Angulimala – The Garland of Fingers
During Buddha Shakyamuni’s time, an Indian boy was born. Named “Ahimsaka” meaning harmless in Sanskrit, he was later known as Angulimala.
The Pali word ‘Angulimala’ directly translates to “finger mala” or a rosary of fingers. It is a story about a man named Angulimala who quickly excelled in his Dharma studies, but then found himself going down a dark and dangerous path. He lived the younger years of his life spiritually, but due to the jealousy from his peers he was shunned by his community… even by his parents!
He decided to take on a life as a robber and set out to make a mala-like garland of 1,000 fingers – one from every person he killed! For his 1,000th finger, Buddha Shakyamuni appeared before him. Angulimala saw him as his final victim and ran after him. But as much as Angulimala tried to get closer to his last victim, Buddha Shakyamuni always remained one step ahead of him.
Buddha Shakyamuni then gave a short teaching, and Angulimala broke down and cried and requested to be taken in as Shakyamuni’s student.
Angulimala’s life story is especially famous within the Theravadan school. His story shows how it is possible to change your life for the better even after committing so many negative deeds. A lot of people may feel that after creating so much negativity, there’s no turning back. Perhaps they don’t know how to change their life for the better, or that perhaps no one would give them a chance.
Like Milarepa – there are some saints who have hurt and killed many people… however, despite that, they are able to attain the state of Nirvana in that lifetime. Perhaps then, there is a way?
Share this with friends and children.
Read the comic to find out why he wanted so many fingers… !
Tsem Rinpoche
Dear Rinpoche, Thank You for posting this comics. Dear Rinpoche I would like to share with you a buddhist hymms on Angulimala. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_WL2WgETIE
I have always liked this story of Angulimala. It shows that good and bad are nothing but our own misconceptions. Although there is always hope for us to walk out of this, nevertheless the Guru plays the utmost important role in guiding us on how to. Hence, we have to create the cause(s) to meet with the wise Guru who has no interest for his/herself but others, who is wise and enlightened, and who we will forever follow until we reach enlightenment ourselves. Homage to the Buddha, Dharma and Sangha!
I always found the story of Angulimala interesting. It reminds people that no matter how bad people are, they still have a good part of them deep inside.
I have read another version of this story where it is the teacher who tells Angulimala to collect 1000 fingers. He collected a few then he discovered that crows stole the fingers from the cave he hid them in, so he hung them around his neck.
In the version I read other than the one presented here, Angulimala survives being pelted by stones. But I find this version much more interesting.
I love these comics. . they are so easy to look at & read
with essential and important teachings of the Buddha -)
I was listening to Amy Winehouse’s ‘love is a losing game’ which
seemed to connect with the story of the lady with the mustard seed.
thank-you, so many important things to think about and try to
accommodate – its a beautiful song. .by the way!)
Thank you for sharing the story. I have always liked this story of Angulimala. Few years ago he air this show 2 weeks after wesak in the Tourism Center 3 to 4 years ago. I watch the movie twice. I like the movie a lot. Could not find the movie anywhere later.
This sharing realy fresh my mind re the movie. It show that no matter how bad a person are there is always some goodness inside and all have equal chance to attain enlightenment.
This is a very interesting story. It shows that everyone of us make mistakes, we have to be responsible to our mistakes. However, by being regretful and be compassionate, we will be able to ‘correct’ our mistakes. The choice is in us, no one can change our lives for better or worse except for ourselves.
I am in the middle of struggling on something. Feeling of unfair, angry, ego stem from the mind to heart. Thus, i search through Master Tsem’s blog trying to look for an answer. Tears in my eyes as i reading this story, wash away the hatred and ego as i reading it. To be able to forgives those people who mistreat us, it is not easy. Normally, we will thinking to fight back. But, this story gave “life” to me again. Ya, what do i need in me now. What is the final product i want? I beg myself dont leave Dharma again. Thank you Master Tsem. I prostrate to you for creating this blog to serve as a “medicine” when i am “sick”.
好久没阅读漫画了。这漫画真好，在娱乐的同时又学到善知识。克媒也在仁波切的启发下出版了中英文“宗卡巴大师”的生平画册。
如果善用不同的媒体，我们能把好的讯息带给大家。
这些故事都有激励的作用，不能抹杀有前科的人修行的机会。
Thank you Rinpoche. This is a very meaningful story to me.