108 Buddhist Parables and Stories. Olga Gutsol

then asked the Buddha if he could offer him a meal the next day and the Buddha accepted. All during the day he thought how wonderful it would be if the Buddha could come to Savatthi and how many people would benefit from this visit. Consequently, the next day, after the Buddha had finished his meal, Anathapindika asked him if he would come and visit Sravastti. The Buddha agreed, adding, “Enlightened ones prefer to stay in peaceful places”. Anathapindika responded, “I fully understand, Master.”

      When Anathapindika finished his business in Rajagraha, he set out for Sravastti. And as soon as he arrived he began to make preparations for the Buddha’s arrival. To start, he had to find a suitable place for the Buddha and his monks to stay, near the city but not too noisy. The best place proved to be a park about one kilometre south-west from the walls of Sravastti, owned by Prince Jeta. Anathapindika approached the prince and asked him if he wanted to sell his park. The prince declined. Anathapindika insisted, but Prince Jeta reiterated that he was not interested in selling.