In the city of Savatthi in Northern India, the Buddha had a large center. People came there to practice meditation and listen to his talks on dharma. Every evening one young man would come and listen. He listened to Buddha for years, but never tried to change himself.
Several years passed, and then one evening this young man came early and saw Buddha alone. He approached him and said:
“Sir, I have only one question on my mind, and it gives rise to all my doubts.”
- Yes? There should be no doubt on the path of dharma. Let's figure it out, what's your question?
- Sir, I have been coming to your meditation center for many years now; I noticed that there are many hermits, monks and nuns around you, and even more laymen and laywomen; some of them also last for years. I can see that some of them have clearly reached the final stage: it is clear that they have completely liberated themselves. I can also see that others have experienced some change in their lives: they are better than they were before, although I would not say that they are completely liberated. But, sir, I also notice that many people, including me too, remained as they were, or even became worse.
Why does this happen, sir? People come to you, such a great man, so completely enlightened, so powerful and compassionate. Why don't you use your power and compassion to free them all?
Smiling, the Buddha asked:
- Where do you live, young man, where were you born?
“Sir, I live here in Savatthi, in this capital of the kingdom of Koshala.
- Yes, but from the features of your face I see that you were not born here. Where are you from?
“Sir, I come from the city of Rajagriha, the capital of the kingdom of Magadha. I moved here to Savatthi a few years ago.
- So, have you broken all ties with Rajagriha?
- No, sir, I have relatives there, I have friends there; and there I still have work to do.
“Then you doubtless often come to Rajagriha from Savatthi?”
- Yes, sir. Every year I go to Rajagriha many times and return to Savatthi.
“Having traveled from here to Rajagriha so many times, you surely know the road very well?”
- Oh yes, sir, I know her thoroughly. And even if I were blind, I would probably be able to find the way to Rajagriha - so often I walked along it.
“And your friends who know you well, of course, should know that you come from Rajagriha and have settled here. They must know that you often visit Rajagriha and that you know this path thoroughly?
- Oh yes, sir! All my relatives know that I often go to Rajagriha and know the way there thoroughly.
“Then it should have happened that some of them came to you and asked you to explain to them the way from here to Rajagriha. Did you keep anything silent in such cases or did you explain the path to them in detail?
- What is there to hide here, sir? I explain to them as clearly as possible: first you go east, then turn towards Benares, continue forward until you reach Gaya, and then you come to Rajagriha. I explain everything to them very clearly, sir.
- And these people to whom you give such clear explanations - they all come to Rajagriha?
- No, of course not, sir! Only those who go all the way to the end will come to Rajagriha.
“That’s what I’m explaining to you, young man!” They come to me and come, knowing that there is a person who has walked the path from here to Nirvana, who knows this path thoroughly. People come to me and ask: what is the path to Nirvana, to Liberation? What should I hide? I explain this path to them clearly: this is the path. If someone just nods his head and says: well said, well said, a good path, but I will not take a single step along it, a wonderful path, but I will not take the trouble to go there, then how can such a person achieve the final goal? I don’t carry anyone on my shoulders to the final goal. No one can carry another on their shoulders to the final goal. The biggest thing you can say with love and compassion: here it is, this path, and this is how I walked along it; work, you too, go, and you will reach the final goal. But everyone must go on their own, take every step along the way. Anyone who has taken a step along this path is one step closer to the goal. Anyone who has taken a hundred steps is one hundred steps closer to the goal. The one who has completed all the steps has reached the final goal. But you have to follow the path yourself.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru