Tuesday 18 March 2008

Parable of the Mustard Seed



Attended a concert organised by the National University of Malaysia's Buddhist Fellowship on Sunday evening. One of the performances was on the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

As the story goes, Buddha told the story of the grieving mother - Kisa Gotami, and the mustard seed. Kisa Gotami lost her only son, she took his body to the Buddha to find a cure. The Buddha asked her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a family that had never experience a death. When Kisa Gotami was unable to find such a house in her village, she realised that death was common to all, and she could not be selfish in her grief. Death must come to everyone sooner or later. But if ones learns the truth of dying, one can live and die in happiness.
More of this story can be read here.

Have you heard of this story?

4 comments:

 gmirage said...

What great expression on the actress' face. How was her overall delivery of the drama?

J.C. said...

She was very good in her role. In fact she played another role of a modern mom. And she did it excellently. So are the other members of the casts. For non-professional actors/actresses, their performance on that evening was impressive! :o)

Unknown said...

That's a beautiful story isn't it? Sad at first but then uplifting. I love it and am glad you got to see it and then posted about it!

By the way, I notice you are reading Baldacci! I love his works and want to pick up reading him again (took a break this past year). Here'a shot just for you JC, on my flickr.

Anonymous said...

Jesus has a parable that the kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed. Matthew 13:31-32.
I never knew that Buddha also taught a mustard seed story. It is very deep. Thank you enlightening me.

"Use your first smile, your first form of generosity, of love, of kindness—use it at home; start at home. And if there is something left over—if … your plate is just full of abundance of patience and goodness and smiles and joy, then by all means, you should go … and offer that to others. But we must begin at home." by Dr Robin Smith