Date: 01/25/2025 01/26/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
Offering Honey to the Buddha and Attaining Liberation
Long ago, while the Buddha was teaching at the Jetavana Monastery in Sravasti, many people who admired his compassion and wisdom, or sought the meaning of life, flocked to the Jetavana Grove. At that time, there was an elder who wished to live close to the Buddha and offer him daily support. He wanted to purchase a piece of land within the Jetavana Grove to build a house.
However, all the land within the Jetavana Grove had already been purchased by Anathapindika, and there was no vacant plot available.
The elder then came up with an idea. He prepared sweet and delicious beverages at the entrance of the Jetavana Grove to offer to all passersby. Since the Buddha went out daily to collect alms, he hoped to have the opportunity to offer the Buddha these drinks, which he believed would bring him unparalleled blessings.
With great care, the elder fetched pure water and prepared various honey syrups and mixtures using high-quality honey and flour. He offered these beverages to everyone passing through the Jetavana Grove.
After three months, the Buddha finally passed by this place and accepted the elder’s sincere offering of honey syrup. Due to this meritorious act, the elder was reborn in the heavenly realm after his death. He resided in a celestial palace adorned with seven treasures, possessing immense divine power and surrounded by countless treasures and family members.
Despite his heavenly pleasures, the elder did not forget his aspiration to support the Buddha and listen to his teachings. He descended to the human realm in his celestial palace to offer alms to the Buddha.
The Buddha expounded essential teachings to the heavenly being, who then attained the stage of Sotapanna (Stream-Enterer).
The Buddha’s disciples, witnessing how the celestial being attained liberation through offering alms, asked the Buddha,
“What karmic causes and conditions allowed this heavenly being to enjoy such vast blessings, be reborn in the heavens, and possess such dignity and magnificence?”
The Buddha replied,
“In his human life, this celestial being was an elder who prepared high-quality honey syrups at the entrance of the Jetavana Grove to offer to all passersby. The Buddha also accepted his offerings. Due to these meritorious causes and conditions, he was reborn in the heavenly realm. Furthermore, because he did not become attached to pleasure and made the effort to come to the Buddha to hear the teachings, he was able to attain enlightenment and liberation.”
