258-The Robber Aṅgulimāla - the Story of the 99 Cut Off Fingers- Buddhism in daily life

The Robber Aṅgulimāla - the Story of the 99 Cut Off Fingers


Aṅgulimāla was a murderer at the time of the historical Buddha.


He was a student at the college, he came from a distinguished
family.


Legends tell of his extraordinary good looks. His teacher's wife
was also more fond of him than other students, but he refused
further contact. Thus, the race woman is said to have been
incensed by the rejection. She told her husband, the teacher,
that Aṅgulimāla wanted to rape her, but she was just able to
prevent it. Her husband became jealous, and began to give the
student false advice.


So he should strive for "enlightenment", and for this purpose cut
off a finger of 100 people, then he would enter "nirvana".


The young man was probably very handsome, but somewhat
simple-minded, he set out to fulfill the task set by the teacher.
When he found that no one wanted to "donate" a finger for the
personal "enlightenment" of the Aṅgulimāla, he proceeded to kill
people, cut off their coveted finger, and then "thread" it on a
necklace. This is how he got his name, Aṅgulimāla, which
translates roughly as "finger necklace."


The powerful serial killer had already threaded 99 fingers onto
the necklace when he met the historical Buddha. The latter was to
contribute the hundredth finger to the collection, so that he
could finally experience "enlightenment". Buddha was not
particularly strong, characterized by meditation and asceticism,
a simple victim. Thought the killer!


Although the robber ran after Buddha with speed and strength, he
could not reach the slowly holy man. Exhausted and full of
frustration, Aṅgulimāla called out to Buddha to stop.


Buddha turned around with no apparent emotion, and told
Aṅgulimāla that he had been standing for a long time after all,
and it was time for Aṅgulimāla to stop as well, to stop killing,
to stop hurting other people because of his ego.


Something about the Buddha's person and his words must have
touched Aṅgulimāla deeply, he threw away his weapons and followed
the Buddha to a monastery where he became a monk, the
"enlightenment" struck him like lightning.


The king wanted to arrest Aṅgulimāla and found him together with
Buddha in a temple. He paid his respects to Buddha and asked his
opinion. The Buddha answered the king: what you could not achieve
with weapons, you could easily achieve with the right words!


Impressed, the king moved on with his army, leaving Aṅgulimāla to
the Buddha's benevolence.


THE LESSON OF THE STORY?


Even extreme circumstances can be overcome, people can change,
one can grow from the right example. Yesterday is not today, what
will be tomorrow we do not know. In the moment lies the power,
who we meet, which circumstances influence us, also our karma
holds lots of surprises.


Have you met the Buddha yet?


HISTORY TEACHES PEOPLE THAT HISTORY TEACHES PEOPLE NOTHING


- MAHATMA GANDHI - INDIAN LAWYER - 1869 TO 1948


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