Ja 337 Pīṭhajātaka
The Story about (Offering) a Seat (4s)
In the present one monk comes in from the country and goes too early and too late on alms round, and then blames the families for not giving to him. The Buddha tells a story of old in which an ascetic failed to receive alms, but was not perturbed by it, and later taught Dhamma to the householder.
The Bodhisatta = the ascetic (tāpasa),
Ānanda = the wealthy man of Benares (Bārāṇasiseṭṭhi).
Keywords: Giving, Imperturbality.
“Alas, we offered you.” This story the Teacher told while living at Jetavana, about a certain monk. He came, it was said, from the country to Jetavana, and, after putting away his bowl and robe, he saluted the Teacher and inquired of the young novices, saying: “Sirs, who look after the visiting monks that come to Sāvatthi?”
So one day they started a discussion in the Dhamma Hall, how that a certain monk from the country came to the door of certain households too early, and failing to obtain alms went about reviling those families. When the Teacher came and inquired what was the topic the monks were sitting to discuss, on hearing what it was, he called the monk and asked him if it were true. When the monk said: “Yes, your reverence, it is true,” the Teacher asked, “Why are you angry, monk? Of old, before Buddha arose upon the world, even ascetics when they visited a household and received no alms, showed no anger.” And with this he told a story of the olden days.
In the past when Brahmadatta was reigning in Benares, the Bodhisatta was born in a brahmin family, and when he was of age he studied all the arts at Taxila, and subsequently adopted the ascetic life. After sojourning a long time in the Himālayas he went to Benares to procure salt and vinegar, and, taking up his abode in a garden, on the next day he entered the city for alms. There was at this time a merchant at Benares, who was a faithful believer. The Bodhisatta asked which was a believing household, and on hearing of the merchant’s family, he went to the door of his house. At that moment the merchant had gone to pay his respects to the king, and neither did any of his people happen to see him. So he turned back and came away.
Then the merchant who was returning from the palace saw him,
1. “Alas, we offered you no seat,
No water brought, nor anything to eat:
We here confess our sinfulness,
And pardon humbly, venerable sir, entreat.”
The Bodhisatta on hearing this repeated the second verse:
2. “Nought have I to condone,
No anger do I feel,
The thought just once I own
Across my mind did steal,
Habits of people here
Are just a trifle queer.”
The merchant hearing this responded in two more verses:
3. “The custom of our family – ’twas so
Received by us from ages long ago –
4. Is to provide the stranger with a seat,
Supply his needs, bring water for his feet
And every guest as kinsman dear to treat.”
And the Bodhisatta, after sojourning there a few days, and teaching the merchant of Benares his duty, went straight back to the Himālayas, where he developed the Super Knowledges and Attainments.
The Teacher, having ended his lesson, revealed the Truths and identified the Jātaka. At the conclusion of the Truths the monk attained fruition of the First Path. “At that time Ānanda was the merchant of Benares, and I myself was the ascetic.”