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having heard of the dangers of household life and the benefits of renunciation, he went forth and soon attained arahantship. Then later, he... Having paid homage to the stupa, surrounded by five hundred monks, he went to Ugganagara. There, the merchant's wife was faithful and devoted. Seeing the Elder going for alms with five hundred monks, she quickly went, took the Elder's bowl, fed him along with the five hundred monks, requested the Elder to reside there permanently, had five hundred storied mansions built, decorated them, and providing the five hundred monks with the four requisites, she constantly attended to them. Then, the Elder established her in the five precepts, and having lived there as long as he pleased, desiring to go elsewhere, he gradually went to Pattanagama. Having stayed there, he then boarded a ship and, surrounded by five hundred monks, traveled on the surface of the sea. As he was crossing the sea, a stomach ailment arose in the middle of the ocean and afflicted him. Seeing this, the monks asked, "Venerable sir, what used to alleviate this before?" The Elder said, "In the past, friends, this ailment was alleviated by drinking a measure of ghee the size of a cucumber." The monks said, "Venerable sir, how shall we obtain ghee on the surface of the sea? Please consent." Hearing this, the Elder said, "Friends, ghee is not difficult for me. Take my bowl, draw seawater, and bring it." When he had spoken, the monks did so. As soon as it was drawn, that water was transformed and became ghee. Then the monks, seeing this, were filled with wonder and amazement and offered the ghee to the Elder. As soon as the Elder drank the ghee, that ailment subsided. Then the monks said to him, "What is this wonder, venerable sir? We have never seen anything like this before." The Elder said, "Then you will see the result of good deeds done by those who have performed meritorious acts." Having said this, he looked at the sea and said, "Let this be ghee." Then, in his sight, all the water in the sea was transformed and became ghee. Then the monks, filled with amazement, asked, "Is there any other such merit, venerable sir?" Then the elder, saying "Look, venerable ones, at my merit," looked around at the dense rocky mountain there; all those were balls of molasses. Then, within sight, he showed bowls of food all around, with curries and side dishes. Then he looked at the Himalayas; all that became golden. Then he looked at a large grove of trees in front of him; the entire grove was covered with various colored cloths. Seeing that miracle, the monks were greatly astonished and asked, "Venerable sir, by what meritorious deed of yours will such miracles occur?" The elder revealed all the good deeds he had done in the time of Kassapa, the Ten-Powered One. Hence this: 1. In this auspicious aeon, There was a leader named Kassapa; For the benefit of all the world, The Seeing One arose in the world. 2. Then I was employed at a sugarcane press, A maker of molasses; By that deed I lived, Supporting my children and wife. 3. I saw a monk with weakened senses, Sick with disease then; Having come for alms, He had come for a bit of ghee. 4. I gave a measure of uluṅka Of ghee to that monk; Believing in the fruit of giving, Compassionate, with softened mind. 5. By that deed, wandering in saṃsāra, From existence to existence; Wherever I desire ghee, there It arises abundantly. 6. I desire in the ocean, The fruit of my ghee measure; All that becomes ghee, This is the fruit of ghee-giving. 7. Listen to another of my deeds, A beautiful meritorious act; Then I saw a monk, Oppressed by disease. 8. Taking a ball of molasses, I poured it into his bowl; Then he was happy, His disease had vanished. 9. By that molasses-giving of mine, Wandering among gods and humans; Wherever I need molasses, There it is easily available to me. 10. Rocks, too, abundant for me, Are according to my mind; Like large balls of molasses, This is the fruit of molasses-giving. 11. Moreover, That merit I did, listen, good monks; Seeing a dog then, trembling with hunger. 12. I helped it with a ball of rice, that gift too was fruitful; From then on, there was no lack of food and drink. 13. Easily obtaining food and drink, I was happy in birth after birth; Even today, if I desire, a need for food. 14. In my sight all around, many pots arise; Then another good deed I did, that was my refuge. 15. To a man burdened with debt, I gave a kahāpaṇa; By that meritorious deed of mine, unparalleled prosperity. 16. Abundant gold, I obtain in birth after birth; If today I desire wealth, even a solid rock mountain; Becomes all golden, the fruit of release from debt. 17. Another merit of mine, listen, beautiful to hear; Of Kassapa, the Blessed One, in the Dispensation, very learned. 18. Hearing the Muni teaching the Dhamma, with gladdened mind; I offered my cloak, to the Dhamma, the Lord of the Dhamma. 19. By that meritorious deed of mine, wandering in gods and humans; I obtain abundant clothing, which is best and supreme in the world. 20. If I wish today, even the Himalayan mountain; With various excellent clothes, I would cover all around. 21. If I wish even today, to cover with measured clothes; The beings in the four continents, this is the fruit of the gift of clothing. 22. By the power of these meritorious deeds, in the realm of desire; Experiencing prosperity, in the excellent city of Savatthi. 23. Born in a wealthy family, Grown up, nurtured in happiness; Having heard his Dhamma, Having gone forth in the Dispensation. 24. The supreme, highest taste, enjoying by the Muni's power; Having abandoned defilements, I attained Arahantship. 25. Good should not be despised, as small at any time; It is the giver of endless fruit, it even gives Nibbana. Having heard his Dhamma teaching, the monks and the great crowd, the meritorious deed of giving and so on. Having done so, most were destined for heaven. 26. Even a small merit through mental serenity, Is known to become so great; Do not be heedless, thinking it is a small merit; Remember the goddess, the giver of parched grain here. The seventh story, of the faithful lay follower. 28. In the story of the miser, this sequential account: After our Blessed One passed away, a poor man living in the city of Bārāṇasī supported his life by working for hire in others' homes. At that time, most of the city dwellers were having pavilions and other things built in various places and giving great alms. Seeing that, the poor man thought thus: "Because of not having done merit in the past, I live with difficulty and hardship by working for hire in others' homes. I obtain even clothing and shelter with difficulty. Now, the Buddha's appearance exists, and so does the Saṅgha of monks. All these people, giving alms, are clearing the path to heaven. It is fitting that I too should give alms. That will be for my long-term benefit and happiness. But I do not even have a measure of rice grains. It is not possible to bring that to fruition without effort. For this purpose, I will make an effort and give alms," thinking thus, from then on, seeking hire, he went and, working for hire in various places, collected the wages he received and the sesame seeds, rice grains, and other things he received as alms. Having entrusted people to build a pavilion, he decorated it with forest grass and other things, invited monks, seated them in the pavilion, and prepared and fed rice porridge to all. Then, at the time of death, he recalled that excellent gift he had given. Through that meritorious deed, he was reborn in the world of gods, as if awakened from sleep. In that place, a great golden mansion arose befitting the merit he had done. Deities, holding various kinds of musical instruments, were making offerings all around within a three-league area. Thousands of celestial nymphs constantly stood surrounding him. Thus, he experienced great He enjoys prosperity. Then one day, the Elder Mahāsaṅgharakkhita, dwelling in the Suvaṇṇasela Monastery, wandering on a tour of the gods, having attained analytical insight, saw that divine being shining with incomparable divine splendor, approached him, stood nearby, and asked about the deed he had done. He explained to him the truth as it was, thus: 1. All of gold it was, the palace made of jewels; Filled with hundreds of golden peaks, hard to see and radiant. 2. Filled with hundreds of storied mansions, crowded with golden garlands; Strings of pearls hang down, delightful in every place. 3. Filled with hundreds of various chambers, adorned with beds and seats; Divided into beautiful sections, made by one who increased merit. 4. There women dance, in the midst of drum circles; Some sing, some play, some play the lute. 5. Three leagues away, all around the palace; Divine beings, companions, holding cymbals and drums. 6. They rejoice, surrounding him, always with dance and song; They leap and shout, they praise him all around. 7. Thus, you are now of great power, as you speak like Vāsava; I ask you, divine being, what deed did you do in the past? The divine being said: 8. I was poor before, in the excellent city of Bārāṇasī; There people give alms, inviting monks. 9. Living on wages, I, while people gave alms; Content, happy, and joyful, I thought thus then. 10. Adorned with fine clothes and ornaments, these people give alms; Happy even in the next world, they experience prosperity. 11. The arising of a Buddha is now, the Dhamma prevails in the world; Those of good conduct now live, the true sons of the Conqueror are worthy of offerings. 12. Unending is the cycle of rebirth, the woeful realms are filled; Beings averse to goodness, go willingly to misery. 13. Now, suffering, I live with difficulty; Poor, wretched, miserable, with little enjoyment, without shelter. 14.