"I stopped long ago. When will you stop?"

I'm reminded of these words of Buddha today, on the occasion of Buddha Purnima that commemorates Shakyamuni's birth over two millennia ago.

Let me recount the deeply moving story behind these words. Hundreds of millions in India and elsewhere would already know this either through moral tales taught in school or some other books tracing the life of the Enlightened One. Nevertheless, the message of peace and non-violence in this story remains relevant as ever—indeed more so now than at any other point in human history. 

Once the Buddha was passing through a jungle that was dreaded by the locals, who avoided it for fear of limb and life. It was said that the forest was the hideout and preying ground of a dangerous murderer called Angulimala. What he used to do was murder anyone passing through the wood and, horror of horrors, cut off one of the fingers from the person’s hand. He had a garland of such fingers that he used to wear around his neck—which is what had earned him the moniker Angulimala (in the Pali language, the word “anguli” means finger and “mala” means necklace).

Even though the Buddha was aware of this murderer and had possibly been warned against visiting those parts frequented by Angulimala, he chose to ignore the warning and anyway pass through the forest that particular evening. 

It was getting dark and the silence of the jungle seemed ominous.

With his senses keen as ever, the Buddha soon perceived someone following behind him. The footsteps gradually grew louder. The Buddha heard a threatening voice: “Stop, monk, stop!”

But the Buddha remained unperturbed and kept walking slowly, quietly.

In no time, Angulimala appeared before the Buddha, brandishing his sword and speaking menacingly: “I told you to stop. Why didn’t you stop?”

The Buddha looked at Angulimala with his peaceful, penetrating gaze and said, “I stopped long ago, Angulimala. When will you stop?”

The calm demeanor with which Buddha addressed him and the serene look of the sage completely disarmed Angulimala. His outer image of a treacherous murderer was shattered. He was suddenly gripped with repentance and was overwhelmed by the Buddha’s loving presence.

Angulimala fell at the Buddha’s feet and cried.

The Buddha smiled kindly at the murderer. He picked up Angulimala and embraced him as he would embrace any of his disciples in his sangha (brotherhood of monks).

Gently and with tender care, the Buddha spoke to Angulimala about how he had long ago stopped committing acts that caused suffering to other living beings and why everyone should nurture compassion in their heart.

In the book Old Path White Clouds, the late vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh has beautifully captured how the Buddha saw through the suffering of Angulimala before he became a murderer and the gentleness with which he spoke to the repentant man. In Nhat Hanh’s words, the Buddha told Angulimala:

“Angulimala, I know you have suffered deeply at the hands of other humans. Sometimes humans can be most cruel. Such cruelty is the result of ignorance, hatred, desire, and jealousy. But humans can also be understanding and compassionate. Have you ever met a bhikkhu before? Bhikkhus vow to protect the lives of all other beings. They vow to overcome desire, hatred, and ignorance. There are many people, not just bhikkhus, whose lives are based on understanding and love. Angulimala, there may be cruel people in this world, but there are also many kind people. Do not be blinded. My path can transform cruelty into kindness. Hatred is the path you are on now. You should stop. Choose the path of forgiveness, understanding, and love instead.” (Bhikkhu means begging monk.)

How simple, profound, and true are Buddha’s words! And, I must add, how relevant in these times when ignorance, hatred, and desire rule the minds and motivations of the power hungry—the Putins of today’s world.

Moved by Buddha’s message of kindness and peace, Angulimala gave up his nefarious ways and went on to become one of his most ardent disciples.

The bhikkhus who saw Angulimala’s transformation from a mass murderer to a monk of rare caliber were so impressed that they named him Ahimsaka (the Nonviolent One, how ironic but apt).

There is an Angulimala in each one of us. Let’s try and bring him round to listen to the voice of love and peace.

Let’s stop now before it’s too late.

Happy Buddha Purnima!

An Open Letter to Putin on Ukraine

Dear Putin,

The first thing you should know, given the horror of war you’ve needlessly unleashed on your neighbor, is that everyone across the globe must be appalled at how I address you. To much of the civilized, peace-loving world, you are anything but ‘Dear’.

So why do I choose to do that?

Simply because the seeds of war are sown with hate—and if the recent regime changes and global events are any indication, we are already surrounded in enough hate.

Now, the whole world knows the lies you have been telling Russians, most of whom don’t want anything to do with this war you have foisted on them. Just because you believed your own lies of ‘liberating Ukraine’ doesn’t mean the world, in this age of connectivity and social media, would trust what you say—nor would Russians continue to believe you after seeing the images of suffering that must have reached them in gigabytes.

Contrary to your designs, the key object of your derision and hate, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has now emerged as the heroic, exemplary leader of a people under dictatorial invasion. And what an inspiration he has been! The entire world is saluting him with vicarious pride.

Ukraine’s wish to join NATO and the West’s intent to loosen your stranglehold on gas supplies to Europe have also attracted your ire and aggression.

In case you don’t know already, all this hate and anger is causing great anguish and pain to your own people, the majority of Russians over whom you are said to rule as per your whims and fancies. The very small minority of your compatriots who concur with you would be, of course, in your elite little circle of influence. Did none of them warn you against the consequences of the lies and the power-hungry ambitions?

As the parents in Ukraine grieve over their dead sons and daughters, their counterparts in Russia are reported to be discovering, to their sheer dismay, that their own progeny—some still in their teens—are pulling the triggers at your behest. Russians are also discovering, and will continue to do so in the days and weeks ahead, the dire consequences of crushing economic sanctions being imposed on your country and those who collaborate with its entities.

I’m with the world in condemning your acts of aggression and war that seem set to affect billions in the long run.

But I’m also with the apostles of peace such as Buddha and Gandhi from this nation called India (that knows a thing or two about war, aggression, and holding one’s own with equanimity).

Which is why even though you have surrounded Ukraine with tanks and continue to pound the country’s people with death and suffering, I’m still addressing you as ‘Dear’ and hoping that there’s a modicum of love and understanding left somewhere in that accumulated pile of hate and ire in your heart.

Listen to that voice of love in your own being, Dear Putin, before it is too late. For you.

Namaste. (I bow to the divine in you.)

Om Shantih Shantih. (Let there be peace. Om.)