The world of Tzu Chi (Vol.107)

2019 • 02 58 aster Cheng Yen Tells Stories B uddha’s disciples came from all sorts of backgrounds. In Sravasti, there was an able young man who was barely 20 years old. He was good with music, board games, literature and art. He was also skilful in medicine. But the more he learnt, the less satisfied he became, and so he was never happy. He vowed to learn all the skills in the world. He travelled around looking for teachers. He learnt everything. He wanted to be sure that he would always have good clothes to wear, so he became a skilful tailor. So that he would always have good food to eat, he also became an excellent chef. He could do things that nobody else could do, but he was still unhappy and dissatisfied. So he vowed to leave Sravasti and travel all over the world to learn every kind of skill imaginable. He saw someone making bows and arrows. The craftsman’s movements were skilful and quick, so that a bow was quickly finished and every bow was the same size. The young man thought the craftsman must be very accomplished. The young man wanted to learn this craft, so that if anyone attacked him, he would have something to defend himself with. He worked hard until he became even better than his teacher. Then the young man saw a sculptor carving a piece of wood to produce a dragon that looked like it was alive. He thought this was a good skill to have, so he threw himself The Spiritual Craftsman wholeheartedly into learning it, and soon became an excellent woodcarver. Travelling further, he saw someone building a boat. He felt that he had learnt many skills that would be useful on hand, but what if he needed to cross a river? So he learnt how to make a boat. He travelled through 16 countries and mastered many crafts. When the young man returned to Sravasti, he was very arrogant, because he felt that he had mastered all the skills and crafts in the world. Thinking to show off his skills, he posted an announcement inviting all to come compete with him in any skill they chose. When Buddha heard about it, he went to the man’s house. The young man saw Buddha and some of his disciples approaching, and he thought they were quite strange. He had seen all sorts of people, even kings, but he had never seen anyone with such strange robes and shaved heads. He wondered what kind of people they were. He approached Buddha curiously. He was attracted by Buddha’s dignified appearance, and he instinctively folded his hands together. “Sir, where are you from? What class and profession are you in?” Buddha replied, “Bow and arrow makers flourish when they are close to bamboo forests. Sculptors prosper when they live near forests. Boat builders are successful when they are close to the sea. But a wise person is skilled in A young man travelled through 16 countries and mastered many crafts. Thinking to show off his skills, he posted an announcement inviting all to come compete with him in any skill they chose. Buddha heard about it and went to the man’s house, “A wise person is skilled in regulating his own mind and body.”