One day, a woman approached the Buddha with tears streaming down her face, and a cold, lifeless baby in her arms. She begged the Buddha to perform a miracle and bring her son back to life.
The Buddha responded: “I can help you, but only after you bring me mustard seed from a house that has not been touched by death.” The woman travelled back to her village, and started knocking on doors.
The woman had no luck with the first house. Just a few months ago, one of the elders there had died. The next house was similar: sickness took a child there too. The disappointment continued until the woman realized the pattern.
Every house has been touched by death. The quest given to her by the Buddha made the woman realize the universality of death — the impermanence of all things — including people.
Weary, the woman returned to the Buddha. He asked if she had come with the mustard seed he needed to perform the miracle. The woman admitted what she had discovered, and asked to join the Buddha as one of his disciples.