Lesson Eight: Sow Good Seeds and Reap The Harvest

The follower should cleanse his mind of allpride
and cherish humility, courtesy and service. His
mind should be like the bountiful earth that
nourishes everything without partiality, that
serves without complaint, that endures
patiently, that is always ·zealous. It is a mind
that finds its highest joy in serving all people by
planting in their minds the seeds of the
Buddha's teaching.

Thus, the person who is compassionate
becomes a mother to all people, honors all
people, looks upon all as personal friends, and
respects them as his parents.

How to Obtain Wealth, Beauty and Social

Position

Once when the Buddha was staying in the

Jetavana Monastery at Savatthi, Queen Mallika

approached the Blessed One, greeted him and

asked the following questions:

Reverend Sir, what is the cause when is woman

is ugly, poor and low in the social scale? What is

the cause when a woman is ugly, but is rich and

high in the social scale? What is the cause when

a woman is beautiful but is poor and low in the

social scale? What is the cause when a woman

is beautiful, rich and high in the social scale?"

The Blessed One replied:

"Mallika, when a woman has been of quick

temper, violent, and becomes angry and

spiteful at every little thing said against her

when she is stingy and has not given alms to

monks or holy men, and has always been

envious at the gains and honor of others then,

when she dies and is reborn, she will be ugly,

poor and low in the social scale.

"When a woman has been of quick temper,

violent, and becomes angry and spiteful at

every little thing said against her but she is

generous and gives alms to monks and holy

men, and has not been envious at the gains and

honor of others; then, when she dies and is

reborn, she will be ugly but rich and high in the

social scale.

"Mallika, when a woman has not been of quick

temper, not violent, and has not become angry

and spiteful though much had been said against

her but she is stingy and has not given alms to

monks and holy men and has always been

envious at the gains and honor of others then,

when she dies and is reborn, she will be

beautiful but poor and low in the social scale.

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