Good deeds bring happiness

by Premasara Epasinghe

This is story of a florist named Sumana, who supplied jasmine flowers daily morning to King Bimbisara's royal palace at Rajagaha.

At that time, Gautama Buddha was residing at the Jetavanarama.

One day, as the florist was carrying flowers to the palace he saw the Buddha on his round of alms, accompanied by bhikkhus and radiating the city with his rays. When Sumana, the florist, saw the Buddha in his resplendent glory, he had a great desire to offer the flowers to him. He knew that he was taking a risk in not performing a duty to the king.

But Sumana was ready to take the risk. With due respect to the Buddha, Sumana offered the flowers to Him.

Sumana made the flowers hanging in the air like a parasol. On either side of the Buddha the flowers were seen like a wall and over the Blessed One's head there was a canopy of flowers Sumana's flowers followed the Buddha as he moved. It was a marvel to see flowers mixed with six coloured rays of the Buddha. Thousands of people flocked to see the magnificent sight and to worship the Buddha. Sumana was delighted.

Duties

Sumana's wife, knew that her husband did not carry out his duties properly on that day by not supplying flower to the king. She met the king and toldhim about the incident. The king who had attained Sotapanne, the first of the four stages towards the realisation of liberation leading to Arahatship, did not lose his temper.

King Bimbisara offered alms to the Buddha and saw the flower decorations of Sumana.

King Bimbisara summoned Sumana and appreciated what he did. The king said, “Sumana, you are great.” King Bimbisara in appreciation of the good deed, donated elephants, horses, male and female servants to Sumana. The king also gave him eight magnificent sets of jewels and 8,000 pieces of gold.

When Ven. Ananda questioned about Sumana's gesture, the Buddha said, “Ananda, he honoured me as he has immense faith in me. Because of his faith and good deed, he received all those presents.Those who perform good deeds in the world are looked after well by gods as well as men in this world itself. Due to the merit of offering flowers to me florist Sumana will become a Pacceka Buddha in the future.”

At the conclusion the Buddha uttered the following stanza to the Bhikkhus.

Tanca Kammam Katam Sadhu
Yam Katva Nanutappati
Yassa Patito Sumano
Vipakam Patisevati
Dhammapada – Bala Vagga – Fools

Verse (9) – (68)

(But well made is the Kamma;
which done brings no remorse;
of which one senses the result
with glad mind and with joy.)