There was a man who was a mad murderer. He had taken a vow that he would kill one thousand people because society had not treated him well. He had decided to take revenge on society by killing one thousand men and from every person killed he would take one finger and a make rosary around his neck because of this, his name became Angulimala.
The man with a rosary of fingers everyone was afraid of Angulimala even kings generals were afraid of him nobody would move in those parts wherever people came to know that Angulimala lived it became very difficult for him to find one man to kill and complete his vow.
One day, Buddha was staying in the village near that forest. the day he left the village villagers said
‘’Don’t go that way’’
‘’There lives a mad murderer’’
‘’He has already killed nine hundred and ninety-nine people.’’
‘’He doesn’t think twice before killing’’
‘’ He will not think that you are Buddha’’
‘’There is another way you can take path’’
Buddha said
‘’If I don’t go then who will go?’’
“He is waiting for one more
‘’So I have to go’’
‘’He needs me’’
‘’ I must take the risk’’
‘’Either he will kill me’’
‘’Or I will change him’’
Saying this Buddha left
Disciples who had said that they would remain with Buddha till the very end were scared and as they move toward the forest even disciples started to lag because of danger.
When Buddha reached the hill. He was all alone. Angulimala was sitting on a rock he saw Buddha and thought this man seems to be unaware that I am here otherwise, nobody goes along this path
Buddha looked so innocent so beautiful that even Angulimala felt compassion and thought it is not good to kill this man.
“I will leave him.” I can find somebody else to complete my vow. but he was determined to complete his vow. then he said to Buddha
‘’Go back’’
‘’ Stop right there’’
‘’Don’t step forward’’
I am Angulimala.
‘’I have killed nine hundred ninety-nine people’’
‘’ And I need just one more finger’’
‘’Even if my mother comes’’
‘’I will kill her to complete my vow’’
‘’ So don’t come near me’’
‘’ You may look like a monk’’
‘’But I don’t believe in any religion.’’
‘’I don’t care if you are a great saint’’
‘’All I care about is killing one more person.’’
‘’So don’t step forward’’
‘’Otherwise, I will kill you.’’
Still, Buddha continued moving.
Angulimala thought maybe this man is deaf or mad so he shouted again.
‘’Stop don’t move another step.’’ then Buddha said
‘’I have stopped long ago.’’
‘’I am not moving.’’
‘’Angulimala, you are moving’’
‘’My all movement has stopped’’
‘’Because all motivation has stopped”
‘’When there is no motivation’’
‘’How can movement happen?’’
‘’There is no goal for me’’
‘’I have achieved the goal’’
‘’So why should I move?’’
‘’You are moving and I say to you; you stop!’’
‘’Angulimala was still sitting on the rock’’. He started laughing and said ‘’you are really mad.’’
‘’I am sitting and you say to me that I am moving’’
‘’You are moving and still, you say that you have stopped.’’
Buddha came near him and said,
‘’I have heard that you need one more finger’’’
‘’As far as this body is concerned,’’
‘’My goal is achieved’’
‘’This body is useless’’
‘’When I die people will burn it’’
‘’It will be of no use to anyone’’
‘’you can use it’’
‘’your vow can be fulfilled’’
‘’Cut off my finger and cut off my head’’
‘’I have come on purpose’’
‘’Because this is the last chance for my body to be used in some way’’
‘’Otherwise, people will burn it.’’
‘’Angulimala said,’’ what are you saying?’’
‘’I thought that I was the only mad man around here’’
‘’You don’t try to be clever because I am very dangerous’’
‘’I can kill you!’’
Buddha said,’’ Before you kill me, do one thing’’
‘’Just a wish of a dying man’’
‘’Cut off a branch of this tree.’’
‘’Angulimala hit his sword against the tree’’
‘’And a big branch fell down.’’
Buddha said just one more thing’’
‘’Now join it again to the tree!’’
Angulimala said; ‘’Now I know perfectly that you are mad’’
‘’I can cut but I cannot join.’’
Buddha started laughing and said
‘’When you can only destroy and cannot create’’
‘’Then you have no right to destroy it’’
‘’Because destruction can be even done by children’’
‘’There is no bravery in it’’
‘’This branch can be cut by a child but join it a master is needed.’’
‘’And if you cannot join back a branch to the tree’’
‘’Then how can you cut off human heads?’’
‘’Have you ever thought about it?’’
‘’Angulimala closed his eye and fell at Buddha’s feet.’’
and said,’’ I have never thought like that.’’
‘’You are right if I can not create I have no right to destroy’’
‘’But I don’t know what should I do then.’’
‘’You please lead me on that path.’’
And it is said that in a single moment Angulimala was completely changed.
‘’His destructive nature changed into creative.’’
He changed from a murderer to a monk. It was said that where ever Buddha was teaching For up to 20 miles all around that place there never used to be violence and things used to be very calm and very peaceful. Peace generates from deep with it generates from the being to the mind And from the mind to the environment.
E-Book available https://www.mykathai.online/2021/07/the-buddha-and-angulimala-story-e-book.html
