The nursing Buddha

The nursing Buddha
(thu nar pyu phaya)


With shadowy brother Ananda
The exalted one, our Lord Buddha
Once in an itinerary
Duly observed.

Crows crowing flies flying
In a grimy grey building
Lord Buddha found on entering
A debilitated monk in the centre of building
Soiled with faeces and urine excessively
Lying alone that dying saintly
Thus met Buddha personally.

Like mother nursing a son
The exalted one said to ananda
"Fetch fresh clean water,
Let's bathe and wash him ananda", then later
Buddha holding head and ananda holding feet together
Lifted the cleansed monk carefully
Put him on a nice bed suitably
To let him sleep soundly.

Then, the Lord called the monks in session
Told them clearly instructing
" away from parents in seclusion
In search of dhamma and liberation
You monks are in dire situation
So nurse each other in inflictions;
If you do like me in such situation devotedly
(It's the same as devotion to me)
You will reach higher plane certainly."

Min Thu Wun (IM 2 Magazine, 1968)
Translations Dr Maung Maung Nyo (26.3.2007)