As It Should Be

There was a time, after the Buddha's death, when Ananda, the Teacher's faithful attendant, was instructing the courtesans of King Udena of Vansa.

The courtesans were so happy with the instructions from the good Ananda that they made him a gift of five hundred outer garments.

When he next saw Ananda, King Udena asked whether he had received the garments from his courtesans.

After Ananda answered he had received the outer garments, the king asked what he intended to do with them.

Ananda answered, "O King, I intend to give them to five hundred monks whose outer garments are tattered."

"What then," the king asked, "will you do with the five hundred tattered outer garments?"

"We will make bedspreads of them."

"And what will you do with the five hundred old bedspreads?"

"We will make pillowcases of them."

"And what will you do with the five hundred old pillow cases?"

"We will make floor mats of them."

And what will you do with the five hundred old floor mats?"

"We will make foot towels of them."

"And what will you do with the five hundred old foot towels?"

"We will make cleaning rags of them?"

"And what will you do with the five hundred old cleaning rags?"

"We will shred them, combine them with mud, and use them for flooring."

From this we are taught to waste nothing and to use all things carefully and to the fullest extent.

This is not always helpful to a growth oriented consumer economy.

It is helpful to Earth, to Life, to Awareness.