83. THE WIDOW’S MITE

108 Buddhist Parables

Once a lone widow who was very poor beheld monks holding a religious assembly. Hearing the monks’ prayers, the woman was filled with joy and thought, ‘While others give precious things, I have nothing to offer these monks.’ Then she searched her possessions in vain for something to give and recollected that some time before she had found in a dung-heap two coppers, so taking these she offered them forthwith as a gift.

The superior of the monks, a saint who could read the hearts of men, disregarding the rich gifts of others and seeing the deep faith dwelling in the heart of this poor widow, said this verse:

The poor coppers of this widow

To all purpose are more worth

Than all the treasures of the oceans

And the wealth of the broad earth.

As an act of pure devotion

She has done a pious deed;

She has attained salvation,

Being free from selfish greed.

This woman has done as much as if a rich man were to give up all his wealth.

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