Five Poppy Seeds
Written by Buddhist Promoting Foundation
Once there was a young woman, the wife of a wealthy man… who became heart-sick because the death of her child. She took the dead child in her arms and went from house to house begging people to heal the child.
They could do nothing for her, but finally the disciple of a Wise One advised her to see his Mater, who was staying nearby. So the woman carried the dead child to the Master.
The Wise One looked upon her with sympathy and said, “To heal the child I need some poppy seeds; go and beg five poppy seeds from some home where death has never entered.
So the grief-stricken woman went out and sought a home where death had never entered, but in vain. In home after home she heard story after story of loss and grief. At last she was obliged to return to the sage. In his quiet presence her mind cleared and she understood the meaning of his suggestion. She took the body away and buried it in the earth, then returned to become and ardent seeker of truth.
from The Teachings of Buddha, by Buddhist Promoting Foundation, pp. 186-187 (Tokyo: Kosiado Printing Co. 1966)
