Buddhist Stories: “500 Blind Beggars” (Part 1 of 2) August 7, 2015

At that time, in the country called Vaisaali, there were 500 people who were beggars. They were blind and beggars. When they heard, somebody told them that the Buddha appears in this world, is a very rare thing. Anyone who happens to meet the Buddha, whatever sickness, will be healed. So, the 500 blind beggars, discussed with each other and said to each other, “Why don’t we go together to the Buddha and ask him to help us?” They don’t mean help. They mean like, spiritually. …But then, when they went to Sravasti, the Buddha went to the next country. Seven times they missed seeing the Buddha. And they felt more and more longing to see the World Honored One. So, they were so very sincere, more yearning, more sincere. Therefore, even though their physical bodies were blind, but somehow, their wisdom eyes already saw the Buddha. In their hearts, they had already seen the Buddha. Therefore, they didn’t feel tired; they didn’t feel hopeless or anything. They were very happy to continue the journey, wherever it might be.