Verses of the Senior Monks 10.4

The Book of the Tens

Chapter One

Cūḷapanthaka

My progress was slow,

I was despised in the past.

Even my brother turned me away,

saying, “Go home now.”

Turned away at the gate

of the Saṅgha’s monastery,

I stood there sadly,

longing for the dispensation.

Then the Buddha came

and touched my head.

Taking me by the arm,

he brought me into the Saṅgha’s monastery.

The Teacher, out of sympathy,

gave me a foot-wiping cloth, saying:

“Focus your awareness

exclusively on this clean cloth.”

After hearing his words,

I happily did his bidding.

I practiced meditative immersion

for the attainment of the highest goal.

I know my past lives,

my clairvoyance is clarified;

I’ve attained the three knowledges,

and fulfilled the Buddha’s instructions.

I, Panthaka, created a thousand

images of myself,

and sat in the delightful mango grove

until the time for the meal offering was announced.

Then the teacher sent to me

a messenger to announce the time.

When the time was announced,

I flew to him through the air.

I paid homage at the teacher’s feet,

and sat to one side.

When he knew I was seated,

the teacher received the offering.

Recipient of gifts from the whole world,

receiver of sacrifices,

field of merit for humanity,

he received the religious donation.