The Meal of Love: How Kesava’s Healing Came from Simplicity

In a past life, the Bodhisatta was an ascetic who lived in the Himalayas with a group of five hundred fellow ascetics. Their leader was an elder named Kesava, who was both a revered teacher and a close friend to the Bodhisatta. One rainy season, the group journeyed to the city to collect salt and vinegar, and the king of the city kindly hosted them in the royal park.

As their time in the city came to an end, the king suggested that Kesava remain behind, as he was very old and frail. Kesava agreed, and the rest of the ascetics returned to the mountains. However, Kesava grew lonely without his friends, especially the Bodhisatta, and his sadness affected his health. He could not sleep properly, and his digestion became poor, eventually leading to a debilitating illness.

The king’s doctors attempted to treat him with leeches, but his condition only worsened. Desperate for relief, Kesava asked the king if he could return to the Himalayas, and the king, understanding his distress, arranged for an advisor and some foresters to accompany him.

The moment Kesava saw the Bodhisatta upon his return, his depression lifted. The Bodhisatta prepared a simple, humble broth of millet, wild rice, and leaves, which immediately cured Kesava’s dysentery. The king’s advisor, curious about the healing power of such a simple dish, asked why Kesava preferred this modest food over the luxurious royal rice and meat.

Kesava replied, “It doesn’t matter whether the food is rich or plain. A meal served with love is always the best.”

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In the Buddha’s present life, Anathapindika, a wealthy supporter known for his immense generosity, used to prepare meals every day for five hundred disciples. This impressed the king, who decided to do the same at the royal palace. The king’s meals were of the highest quality, but the food was served by his advisors, not by him personally. The disciples, though grateful, would often take the food and leave to eat elsewhere, preferring meals served with love and care by the families that had supported them over the years.

One morning, the king received an abundance of wild fruit and ordered it taken to the disciples at the palace. However, he was informed that the disciples were not there. Confused, the king went to the Buddha to seek an explanation. The Buddha told him, “The best food is not determined by its richness, but by the love with which it is served.”

To illustrate his point, the Buddha shared the story of Kesava, teaching the king that a meal’s true value comes not from its ingredients, but from the warmth and care behind its preparation.

Moral:
The true value of food lies not in its luxury, but in the love with which it is served. A meal shared with care and affection brings nourishment to the heart as well as the body.