During the period of Shakyamuni Buddha, a baby was born with both palms holding one piece of golden coin each. The mother out of couriosity tried taking away the golden coins out of his palms yet other coins kept growing over and over again. Witnessing such miraculous phenomenon, mother was aware this must have had been the virtues cultivated in his previous lifetimes. the baby was then named as Golden Virtues.
Golden Virtues looked gorgeous and charismatic, with his tender and loving character, nobody can help but like him. One day as he found out about a wise Guru that could liberate all beings from suffers and pains, he decided to learn from Him and become a disciple of Him, the Buddha. Golden Virtues asked permission from his parents and began his journey to meet with Buddha.
As Golden Virtues had his hair cut to become a monk, he had to give prostrations to all the senior brothers (monks). His hands touched the ground completely as he knelt down. As he stood up, there were two golden coins left on the traces of his palms. For each prostration he gave to each monk, two golden coins were naturally left on the ground. Not long after his becoming a monk, Golden Virtues soon attained the Arahat level.
One day Ananda enquired Buddha, "Guru, Golden Virtues had done what in his previous lifetimes that has resulted in current great virtues with both palms able to produce golden coins and meeting Guru to become a monk. Then with great wisdom he attains Arahat level very soon. Please Guru provide us with understanding."
"About 91 aeons ago, there lived a Buddha with His disciples traveling to all directions to teach the Dharma. At that time, a beggar was very happy to know their coming and soon he decided to go into the forests, chopped down some woods and sold them in return for two coins. As soon as he received his coins, he instantly went to see the Buddha and offered Him and His disciples the two coins he had put on his palms. With deep sincerity and great happiness, the beggar had offered his only property, two coins, to Buddha and holy beings, therefore he has been receiving great virtues for 91 aeons long even until now, the beggar is the current Golden Virtues."
What about your heart? Have you prepared your afterlife by capitalizing on every virtuous acts available?
To do great offering is rare especially when we can offer our deepest sincerity to holy beings like Buddha and Bodhisattva...
Let us decide now what is best for good!
Buddha Bless You...
