During the time of Buddha in Shravasti,
there was a beggar woman named Nyenga who had nothing to offer
to Buddha. She went door to door begging for oil to make a
butter lamp. Finally, she was able to offer a single lamp in
the temple among hundreds of other lamps. She, then, made the
heartfelt aspiration: “ By this light offering, may I achieve
the same wisdom as Buddha Shakyamuni, the arhats and all
enlightened beings, completely dispelling the darkness of
ignorance of all sentient beings.” Then she left the temple.
Throughout that day, among the
hundreds of lamps gradually burned out. Hers was the only lamp
glowing still towards the end of the night. At the time, Buddha
entered the temple, he said: “ don't try to put out her lamp
light because there is no way to do so. Even the water from
four oceans, and stormy wind, you will not be able to put out
this lamp light. This lamp was offered by a beggar woman who
dedicated this lamp for the enlightenment of all sentient
beings, so her Bohicitta aspiration can not be interrupted. “
The Buddha then make a prophecy that she will be enlightened in
the future and became Buddha named The Lamp Light. From the
story we learned that the inconceivable merit will be generated
by offering lamp light and the wish will be fulfilled when we
wholeheartedly pray to Buddha with pure motivation for one and
others.
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