet to listen to his preaching . Kisa had given to a baby daughter not many months before . But , as fate would have it , the child had fallen ill , and now lay dead in her arms , Nearly mad with grief the came to Buddha carrying the baby , and weeping louldy she fell at his feet .

"Lord , " she wailed , "you have divine power and can bring my daughter power and can bring my daughter back to life . You are full of mercy and I know that you will honor my request . I am sure you have some remedy . "

Buddha looked down at her and his heart burned with her sadness and misery . "Bring me , " he said slowly , " a handful of mustard seed ; but it must come from a house where no one has lost a loved one . "

Now Kisa , thinking this to be part of a charm that might restore her baby , wiped her tears and full of hope set off on her quest . From house she walked . At the door of every one she heard : " Alas , not here . We lost our grandfather here . " " Last year my mother died . " " A beloved cousin was staying with us and she fell to a fatal disease . "

At last the light dawned upon Kisa that what had happened to her is what all beings are caught in , the ancient pair , life and death - the chain of becoming , in which all are bound .

She gave last rites to her child , and came back to her master . She was ready now for entering the stream , which means starting , with Buddha's guidance , on the Eight Step Path to Enlightenment .

Rishi Amrit March 2008