The Consequences of Sequentially Cultivating the Six Paramitas

    

The cause and condition of karmic retribution differ dramatically from one person to another. There could have been those with the opportunity to approach the Buddha but would have been deprived of daily necessities and vice versa.

    During the lifetime of the Kasyapa Buddha, there were brothers cultivating to become monastics. One of them upheld the precepts, recited the sutras, and practiced meditation, while the other brother rejoiced in the perfection of giving in generosity as a way of accumulating merits.

   However, at the time of Buddha Sakyamuni, one was born into a wealthy and respectful family, whereas the other, became a huge and strong white elephant.

   The brother from the decent family became a Buddhist monastic who practiced and attained the six supernormal powers of an arhat. Nevertheless, his insufficiency of virtues gained through contributions on his cultivation path in the past caused him hardship even from getting enough sustenance for survival whenever on alms round for food.

   One day, he was in the city on alms round again but apparently to no avail. He then approached the palace, whereby he saw the King providing abundant offerings to the white elephant. He then said to the elephant,

   “Both you and I possess the retribution of our sins.” Upon hearing this statement, the elephant realized the severity of its past errors and did not eat for three days.

The caretaker was shocked. He sought and asked the monastic,

“What curse did you place on the King’s elephant that it became ill and has not eaten for a long time?”

 The monastic replied, “This elephant was my younger brother in our past lives. Both of us were monastics practicing the Dharma at the time of the Kasyapa Buddha. I have upheld the precepts, diligently recited the sutras, practiced meditation but did not make any offerings to others. On the other hand, my brother practiced extensive offerings to attain the perfection of giving. However, he did not uphold any precepts, nor other Buddhist practices of learning, reciting the sutras, or meditation. As such, he became the white elephant today with a livelihood of abundant sustenance, while I cultivated diligently except for making offerings. Although having attained the Path in my current life, I am unable to sustain my livelihood while on alms-round.”

  Therefore, we need to know the truth of karma and the fact that we are responsible for our various past deeds. The consequences of cause and effect differ among individuals, entirely dependent on our own karma. Base on this story we can see that the result of the negative effects of being hungry and thirsty can still prevail even if the monastic is born at the time of the Buddha. 

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