| |
of her house. Just to be with her for a few hours, tremendous money was paid. She had become so rich that even the king used to borrow money from her.
Those days were of a different quality of mind. They did not call her a prostitute, they called her nagarvadhu -- married to everyone. She was so beautiful that it would have been absurd to tie her to one person -- she would not have remained tied. Soon somebody else would be more attractive; you would be putting her into an unnecessary nightmare. Let her be free -- her beauty was such that it could not be owned but everybody was capable of rejoicing in it, according to her will. Such great respect for beauty. `Nagarvadhu' means married to all.
When this monk of Buddha, who used to be a prince just a few years before, was seen passing by, Amrapali sent a servant to prevent him and tell him: "You don't have to go anywhere. Today, please accept my invitation."
Other monks were following him, because with Gautam Buddha were ten thousand monks who always followed wherever he went. They could not believe that this monk was entering the house of a prostitute. They rushed back. A few even did not go to beg. It was their prior concern to report to Buddha, "This man has betrayed you. He has entered into a prostitute's house."
Buddha said, "I know him. You need not be worried about him. Whatever happens in his life is coming out of the very center of his being; it can never be wrong. But I will take care of it; let him come."
Soon a few more monks came rushing. They cried, "It is too much! Amrapali has asked him to stay with her at least for the monsoon while we are in Vaishali. And he has accepted!" They could not believe it. They wanted immediate expulsion: "He should be disrobed!"
Buddha said, "Wait, let him come here. I know him just as I know you. You have not come here to save somebody's virtue, you have come here out of jealousy. You have always been jealous of that young man because he is so beautiful, so attractive, so articulate, and wherever he goes he gets more respect, more love, more dignity."
And then the prince returned, because he had told Amrapali, "I accept
|
|
|