An Ancient Chinese Story: The Blind See Buddha

A thangka, or Buddhist painting, of “Buddha with the One Hundred Jataka Tales,” Tibet, 13th-14th century, 114.3 x 84.4 cm. The Jataka tales are stories telling of the previous lives of the Buddha, A thangka, or Buddhist painting, of “Buddha with the One Hundred Jataka Tales,” 13th-14th century, Tibet. The Jataka tales are stories telling of the previous lives of the Buddha, either in human or animal birth, each revealing some lesson or virtue. Christie’s Auction House. Public Domain

The ancient city of Vaishali, India, was home to 500 blind people. Because of their disability, they couldn’t work for a living and had to beg for food. They suffered from discrimination on a daily basis.

The blind people heard that Prince Siddhartha (also known as Shakyamuni) had become a Buddha, and they were full of hope. They believed that the Buddha had the ability to relieve people of all diseases, troubles, and sorrows, and they sincerely wished to follow the Buddhist path to cultivate their wisdom and moral character so that they may be worthy of this mercy.