Once, a man who's intoxicated with gambling went to see The Buddha.
He had been trying to gain an audience with The Wise One for some time, yet each time, he seems to miss the opportunity somehow.
He has heard much about The Supreme One's psychic abilities, how The Great Teacher is The All-Knowing, Seeing One,
Surely such a One would know the winning numbers to the weekly lottery, he thought
The Buddha knew the man was coming, and his motive.
But, The Buddha, through his Supranormal Divine vision, also knew that the time has come for the man to be enlightened as his past good kamma has ripen.
So, The Great Teacher sat on his seat and patiently awaits the man.
When the man arrived, he dutifully bowed to The Buddha respectfully and sat on one side.
Without wasting time, the man began, "They say you're The All-Knowing One, that you know everything."
"Yes, that's me," said The Buddha.
"So, you would know the numbers to this week's lottery, then?" asked the man.
The Buddha calmly nodded his head.
"Ha! Ha! The Buddha fell into my trap," thought the man, as he challenged The Buddha, "Prove it!"
"Ok!" The Buddha readily agreed.
"It must be my lucky day," thought the man, surprised at how easy and smooth the whole thing went as he quickly took out a pen and paper and stared earnestly at The Buddha with deep concentration and mindfulness.
"I was thinking ........." began The Buddha," instead of me giving you the numbers, why don't I show you how to do it? That way, you don't have to come see me every week and depend on me. You can do it yourself."
"Wow! Actually that's even better. How come I didn't think of that?" thought the man, "No wonder they say He's The Wise One."
"Ya! Ya! Ya! That's an excellent idea!" the man replied enthusiastically, excitedly, thinking of all the money he would win week after week.
So, they did this - The Buddha and the gambler - The Buddha gave the gambler the meditation subject and assured him that within the next 48 hours, he would have knowledge of all the winning numbers to the different lotteries, BUT ONLY if he practise hard enough, ardently.
The man went home happily and practised hard on his meditation subject, as instructed by The Buddha, not caring night and day, disregarding all else.
Sure enough, as promised by The Buddha, during the 48 hours, he was able to see all the winning numbers to the different lotteries.
But not only that .........
He became enlightened.
And he has no want or need to win any lottery anymore,
For the bliss of Nibbana excels all other bliss .........
Including that of winning a lottery.
"The gift of Truth (Dhamma) excels all other gifts,
The Flavour of Truth (Dhamma) excels all other flavours.
The pleasure in Truth (Dhamma) excels all other pleasures;
He who has destroyed craving overcomes ALL sorrows."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 354
"Nibbana - The highest bliss/happiness."
- The Buddha
"Rare is the birth as a human being,
Hard is the life of mortals;
Hard is the hearing of the Sublime Truth (Dhamma),
Rare is the appearance of The Buddha."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 182
"The opportunity to listen to The Dhamma is considered valuable
Both because it is rare and because it yields great benefits.
Hard is the chance to hear the True Dhamma."
- The Buddha, Dhammapada verse 182
The 10 Greatest Blessings
"Not to associate with the foolish, but to associate with the wise; and to honor those who are worthy of honor — this is the greatest blessing.
To reside in a suitable locality, to have done meritorious actions in the past and to set oneself in the right course — this is the greatest blessing.
To have much learning, to be skillful in handicraft, well-trained in discipline, and to be of good speech — this is the greatest blessing.
To support mother and father, to cherish wife and children, and to be engaged in peaceful occupation — this is the greatest blessing.
To be generous in giving, to be righteous in conduct, to help one's relatives, and to be blameless in action — this is the greatest blessing.
To loathe more evil and abstain from it, to refrain from intoxicants, and to be steadfast in virtue — this is the greatest blessing.
To be respectful, humble, contented and grateful; and to listen to the Dhamma on due occasions — this is the greatest blessing.
To be patient and obedient, to associate with (good/worthy) monks and to have religious discussions on due occasions — this is the greatest blessing.
Self-restraint, a holy and chaste life, the perception of the Noble Truths and the realisation of Nibbana — this is the greatest blessing.
A mind unruffled by the vagaries of fortune, from sorrow freed, from defilements cleansed, from fear liberated — this is the greatest blessing.
Those who thus abide, ever remain invincible, in happiness established. These are the greatest blessings."
- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/narada/wheel014.html#maha
- The Buddha, Maha-mangala Sutta: The Discourse on the Greatest Blessings
The 10 Causes of a man's Downfall
Easily known is the progressive one, easily known he who declines. He who loves Dhamma progresses; he who is averse to it, declines.
The wicked are dear to him, with the virtuous he finds no delight, he prefers the creed of the wicked — this is a cause of one's downfall.
Being fond of sleep, fond of company, indolent, lazy and irritable — this is a cause of one's downfall.
Though being well-to-do, not to support father and mother who are old and past their youth — this is a cause of one's downfall.
To deceive by falsehood a brahman or ascetic or any other mendicant — this is a cause of one's downfall.
To have much wealth and ample gold and food, but to enjoy one's luxuries alone — this is a cause of one's downfall.
To be proud of birth, of wealth or clan, and to despise one's own kinsmen — this is a cause of one's downfall.
To be a rake, a drunkard, a gambler, and to squander all one earns — this is a cause of one's downfall.
Not to be contented with one's own wife, and to be seen with harlots and the wives of others — this is a cause of one's downfall.
Being past one's youth, to take a young wife and to be unable to sleep for jealousy of her — this is a cause of one's downfall.
To place in authority a woman given to drink and squandering, or a man of a like behavior — this is a cause of one's downfall.
To be of noble birth, with vast ambition and of slender means, and to crave for rulership — this is a cause of one's downfall.
Knowing well these causes of downfall in the world, the noble sage endowed with insight shares a happy realm.
- http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/narada/wheel014.html#para
- The Buddha, Parabhava Sutta: The Discourse of a man's Downfall
