In the rainy season, he with five hundreds disciples arrived at Varanasi and was welcomed by the king of Varanasi. The king offered the hermit master and his disciples to be in the royal garden.

At the end of rainy season, the hermit bid farewell to the king. The king asked “My noble, you’re old. It’s not good for you to be in Himmapan forest. You should send your disciples to Himmapan forest and stay here.”

The hermit master accepted and sent all his disciples to Himmapan forest and he was stay in the royal garden.

Among the five hundred disciples, there was one leader. He had ever been a king before becoming a hermit and he also succeeded the highest level of meditation.

The leader wanted to see his master, he said to all disciples “I’ll go to see the master. Don’t be annoyed. Please be here. I’ll come back when I had seen the master.” Then, he left Himmapan forest and headed for the royal garden. After he had met the hermit master, the leader laid himself in the hermit master’s place.

The king thought that he should go to see the hermit master, so he went to the royal garden and paid respect to the hermit master.

Although the leader saw the king, the leader didn’t stand up and greet the king. The leader still laid down and exclaimed “So happy, So happy !”

The king felt neglected so he said to the hermit master “This hermit must be full of food so he didn’t stand up.”

“My majesty, this hermit had ever been a king like you.  He thought that when he was the king he still had not much happiness like this,” the hermit master explained, “One who looks after no one and be looked after by no one usually be happy.”

The king was glad with the hermit master’s words. He bid farewell to the hermit master and went back to his place.

The leader finally reincarnated as Pattiyadera, a Buddhist saint. The hermit master finally reincarnated as the Buddha.

Almost two millions years passed, there was a new Buddha named Tissa. Our Gautama Buddha was a rich king. He decided to become a hermit and had a lot of magical power. He heard that there was a Buddha, so he brought celestial flowers, royal lotus and Coral flowers and offered them to Tissa Buddha.  Tissa Buddha foretold that the hermit would be Gautama Buddha in about ninety millions years.

In the same millions years period, there was a new Buddha named Phussa. In those days, Gautama Buddha was a king named Wijitawee. He abandoned the throne and became a monks in Phussa Buddha’s religious. Phussa Buddha had foretold that he would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

After the age of Piyadassi Buddha, there was a Buddha named Atthadassi. Susima, a powerful hermit, brought an umbrella decorated with flowers from the heaven and offered to Atthadassi Buddha. Atthadassi Buddha foretold that the hermit would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

After the age of Atthadassi Buddha, there was a new Buddha named Dhammadassi. Our Gautama Buddha was a king of gods. He offered Dhammadassi Buddha celestial flowers and celestial music. He was foretold by Dhammadassi Buddha that he would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

After the age of Padumuttara Buddha about thirty thousand millions years, there was a Buddha named Sumedha. Uttara was a rich man. He donated all his properties to Padumuttara Buddha and monks, and entered the priesthood. Sumedha Buddha fortold that Uttara would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

After the age of Sumedha Buddha, there was a new Buddha named Sujata. A great king heard that there was a new Buddha, so he went to see Sumedha Buddha to listen to Dharma. After that, he donated all treasures from four continents to the Buddha and then devoted into the religious. All citizens helped to maintain temples and offer great alms to monks and Sujata Buddha regularly. Sujata Buddha had fortold that the king would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

After Anomadassi Buddha, there was a new Buddha named Paduma. One day, while Paduma Buddha was meditating in the forest, a lion saw him and was deeply admired by his manner. The lion payed homage to him, and looked at Paduma Buddha for seven days without going out to find foods.

When Paduma Buddha finished his meditation, he saw the lion and foretold that the lion would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

After the age of Paduma Buddha, there was a new Buddha named Narada. A hermit offered great alms to Narada Buddha and was fortold that he would be Gautama Buddha in the future.

To judge who was right, they went to see a hermit. The lion asked “Dear hermit, could you tell us when does coldness come ? I think it comes when the moon is waxing but my friend think that it comes when the moon is waning.”

The hermit replied “For coldness, we can’t know accurately when it comes. When wind comes, coldness comes. Coldness is mostly caused by wind. You’re both wrong.”

The lion finally reincarnated as Saributra, a famous Buddhist saint. The tiger finally reincarnated as Mokkalla, a famous Buddhist saint. The hermit finally reincarnated as the Buddha.

Moral: Everything is a result of causes.

Once, in the rainy season, he, with his followers, moved and stayed in the royal garden. When the rainy season passed, the king asked him to continue staying in the royal garden.

One day, the king, with his friend, who used to be a king, came to see the hermit master. One of master’s followers didn’t greet them but said only “Very happy ! Very happy ! Really happy !”

Because of no greeting, the king got angry and said “This hermit may be full with food, so he said like this.”

The hermit said “Don’t misunderstand him. He said that because he feels that hermit’s happiness is better than king’s happiness.”

The hermit added “He used to be a king like you. But when he was a king, he was not happy like this. He had fear and worry.”

“Naturally, one who look after no one, don’t need to be looked after, and not enjoy ephemeral pleasure will have a happy life.” He concluded.