Sunday, August 30, 2026

The Law of Karma in Buddhism Part III: Sumanamālākāra — Offering Flowers to the Buddha

The Law of Karma in Buddhism

Part III: Sumanamālākāra — Offering Flowers to the Buddha

“Whatever One Does Without Regret Is a Good Deed”

In the first two parts of this series, we explored the Law of Karma from different perspectives.

Part I, the story of Patipujika, showed how faith, wholesome actions, and a firmly established aspiration may lead to a fortunate rebirth.

Part II, the story of Venerable Godhika, showed the power of perseverance and liberation from defilements, culminating in freedom from further rebirth.

In this third part, we encounter a beautiful and inspiring story: the story of Sumanamālākāra, a humble flower seller who offered jasmine flowers to the Buddha with genuine faith and received the fruits of his wholesome action remarkably quickly in the present life.

This story illustrates what is traditionally described as Diṭṭhadhamma-vedanīya-kamma—karma that produces results in the present life.

It teaches us an important principle:

A good deed performed with faith and selflessness is never truly wasted.

Sumanamālākāra: The Man Who Supplied Flowers to the King

During the Buddha's time, Sumanamālākāra was responsible for bringing jasmine flowers to King Bimbisara every morning.

The flowers he carried were not merely ordinary flowers.

They were part of his occupation and his responsibility to the king.

One day, while Sumanamālākāra was carrying the jasmine flowers to the palace, he encountered the Buddha.

The Buddha was going on his alms round, accompanied by a large community of monks.

The Buddha's presence was radiant and majestic.

When Sumanamālākāra saw the Buddha, his heart was filled with deep faith.

He looked at the jasmine flowers in his hands.

Then a thought arose:

“I normally take these flowers to the king. But today, I will offer them to the Buddha.”

But this decision was not easy.

He knew very well that the flowers belonged to his daily duty.

If he failed to deliver them, the king might punish him.

He might be reprimanded.

He might lose his position.

His very life might even be at risk.

Yet, at that moment, his faith in the Buddha was stronger than his fear.

Sumanamālākāra therefore made a firm decision:

“Even if the king punishes me, even if I lose my position, or even if my life is put in danger, I will offer these flowers to the Buddha.”

Ordinary Flowers Become an Offering of Great Merit

Sumanamālākāra then offered the jasmine flowers to the Buddha.

According to the Dhammapada Commentary, a remarkable event occurred.

The flowers he threw into the air above the Buddha formed a beautiful canopy.

Other flowers appeared like walls surrounding the Buddha.

The flowers followed the Buddha wherever he went.

When the Buddha stopped, the flowers stopped.

When the Buddha continued walking, the flowers moved with him.

The extraordinary sight attracted many people in Rajagaha.

They came out to see the Buddha and paid their respects.

As for Sumanamālākāra himself, he was filled with overwhelming joy and gladness.

At that moment, he may not have known how deeply that single decision would affect his life.

He knew only one thing:

He had done what his heart considered noble and worthy.

When Doing Good Requires Courage

This story contains an important lesson.

Doing good is not always easy.

Sometimes we must sacrifice time.

Sometimes we must sacrifice money.

Sometimes we may lose opportunities.

Sometimes we may even face criticism or misunderstanding from those around us.

Many people want to do good, but they first ask:

“What will I get in return?”

A person with genuine faith may ask a different question:

“Is this right? If it is right, should I do it?”

Sumanamālākāra did not calculate his personal benefits before performing the good deed.

He simply recognized that the Buddha was worthy of reverence.

When he saw an opportunity to do what he believed was good, he acted.

Even though there was a risk.

This is an example of faith accompanied by wisdom.

A Wife Who Was Afraid

When Sumanamālākāra's wife learned that her husband had not taken the jasmine flowers to the king but had instead offered them to the Buddha, she became frightened.

She therefore went to King Bimbisara and attempted to make it clear that she had not been involved in her husband's decision.

This reveals another aspect of human nature.

When we believe that danger may come upon us, we sometimes instinctively try to protect ourselves first.

But King Bimbisara did not become angry.

He was a stream-enterer (Sotāpanna) and a devoted follower of the Buddha.

When he learned what had happened, he was pleased rather than angry.

He went out to see the Buddha for himself and paid his respects.

Good Karma Produces Immediate Results

After the Buddha returned to Veluvana Monastery, King Bimbisara ordered Sumanamālākāra to appear before him.

What happened next became a striking example of karma producing results in the present life.

The king rewarded him with great wealth, including:

eight elephants,
eight horses,
eight male slaves,
eight female slaves,
eight major ornaments,
8,000 kahapanas,
eight women,
and eight revenue-producing villages.

A simple man who had been carrying jasmine flowers to the king had, within a short period of time, received considerable royal rewards.

This illustrates the principle of good karma producing results in the present life.

It reminds us not to fear that goodness is wasted.

Good Deeds Do Not Always Produce Immediate Results

The story of Sumanamālākāra also teaches us something important:

Some good deeds produce visible results quickly, while others may take much longer.

A person may perform a good deed and wonder:

“Why haven't I seen the result yet?”

But the Law of Karma does not operate like a commercial transaction.

We cannot say:

“I did something good today, so I must receive something good tomorrow.”

Karma operates according to causes and conditions, and results arise when the appropriate conditions are present.

In the case of Sumanamālākāra, the wholesome result appeared remarkably quickly.

But the material reward was not the most important aspect of his action.

What mattered most was the quality of his mind.

He performed the deed with faith, devotion, and selflessness.

Venerable Ananda Asks About the Fruits of His Karma

According to the commentary, Venerable Ananda asked the Buddha about the future results of Sumanamālākāra's good deed.

The Buddha explained that the wholesome karma generated by such a sincere act would have consequences extending far beyond the present life.

According to the traditional account, Sumanamālākāra would continue to experience fortunate rebirths among gods and human beings and would not fall into a lower realm for a very long period.

Eventually, he would become a Paccekabuddha, a Solitary Buddha, named Sumana.

The Buddha therefore taught that this noble action would bring him fortunate existence among gods and human beings for many thousands of ages, and ultimately support his attainment as the Paccekabuddha Sumana.

This shows us something profound:

A single action arising from a pure and faithful mind can have consequences far beyond what the person performing it could ever imagine.

“Whatever One Does Without Regret Is a Good Deed”

That evening, the monks discussed the courage and generosity of Sumanamālākāra.

The Buddha then taught them that an action is good when, after performing it, one does not later regret it.

When remembering the deed, one's mind should become joyful rather than troubled.

On that occasion, the Buddha recited Dhammapada Verse 68:

Tañca kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu
yaṃ katvā nānutappati
yassa patīto sumano
vipākaṃ paṭisevati.

The verse may be translated in meaning as:

That deed is well done which, having been done, brings no regret afterward, and whose result is experienced with a joyful and happy mind.

This verse teaches more than simply:

“Do good and receive good.”

It goes deeper into the experience of the person who performs the action.

A truly wholesome deed does not leave the mind ashamed or disturbed when remembered later.

It does not make us hide from our own conscience.

It does not make us think:

“If only I had not done that.”

Instead, when we remember it, the mind becomes peaceful.

There is joy.

There is gladness.

And there is a quiet sense of satisfaction in having done what was right.

The Flowers Fell, but the Good Karma Remained

When the Buddha eventually reached Jetavana and entered his residence, the jasmine flowers that had accompanied him fell near the gateway.

The flowers were temporary.

Eventually they withered.

Their petals fell.

Their fragrance disappeared.

But the wholesome karma created by Sumanamālākāra did not disappear with the flowers.

This provides a beautiful image for understanding the difference between material things and the consequences of wholesome intention.

Flowers may wither.

Petals may fall.

Fragrance may fade.

But the wholesome intention generated in the mind has its own consequences according to the Law of Karma.

The physical object we offer may disappear.

The wealth we receive may disappear.

Our bodies will eventually decay.

But a wholesome action performed with a pure intention can become a condition for future results.

What Sumanamālākāra Teaches Us Today

Most of us will never have jasmine flowers to offer directly to the Buddha as Sumanamālākāra did.

But every one of us can create our own “flowers of goodness.”

Kind words offered to another person.

Compassion shown to someone who is suffering.

Forgiveness given to someone who has hurt us.

Help offered to someone facing difficulties.

Honesty in carrying out our responsibilities.

Refusing to take advantage of others.

Sacrificing for the benefit of the community.

These can all become our own flowers of wholesome karma.

And we may not receive eight elephants, eight horses, or great treasures as Sumanamālākāra did.

But we may receive something even more valuable:

peace of mind.

One day, when we look back upon our lives, we may be able to say:

“At least I did not intentionally harm others, and I did the good that I was able to do.”

That feeling is priceless.

Conclusion: The Flowers of Goodness Never Truly Disappear

The story of Sumanamālākāra is the story of an ordinary man holding jasmine flowers in his hands.

But what distinguished him was not the flowers.

It was the intention in his heart.

When he encountered the Buddha, he chose faith over fear.

He chose generosity over personal advantage.

He chose to do what he believed was right, even though doing so carried a risk.

And the result of his wholesome karma appeared remarkably quickly.

A few handfuls of jasmine flowers became the occasion for great royal rewards.

One act of goodness became a condition for a long succession of fortunate results.

And according to the traditional commentary, it would eventually become a condition supporting his attainment as the Paccekabuddha Sumana.

Thus, the Dhammapada leaves us with this beautiful teaching:

“Tañca kammaṃ kataṃ sādhu.”
“That deed is well done.”

When an action leaves us with no need to hide from ourselves,

when it does not fill us with regret,

when remembering it brings peace and joy,

then it is truly a wholesome deed.

Flowers in our hands may wither.

Wealth may disappear.

Fame may fade.

The body may grow old and perish.

But goodness performed with a pure heart is never meaningless.

The Law of Karma teaches us that every action leaves its imprint on the life of the person who performs it.

And a good action arising from a pure intention is like a seed of happiness, waiting for the appropriate conditions to bring forth its result.

May our lives therefore be like those of Sumanamālākāra.

Even if we have only a few “flowers” in our hands,

may we know how to use them to create goodness.

Because in the end—

the flowers offered by the hands may fall and wither,

but the flowers of goodness offered by the heart continue to bloom through the Law of Karma.

================================

Continue Reading

If you would like to explore more stories about Karma, Buddhist teachings, good deeds, death, rebirth, and the consequences of our actions, please continue with the complete eBook: