2.6 The Story about Two Bhikkhu Friends, One Heedful and One Heedless
Pamattāpamattadvesahāyakabhikkhūnaṁ

“Heedful amongst the heedless ones,” {1.260} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to two friends.

It appears that these two bhikkhus obtained a subject of meditation from the Teacher and went forth to a forest hermitage. Early in the morning one of them brought firewood, prepared the charcoal-dish, and during the first watch sat and chatted with the young bhikkhus and novices. The other, a heedful bhikkhu, engaged in meditation, thus admonished his friend: “Friend, do not act thus. For a heedless bhikkhu there are four states of suffering, as if they were his own house. The favor of the Buddhas may not be won by double-dealing.” When the lazy bhikkhu paid no attention to his admonition, the zealous bhikkhu said: “This bhikkhu cannot endure to be spoken to.” Having failed to spur his comrade to greater effort, the zealous bhikkhu, abiding in heedfulness, resumed his meditations. {1.261}

The slothful elder, having warmed himself during the first watch, entered the monastery just as his friend, having finished his walk, entered his cell. The slothful bhikkhu said to the zealous bhikkhu: “Slothful one, you entered the forest for the purpose of lying down and sleeping. Seeing that you obtained a subject of meditation from the Buddhas, ought you not rather to rise and devote yourself to the practice of meditation?” So saying, he entered his own place of residence, lay down, and went to sleep. But his friend, after walking up and down during the first watch and resting during the second watch, rose in the last watch and devoted himself to the practice of meditation. Living thus the life of heedfulness, in no long time he attained Arahatship, [28.313] together with the analytic knowledges. The other bhikkhu, however, spent his time in utter heedlessness.

When the two bhikkhus had completed residence, they went to the Teacher, worshipped him, and sat down respectfully on one side. The Teacher exchanged friendly greetings with them and queried: “I trust that you have lived the life of heedfulness and that you have devoted yourselves earnestly to the practice of meditation. I trust that you have reached the goal of the spiritual life.” The heedless bhikkhu replied: “Venerable Sir, how can this bhikkhu be said to be heedful? From the time he left you he has done nothing but lie and sleep.” – “But you bhikkhu?” – “I, venerable Sir, betimes in the morning brought firewood and prepared the charcoal-dish, and during the first watch I sat and warmed myself, but I did not spend my time sleeping.”

Then said the Teacher to the slothful bhikkhu: “You who have spent your time in heedlessness say: ‘I am heedful.’ You mistake heedlessness for heedfulness. {1.262} Compared with my son, you are like a decrepit hack; but he, compared with you, is like a racer.”

So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

29. Appamatto pamattesu, suttesu bahujāgaro,
abalassaṁ va sīghasso hitvā, yāti sumedhaso.

Heedful amongst the heedless ones,
wakeful amongst the ones who sleep,
like a swift horse who abandons
a weak horse, the true sage moves on.

At the conclusion of the verse many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.

last updated: August 2024