One day Devadatta fell ill. Many doctors came to see him but no one could cure hum. Then his cousin, the Buddha, went to visit him.
One of the Buddha’s followers asked him, “O Buddha, why are you going to help Devadatta? He tried to harm you many times. He has even tried to kill you!”
And Buddha answered, “There is no reason to be friendly with some people and an enemy to others. All people are equal in that everyone wants happiness and no one likes to be sick and miserable. Therefore, we should have love for everyone.”
Then he approached Devadatta’s bed and said, “If it is true that I love Devadatta, who is always trying to harm me, as much as I love Rahula, my only child, then let my cousin be cured of his sickness!” Immediately Devadatta recovered and was healthy once again.
Buddha turned to his followers and said, “Remember, we should not be kind to some and cruel to others, but instead should try to cultivate equal love for all. This is the way of the enlightened ones.”