Art by Pia Ravenari
After each of the assembled bodhisattvas-mahasattvas had come forward to pay homage to the World Honored One, it was time for the animals who were also gathered there to do likewise. One by one they came forward, prostrating before the high seat of the Beloved Teacher and leaving the gifts they had brought. Four legged, winged ones, finned ones and creepy crawlies were all there. The procession went on for three days, as all sentient beings even the grasses the tree people and the stone people had a representative there. Each came forward in turn, prostrating themselves and leaving their simple gifts.
When the seemingly endless procession had ended, the Venerable Subhuti came forward to dismiss the assemblage so that Shakyamuni could enter a state of rest. “Wait,” Shakyamuni spoke. “Among all of the being who have gathered here, one is missing, Coyote.” All those gathered turned about looking for the missing creature. Suddenly a gasp arose from the bodhisattvas-mahasattvas and the representatives of the sentient beings. There in the back stood Coyote, distractedly urinating on the wall.
“What, what? Haven’t you ever seen some take a leak before?” Coyote called out defensively, to the stunned assemblage. He calmly dropped his leg and rose up on his hinds. Trying to walk erect like a two-legged as was Coyote’s custom. He came lurching through the crowd towards the high seat of the Buddha. Subhuti and some of the other senior monks quickly leapt up to block his path, hoping to protect Shakyamuni from this clumsy, indecent lout.
“Wait,” Shakyamuni call out softly, “let him come forward.” The monks stepped back and as the astonished bodhisattvasmahasattvas watched, Coyote wobbled his way towards the Great Teacher. Subhuti stunned by his teacher’s request spoke out,
“O Noble One, how can you allow this creature to come forward among this assemblage of bodhisattvas-mahasattvas and representatives of all the sentient beings in the world? There is not a day that goes by that he defiles the Precepts of the Way that you have taught us to follow.”
“O Subhuti,” the Buddha smiled as he spoke, “perhaps we should find out if brother Coyote is worthy of joining our Sangha. Come Coyote, come here before me.”
Raising himself to his full height and puffing his chest out Coyote came to where the World Honored One sat, making a bizarre imitation of the prostrations as he had seen the other animals do. “O Your Teacherness, sorry about the leak thing. Won’t happen again.”
The Buddha smiled again. “Coyote, there are those among the bodhisattvas-mahasattvas who would question your worthiness to sit here with the assemblage. If you would prove them wrong, go now and bring me an object that expresses the essence of my teaching.”
“Piece of cake,” Coyote thought. After all, Shakyamuni himself had raised a single flower. He could get a flower and he quickly did. However, when he returned this answer was rejected. “No problem,” Coyote thought, quickly gathering a large bouquet of flowers and returning again. Again he was rejected. Coyote tried and tried again. He traveled here and there, sometimes being gone for months, but whatever he brought back Shakyamuni only smiled and shook his head. Time passed and the months had turned into years. It seemed that a slight snicker passed through the assemblage each time Coyote came forth with yet another object. (Mind you, Coyote’s choices were bizarre, to say the least.)
Finally, a tired and dejected Coyote came before the Buddha, seemingly for the last time, as he had not brought any object at all.
“So,” Shakyamuni inquired, “have you found the expression of my teaching?”
“Alas, World Honored One, I could find nothing.”
“Nothing?” Shakyamuni inquired.
“Nothing”, Coyote replied.
“So,” the Teacher asked, “did you waste your time on this quest?”
“Yes, World Honored One, I have traveled through all of the lands of the two-leggeds. I have stayed in their villages and talked with them young and old, searching for the object you requested, but found no object that can answer your question. Everywhere I went among the two-leggeds there was only suffering. Their children are often hungry. They fight and kill one another. They grow ill. Among the old there is much pain. Even death offers them no solace, as they fear its coming. In futile efforts, they try to cure these many ills by holding on to what little they have, but in the end it is always lost. O Great Teacher, there is so much suffering in this world!”
At that moment, a tear appeared in Coyote’s eye. At the same moment, those that were watching the Buddha saw that he too had a tear rolling down his cheek. “O Coyote, you have brought me a tear from deep connection with the suffering of all beings. This is truly the essence of my teaching. From this day forth, you and all of your descendents will be welcome among our Sangha.”
Coyote prostrated in a manner that many of those present believed to be a reflection of deep sincerity. He then walked back leaving the garden, his quest ended and his life forever transformed. Of course he couldn’t wait to find a brothel, where he could share his story of how the World Honored One had acknowledged him as his greatest disciple, over a few drinks with the women. Yes, he still was Coyote!
So, even today in Buddhist sanghas you will find Coyote—the clumsy, arrogant, precept-defiling lout. Be patient, remembering that one time in a garden in India he had pleased Lord Buddha. Perhaps one day that will happen again.
