The Wise Are Happy
The Story of Kanamata
Chapter 6: The Wise • Verse 7
The Story of Kanamata
Chapter 6: The Wise • Verse 7
On hearing the Teachings, the wise become perfectly purified, like a lake deep, clear and still.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to the mother of Kana (Kanamata).
Kanamata was a devoted lay disciple of the Buddha. Her daughter Kana was married to a man from another village, and after Kana had been visiting her mother for some time, her husband sent word for her to come home.
Her mother asked her to wait one more day, so that she could take some sweetmeats home for her husband. The next day Kanamata made the sweetmeats, but when four monks came to her door for alms, she offered them some.
Those monks told others about the sweetmeats at Kanamata's house, and more monks came to her door. Devoted as she was, she gave sweetmeats to each one as they came, until there were none left for Kana, and Kana could not go home that day.
The same thing happened on the next two days: her mother made sweetmeats, the monks came, she gave them away, and Kana was left with nothing to take home.
Her husband then sent a third message, an ultimatum: if she did not come home the next day, he would take another wife. But again her mother gave all the sweetmeats to the monks, and again Kana could not go.
Her husband took another wife, and Kana grew very bitter toward the monks. She abused every monk she saw, so much that the monks stopped going to Kanamata's house.
Hearing of this, the Buddha went to Kanamata's house, where she offered him rice gruel. After the meal he sent for Kana and asked her whether his monks had taken what was given to them, or what was not given.
Kana admitted that the monks had taken only what was given, and that they were not at fault; she alone was. Owning her fault, she paid homage to the Buddha, and at the end of his discourse she attained the fruit of stream-entry.
On his way back to the monastery, the Buddha met King Pasenadi of Kosala, who, hearing about Kana, asked whether the Buddha had been able to teach her the Dhamma. The Buddha replied that he had, and had also made her rich in her next existence.
The king promised to make Kana rich in this very life. He sent a palanquin to fetch her, and announced to his ministers that whoever could keep his daughter Kana in comfort could take her.
One of the ministers adopted Kana as his daughter, gave her all his wealth, and told her she could give as much in charity as she liked. From then on, Kana made offerings to the monks every day at the four city gates.
When told of Kana's generosity, the Buddha said that her muddled mind had been made clear and calm by his words.
The Story of Kanamata
Chapter 6: The Wise • Verse 7
On hearing the Teachings, the wise become perfectly purified, like a lake deep, clear and still.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to the mother of Kana (Kanamata).
Kanamata was a devoted lay disciple of the Buddha. Her daughter Kana was married to a man from another village, and after Kana had been visiting her mother for some time, her husband sent word for her to come home.
Her mother asked her to wait one more day, so that she could take some sweetmeats home for her husband. The next day Kanamata made the sweetmeats, but when four monks came to her door for alms, she offered them some.
Those monks told others about the sweetmeats at Kanamata's house, and more monks came to her door. Devoted as she was, she gave sweetmeats to each one as they came, until there were none left for Kana, and Kana could not go home that day.
The same thing happened on the next two days: her mother made sweetmeats, the monks came, she gave them away, and Kana was left with nothing to take home.
Her husband then sent a third message, an ultimatum: if she did not come home the next day, he would take another wife. But again her mother gave all the sweetmeats to the monks, and again Kana could not go.
Her husband took another wife, and Kana grew very bitter toward the monks. She abused every monk she saw, so much that the monks stopped going to Kanamata's house.
Hearing of this, the Buddha went to Kanamata's house, where she offered him rice gruel. After the meal he sent for Kana and asked her whether his monks had taken what was given to them, or what was not given.
Kana admitted that the monks had taken only what was given, and that they were not at fault; she alone was. Owning her fault, she paid homage to the Buddha, and at the end of his discourse she attained the fruit of stream-entry.
On his way back to the monastery, the Buddha met King Pasenadi of Kosala, who, hearing about Kana, asked whether the Buddha had been able to teach her the Dhamma. The Buddha replied that he had, and had also made her rich in her next existence.
The king promised to make Kana rich in this very life. He sent a palanquin to fetch her, and announced to his ministers that whoever could keep his daughter Kana in comfort could take her.
One of the ministers adopted Kana as his daughter, gave her all his wealth, and told her she could give as much in charity as she liked. From then on, Kana made offerings to the monks every day at the four city gates.
When told of Kana's generosity, the Buddha said that her muddled mind had been made clear and calm by his words.