When the Buddha returned to Kapilavatthu, he was warmly received by his people and welcomed with the honors usually reserved for a respected religious teacher. Perhaps this was because King Bimbisāra had earlier set a precedent, receiving the Buddha with great ceremony. The Shakyans may have felt that they could not offer their own prince—now a Buddha—anything less.

Or perhaps the idea came from King Suddhodana himself. After all, the Buddha was returning with thousands of monks. What better occasion to take pride in his son’s achievements?

In any case, a grand procession was organized, and the Buddha was respectfully escorted to the park of the Sakyan prince Nigrodha. A magnificent seat, suitable for a holy being, was prepared. But when the Buddha took his seat, an unexpected moment unfolded.

All the elders of the Sakyan kingdom stepped back without bowing. Only the younger members of the assembly paid homage. In the minds of the elders, the Buddha was still Prince Siddhattha—their nephew, son, younger brother, or junior relative. They did not yet see him as an enlightened being. According to their customs, how could elders bow to someone younger than themselves?

They reasoned among themselves:

“Prince Siddhattha is much younger than we are—our son, nephew, or grandson. It is not proper for us to bow to him.”

So they instructed the younger princes, “You may pay homage. We will sit behind you.”

The Buddha was fully aware of their thoughts. He understood that as long as their pride remained, his teachings would not truly reach them.

The Twin Miracle

Through his supernormal powers, the Buddha rose into the sky and performed the Twin Miracle. From twelve parts of his body, streams of fire and water flowed alternately—upward and downward, front and back; from his eyes, ears, nose, shoulders, hands, sides, legs, fingers and toes; from every hair and every pore of his skin. Fire and water appeared together, forming shifting and wondrous patterns beyond imagination.

The spectacle inspired awe and boundless admiration. It appeared as though radiant particles cascaded from the Buddha’s feet onto the heads of the Sakyan royalty. Humans, devas, and brahmās alike witnessed this extraordinary and unprecedented display.

The Twin Miracle was especially profound because fire and water are mutually exclusive elements. Yet the Buddha made them coexist—emanating from his own body while levitating in midair—demonstrating mastery not only over nature, but over the laws that ordinarily bind it.

A Father’s Bow

Seeing this astonishing miracle, King Suddhodana was deeply moved. He bowed respectfully and addressed the Buddha:

“Glorious and exalted son, on the day of your birth, when I tried to bow to the sage Kāḷadevila, I saw your feet rise and rest upon his head. That was the first time I bowed to you.

Later, during the Ploughing Ceremony, you sat beneath the rose-apple tree, which shaded you perfectly without shifting as the sun moved. That was the second time I paid homage at your feet.

Now, having witnessed this extraordinary Twin Miracle—never before seen—I bow to you for the third time.”

When King Suddhodana bowed before the Buddha, every member of the royal family followed his example. Without exception, they all paid homage to the Enlightened One.

The Greatness of a Sammā Sambuddha

It was during this gathering that the Buddha explained the true greatness of a Sammā Sambuddha. He spoke of his many past lives and the immense hardships he had endured over countless lifetimes in training himself for perfect enlightenment. He also shared his life story as Prince Siddhattha, explaining what moved him to leave the palace in search of a complete end to suffering.

By recounting his past lives, the Buddha was gently reminding his relatives that he was more than the young prince they once knew. His spiritual journey extended far beyond this single lifetime, unfolding over countless lives of cultivation, sacrifice, and resolve. In this sense, a Sammā Sambuddha is a truly unique being—one whose purity and awakening are perfected through immeasurable effort across time.

After listening to this account, the Sakyan royalty gradually took their leave. However, no one invited the Buddha to accept a personal meal offering the following day. King Suddhodana, assuming that the Buddha would naturally return to the palace for his meal, also did not extend an invitation.

As a result, the Buddha went on alms round in the city of Kapilavatthu the next morning.

Dharma Reflection

Prejudice Will Always Exist

The elders’ refusal to bow was not grounded in reason, truth, or personal animosity. It arose from status, seniority, and ego. As long as pride remains unchecked, communication, relationships, and even sincere intentions will continue to be tainted by prejudice.

Not even the Buddha was free from this.

Despite his complete awakening, he was still judged through the lens of family roles and social hierarchy. This reminds us that prejudice is not a personal failure—it is a recurring condition of human society.

The pressure to prove ourselves—to be seen, validated, or taken seriously—often feels unavoidable. It can be exhausting and discouraging. Yet perspective helps.

The Buddha had to manifest fire and water from his own body, spent an entire afternoon re-introducing himself as a SamaSam Buddha, and recount his past life achievements in perfecting the parami. All of that just to make the Shakyans open up to his teachings. just to soften deeply entrenched views.

Compared to that, most of our struggles—being misunderstood at work, underestimated by family, or judged by appearances—are far less dramatic, even if they still hurt. So that’s a consolation.

Reflection:
When we face prejudice, we can choose not to let bitterness define us. Instead of reacting with resentment, we can respond with patience, integrity, and quiet confidence. Be inspired by what Buddha did.

If even the Buddha had to endure it, perhaps our task is not to eliminate prejudice entirely, but to meet it without losing our dignity or compassion.

Take a moment to recollect occasions when you encountered prejudice. How did you respond? What might you do differently now?

And finally, reflect on the Buddha’s compassion—how he patiently met resistance, misunderstanding, and pride, all so that others might come to see clearly and benefit from the Dhamma.

May all be well and happy.