In The Shade Of A Mango Tree!

The Buddha had rejected miracles and forbade his disciples from performing them — because the liberation that he taught was not magic, it was attainable through practice.

So many were astonished when he announced that he would attend the Festival of Miracles.

It was a grand festival where all the famous gurus, ascetics, and teachers of the region gathered to showcase their powers.

The Buddha chose to attend because it was important to represent those truly worthy of receiving offerings.

He said:

“Alms given to living beings here in the world who are worthy of offerings yields abundant fruit, like seeds sown on good ground!

Weeds can ruin a field, just as greed… hatred… delusion… and wishing… can ruin people!

Alms given to those who are free from greed… hatred… delusions… and wishes… yields abundant fruit!”

(Dhp 334–359)

As a symbol of the fruitfulness of giving to the Sangha, the Buddha promised that on the full moon, he would set up his pavilion in front of a mango tree.

But the rival gurus, fearing his presence and influence, hatched a plan to make it impossible for him to keep his promise.

They sent their followers to buy every mango tree in the city and have them chopped down.

By the day of the full moon, not a single mango tree remained.

Skeptics and believers from near and far traveled to the city, eager to witness levitations, the harnessing of the elements, and miracles of all kinds.

But soon, curiosity spread — why did the other gurus fear the teachings of a man who performed no miracles?

On the day of the full moon, the crowds searched the streets for the Buddha’s pavilion.  Where would he teach now that all the mango trees had been removed?

Everyone was hunting for no-tree (ni-bāna); everyone hunted for the teachings of Nibbāna (extinguishment).

Early that morning, Ganda, the royal gardener, found a piece of fruit being squabbled over by crows and beset by ants.

He shooed them away and saw that it was a beautifully ripe mango—the last in all of the city.

He knew it could fetch a very high price—that the king himself would pay sixteen pieces for it!

But if he gave it to the ascetic Gotama, it would bring blessings in this life and the next!

So he found the Buddha taking alms and placed the mango in his bowl.

The Buddha ate the fruit and returned the seed to Ganda, saying, “Please dig up the earth right here and plant this mango seed.“

And so, it was there in the shade of that generosity — in the shade of Ganda’s mango tree — the Buddha held his pavilion and taught.