..續本文上一頁o gain the same enlightenment of a Buddha - the experience of complete Truth. So people call him "Bodhisatta", which mans "Enlightenment Being". No one really knows about the millions of lives lived by this great hero. But many stories have been told - including this one about a pregnant queen who was about to give birth to him. After many more rebirths, he became the Buddha who is remembered and loved in all the world today.

　　At the time of our story, the Enlightenment Being had already achieved the Ten Perfections. So the glory of his coming birth caused a trembling in all the heaven worlds, including the Heaven of 33 ruled by King Sakka. When he felt the trembling, being a god he knows it was caused by the unborn babe inside the disguised Queen of Mithila. And he knew this must be a being of great merit, so he decided to go and help out.

　　King Sakka made a covered carriage with a bed in it, and appeared at the roadside in front of the pregnant queen. He looked just like an ordinary old man. He called out, "Does anyone need a ride to Campa

　　" The homeless queen answered, "I wish to go there, kind sir." "Come with me then,: the old man said.

　　Since the birth was not far off, the pregnant queen was quite large. She said, "I cannot climb up into your carriage. Simply carry my basket and I will walk behind." The old man, the king of the gods, replied, "Never mind! Never Mind! I am the cleverest driver around. So don”t worry. Just step into my cart!"

　　Lo and behold, as she lifted her foot, King Sakka magically caused the ground under her to rise up! So she easily stepped down into the carriage. Immediately she knew this must be a god, and fell fast asleep.

　　Sakka drove the cart until he came to a river. Then he awakened the lady and said, "Wake up, daughter, and bathe in this river. Dress yourself in this fine clothing I have brought you. Then eat a packet of rice." She obeyed him, and then lay downs and slept some more.

　　In the evening she awoke and saw tall houses and walls. She asked, "What is this city, father

　　" He said, "This is Campa." King Sakka replied, "I took a short cut. Now that we are at the southern gate of the city, you may safely enter in. I must go on to my own far-off village." So they parted and Sakka disappeared in the distance, returning to his heaven world.

　　The queen entered the city and sat down at an inn. There happened to be a wise man living in Campa. He recited spells and gave advice to help people who were sick or unfortunate. While on his way to bathe in the river with 500 followers, he was the beautiful queen from a distance. The great goodness of the unborn one within gave her a soft warm glow, which only the wise man noticed. At once he felt a kind and gentle liking for her, just as if where were his own youngest sister. So he left his followers outside and went into the inn.

　　He asked her, "Sister, what village are you from

　　" She replied, "I am the number one queen of King Badfruit of Mithila."

　　He asked, "Then why did you come here

　　" "My husband was killed by the army of his brother, Prince Poorfruit," she said. "I was afraid , so I ran away to protect the unborn one within me." The wise man asked, "Do you have any relatives in this city

　　" She said, "No sir." Then he said, "Dont worry at all. I was born in a rich family and I myself am rich. I will care for you just as I would for my own young sister. Now you must call me brother and grab hold of my feet and cry out."

　　When she did this, the followers came inside. The wise man explained to them that she was his long lost youngest sister. He told his closest followers to take her to his home in a covered cart. He told them to tell his wife that this was his sister, who was to be cared for.

　　They did exactly as he had said. The wife welcomed her, gave her a hot bath, and made her rest in bed.

　　After bathing in the river the wise man returned home. At dinnertime he asked his sister to join them. After dinner he invited her to stay in his home.

　　In only a few days the queen gave birth to a wonderful little baby boy. She named him fruitful. She told the wise man this was the name of the boy”s grandfather, who had one been King of Mithila.

《Rebirth of the Bodhisatta (Chapter 1· )》全文閱讀結束。