Part Three...
 3 of 3

  "Great King!  I am Bimbisara, your father.  You must now visit the Buddha,
as Jivaka advises you!"

Hearing this, the king was stricken with fear.  He agonized and fainted.
The tumors and bolls on his body hurt more and more, and the odor got
worse.  Just at that time, Shakyamuni was in the Sala Grove.  He saw that
Ajatasatru had fainted and he told the people, "I will not enter nirvana,
but will stay in this world and save King Ajatasatru."

Kashyapa asked Shyakyamuni, "Shyakyamuni!  I assumed that it is for all
the human beings in this world that you will not enter nirvana.  So why do
you say that it is only for King Ajatasatru?" The Buddha answered, "Good
man, I think there is no one in this crowd that is convinced of my entering
nirvana.  But only King Ajatasatru is convinced of my entrance to nirvana,
so he is suffering so badly!  That is why I told you that for only his sake,
I would not enter nirvana!"

Then Shakyamuni entered the "moon-praising samadhi" for King Ajatasatru
and spread a great light.  As the light shone on the king's body, his tumors
were cured miraculously and he felt very fine.

"Jivakal From where did this light come?  The pain of the tumors is gone and
I feel relieved."

   "It is the Buddha who spread this light."

   "Then why did Shakyamuni spread this light?"

"For your sake, my lord.  As you said, 'Even the greatest doctor can't cure
my body and soul.'  Just now, Shakyamuni spread the light and first helped
your body; now he is going to heal your soul."

"Therefore, his kindness is so great that he worries about me, Jivaka?"

"Of course.  For example, parents who have seven children will worry the
most about the one who is sick, even if they love all their seven children
equally.  So does the Buddha."

"But Jivaka!  I've heard that Shakyamuni dare not sit on the same seat
with evil persons and he doesn't even speak to them..."

"My lordl All you have to do is go to the Buddha meekly, just like a thirsty
person who wants water, or a cold person who seeks the warmth of a fire."

"Then, Jivaka!  I'll visit him on a day of good fortune."

"My lord!  There are no fortunate or unfortunate days in the Dharma of the
Buddha.  For example, a seriously sick person sees a doctor regardless of
the fortune of the day or time.  You are seriously ill, too.  You can erase
your sin if you appeal to the Buddha at one.  Let's go to the Buddha today."

Then King Ajatasatru ordered one of his minsters named Kichijo, saying,
"I'd like to visit the Buddha now.  Prepare the offerings for him." In this
way, the legend says, King Ajatasatru and his wife left.  They led eighteen
thousand cars packed with various offerings, fifty thousand strong elephants
and eighteen thousand horses.  Also, five hundred and eighty thousand
people of Magadha followed them.  At that time, Shakyamuni told the
people, "The closest contributory cause for all sentient beings to enter
righteous enlightenment is to have good friends.  If King Ajatasatru had
not followed the advice of Jivaka, he would be sure to die and fall into
Avici Hell without fail on the seventh of the next month.  So, having good
friends is most important for you."

Although he heard this, Ajatasatru was still not sure whether he had been
saved or not.  So, he asked Jivaka, "Jivaka!  Please come here and let's ride
the same elephant.  If I'm about to fall into Hell, please hold me up and
protect me from failing into Hell!  Once I heard that 'the person who
has attained the way doesn't fall into Hell."'

The Buddha told the people, "Ajatasatru still is not convinced yet.  Now
I'll let him have a strong fixed mind that he will be saved without fail." In
this way, Ajatasatru finally arrived at the Sala Grove, and looked up at
the noble figure of the Buddha, with the thirty-two distinguishing marks
and the eighty distinctive bodily marks.  Then the Buddha called, "Great
King!"  Ajatasatru looked around him.  "In these great masses of people,
who is the Great King?  As I'm already sinful and have no precious virtue,
I can't be called the Great King," he thought to himself.  Then again he was
called.  "King Ajatasatru!" Hearing these words, Ajatasatru was deeply
moved and he said with gratitude, "Lord Shakyamunil Thank you very
much for speaking to me.  I realized that you have great pity toward not
only common people, but also toward evil persons, without any discrimination
on your part. Now all my doubts are gone, and I have come to know that the
Tathagata is the supreme master for all sentient beings."

"Lord Shakyamunil Your one word is far more gracious to me that to dine with Brahmadeva or Ten-taishaku." In this way, King Ajatasatru attained the firm
faith on his salvation by the Buddha and he became a fervent Buddhist and
was redeemed.

As seen in this case, repentance and remorse are the most important feelings
for faith.  All human beings can be saved by these.

With Gassho
Reverend  Tetsujo Kubota