The enlightened are a rare and small group of people. They are wise and loving and peaceful. They are able to deal with problems of life with peace, balance and justice. The grace and power of the Light glows in them and they attract all life. Animals, birds, plants and Nature bow to the Light in them. There are many people who have little minds and are unable to take in the wisdom, knowledge or powerful charisma of such people. They try at first to befriend them and then slowly take over their power, popularity and position. The unique stature of the enlightened comes from their knowledge of truth and reality. This is not a position to be taken over by force or bribery or vast advertisement over media. One needs to have undergone the practices which bring one to this special level where one realizes that the Light is within and that all world is made up of the same Light. One must have experience of Truth of God.
The enlightened have always faced treachery and betrayal in their group and followers. They are persecuted and hounded. Their enemies who are narrow minded and unable to accept higher truths always try to destroy them. They overcome such hurdles in life with grace, compassion and truth. These incidents are from the life of Buddha of how he faced hindrances and obstacles from a petty minded ignorant follower:
Buddha’s brother Devadatta was his disciple. Devadatta wanted Buddha to declare him as his successor. Buddhahood is based on self realisation. It is not a title to pass on. Buddha was already helping Devadatta as much as he was helping others in the group. Devadatta was not enlightened and there were many enlightened disciples in the group of Buddha. Buddha explained the truth to Devadatta that he could become a Buddha but there was no question of succeeding Buddha.
In anger and hurt, Devadatta left Buddha’s group. As he was a prince, he had a small group of followers who left with him. Devadatta formed another group and became the leader. He imitated Buddha’s speech and mannerisms. But there was no light in his heart and no peace in his eyes. There was no radiance around him and no bliss within him. Those who came with him saw him for what he was – an egoistic man who was hungry for name, fame and power. They left him one by one and went back to Buddha. He was left alone and blamed Buddha for all his misfortunes. So he plotted to kill Buddha.
Once Buddha was sitting on a rock at the bottom of a hill and meditating. Devadatta hid himself up the hill and rolled a huge rock down the hill in the direction of Buddha. That rock would have surely crushed Buddha. But when it came near Buddha, it moved away and changed course. The rock seemed to recognise the enlightened master and changed course to prevent killing him. Devadatta was mad with anger when he saw this unnatural phenomenon. He plotted once again to kill Buddha.
Devadatta’s father had a mad elephant that was always tied up with heavy chains. Hardened criminals were thrown into the elephant’s cage and the elephant trampled them to death. Devadatta bribed the mahut – the keeper of the elephant to take elephant to the place where
Buddha was sitting in meditation. The mad elephant came raging towards Buddha in great speed but when he neared Buddha, he suddenly slowed down, bent his knees and saluted at Buddha’s feet with his head.
The rock and the mad elephant showed more sensitivity to the enlightened radiance of Buddha than his enraged egoistic brother. Devadatta was denser in mind and intelligence than the rock and the mad elephant. He could not see Buddha for what he was. He was not ready to work for Buddhahood either. He just wanted to destroy Buddha and take over his name, fame and popularity. History repeats all the time and the enlightened will always face enmity from narrow minded people who fear knowledge.
