MindYourBuddha

This a wonderful parable about a father and son, and the loss and recovery of their relationship, much like the biblical story of the Prodigal Son.  The story starts with the the boy running away from home to others countries where he wanders for fifty years, unsuccessful in his endeavors and living a poor and desperate existence.  His wanderings eventually bring him back, and unaware, to his native country and to his fathers city.  Meanwhile, the father having searched always for the son, becomes very prosperous at home but filled with regret that he no longer has a son to leave all his possessions to, and so never speaks of his son.  The son used to hiring out as a unskilled laborer finds himself at his fathers house, but doesn't recognize the father who is surrounded by opulence, attendants and the citizenry.  Thinking that he is worthless and fearing that he could be enslaved by this king, the son runs away, but not before the father recognizes him.  The father immediately sends men to bring the son back, but the son confirming his fears, resists and collapses on the ground.  The father witnessing the event sends word to his men to release the son.  The son delighted by the turn of events, leaves to seek shelter and food.  The father reconsiders his strategy and sends new men to address the son, this time with humble demeanor and dressed shabbily, and with the offer of work shoveling dirt, for which the son will be paid double and in advance for his labors.

The father witnessing his son in labor, gaunt and filthy with dirt and desiring to be reunited with the son, takes on the appearance of a common laborer to supervise the son, thereby placing him in close contact with the son.  With continued employment the father, looks after the son, slowly increasing his wages and responsibilities and putting in his mind that he should be the son the father never had.  The son happy with his new situation, remains fixed in his attitude that he is still a humble hireling, and so continues his labors under the fathers direction for twenty years, over which time the sons builds his confidence and is allowed to come and go as he pleases.  Now the father is taken ill and knowing he will soon die tells the son it is his will for the son to become aware of all the fathers possessions treasures and operations, because he is trusted and has in-fact become a son to him.  The son accepts, but remains convinced he is unworthy of the task.

After a time, the father believing his sons attitude has enlarged, assembles the relatives, kings, minsters, citizens along with the son and proclaims to all that the son is truly his son who left the family at a early age, and that all his possessions are hereby transferred to the son who is well acquainted with his wealth and business.  Upon hear the news the son reflects:

Without any mind for or effort on my part these treasures now come of themselves to me

You have to love the tactful ways of the Buddha.  He knows we are attached to inferior ideas and are not ready to aspire to become a buddha even though it is our birthright as we come into this world with a buddha nature.  Yet he is patient, and teaches us according to our capacities, providing us with the three vehicles to make us spiritually mature.

The parable stresses the importance of attitude.  We are poor in the sense that we are not looking to become buddha.  Instead we come to Buddhism because we are broken, suffering and need relief.  In this state, we are open only to what Buddhism teaches about suffering and how uncover its roots and to find relief.  Only after our pain subsides do we become open to the deeper levels of the teachings.  We continue refining ourselves through learning, daily practice and selfless compassion for all, and eventually gain an appreciation for our great cause - to become buddha.

The sons final words, reaffirm that enlightenment is not something we pursue and attain - its already in us waiting to be revealed.