Buddhist Stories: Wish-Fulfilling Jewels, Part 3 of 10 Aug. 13, 2015

At that time, one of the monks, he somehow intuitively knew that the Buddha wanted Ananda. And other people also understood that. And then Sariputra and Maudgalyayana came up to me and said, “Annada, I think the Buddha wants you to be His attendant. Come, get up quickly and then ask the Buddha to allow you to be His attendant.” “I don't know what to do. So I said, ‘If the two great elderly Reverends think thus, then please come and ask the Buddha for me. But in order to be the Buddha's attendant, I request three privileges.’” What do you think he asked? “Number one, if the Buddha had old clothes, he will not want to accept it.” “Number two, whatever the Buddha ate that's left over, do not give it to me.” “Number three, it's meaning that, depending on the season and time, only he himself will take care for the Buddha.” So the two great disciple monks came up and told all that to the Buddha. Then the Buddha explained like this: “But you should know it's not just this day. It's not just in this lifetime that he asked for this.” “A long time ago, past life, he also serve me and also did this.” Maybe that's why he knew everything. He knew about what Buddha wanted and what time he should give what. He was very pure and good. He was unconditional.