The Life of the Buddha: Chapter 6

Further thoughts on The Life of the Buddha, a collection and translation by Nanamoli:

There was a poor tailor who saw all these huts put up for the monks and he thought he would like one. He built one, but it was slanted and fell down. He did that three times, and started complaining to the monks. The monks told the Buddha and he told a story about animals helping each other out. I might have told the story where first he directly told some monks to go build that tailor a hut. But it's clear that the Buddha believed in spreading the wealth, resources, charity. He didn't say forget him, just focus on getting enlightened monks.

It seems they build some crude monasteries for the many monks.

I imagine when hordes were converting to the path, there must have been great social disorder. The Buddha made a rule that you have to get your parents permission to go forth. One day everyone was in the village working their usual way, and then another there were a bunch of people with bowls and robes walking along, begging for their food. I wonder if there was anyone left in the kitchen to make food for all the monks. One guy got a ironed robe and a nice bowl and the Buddha didn't like that.

Though eastern and Buddhism seems to be pro-family there is a bit where the Buddha illuminates the suffering within the family, in an effort to pry those from taking refuge in the family. Interesting.

One king got teachings from the Buddha but another didn't, and I wonder if there was jealousy with those whom the word spread slowly. I estimate it took 2378 years for the Buddha's message to make it to America where I live. I'm jealous it took so long to get here.

To further integrate with society he had the monks not wander around during the rains. They were tramping all over the crops and causing problems, so the Buddha asked that the monks stay in one place during the rainy season.

I'm watching Eugene Onegin on the Met Opera free streaming and this is adapted from Pushkin, who created the "superfluous man"--an unmindful dilettante who mucks everything up and misses opportunities and hurts people.