3.1 The Story about Elder Meghiya

Dhp 33

Burlingame: Elder Meghiya

Compare: AN 9.3; Ud 4.1; Thag-a 66

The Buddha’s attendant Meghiya left the Buddha alone against his wishes, and went and meditated in a mango grove; his mind was overcome with defilements and the Buddha taught him with some verses at the conclusion of which he attained Stream-entry.

Keywords: Wilfulness, Meditation

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“An agitated and unsteady mind,” [29.1] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he resided on Cālikā mountain with reference to Elder Meghiya. For the story of this elder, the entire Meghiya Discourse should be related in detail. AJ: Ud 4.1 also AN 9.3. I include the relevant section here. {1.287}

Then venerable Meghiya went to the Fortunate One, and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side. While sat on one side venerable Meghiya said this to the Fortunate One: “Here, reverend Sir, having dressed in the morning time, after picking up my bowl and robe, I entered Jantugāma for alms. Having walked for alms in Jantugāma, while returning from the alms-round after the meal, I went to the bank of the river Kimikālā, and after going to the bank of the river Kimikālā, while wandering around and strolling around on a walk, I saw a pleasing and delightful mango grove.

Having seen it, this occurred to me: ‘This is surely a pleasing and delightful mango grove. For a son of a good family who needs to strive this is surely enough for striving. If the Fortunate One would allow me, I could come to this mango grove for striving.’ If the Fortunate One would allow me, reverend Sir, I could go to that mango grove for striving.”

When that was said, the Fortunate One said this to venerable Meghiya: “You should wait for as long as I am alone, Meghiya, until some other bhikkhu arrives.”

“When you are talking about striving, Meghiya, what can we say? Now is the time for whatever you are thinking, Meghiya.”

Then venerable Meghiya, after rising from his seat, worshipping and circumambulating the Fortunate One, went to that mango grove, and after going and entering that mango grove, he sat down to dwell for the day at the root of a certain tree.

Then to venerable Meghiya, as he was dwelling in that mango grove, for the most part only three bad, unwholesome thoughts occurred, that is to say: the thought of sensual pleasure, the thought of ill-will, the thought of harming. Then it occurred to venerable Meghiya: “Surely it is wonderful, surely it is marvellous, that I who, out of faith, have gone forth from the home to homelessness, should then be ensnared by these three bad, unwholesome thoughts, that is to say: by the thought of sensual pleasure, by the thought of ill-will, by the thought of harming.

Then venerable Meghiya, having risen from seclusion in the evening time, went to the Fortunate One, and after going and worshipping the Fortunate One, he sat down on one side. While sat on one side venerable Meghiya said this to the Fortunate One: “Here, reverend Sir, as I was dwelling in that mango grove, for the most part only three bad, unwholesome thoughts occurred, that is to say: the thought of sensual pleasure, the thought of ill-will, the thought of harming. Then, reverend Sir, it occurred to me: ‘Surely it is wonderful, surely it is marvellous, that I who, out of faith, have gone forth from the home to homelessness, should then be ensnared by these three bad, unwholesome thoughts, that is to say: by the thought of sensual pleasure, by the thought of ill-will, by the thought of harming.’”

The Teacher addressed him as follows: “Meghiya, you committed a grievous fault. I asked you to remain, saying to you: ‘I am now alone, Meghiya. Just wait until some other bhikkhu appears.’ But despite my request, you went your way. A bhikkhu should never leave me alone and go his way when I ask him to remain. A bhikkhu should never be controlled thus by his thoughts. As for thoughts, they are flighty, and a man ought always to keep them under his own control.” So saying, the Teacher pronounced the two following verses:

33. Phandanaṁ capalaṁ cittaṁ, dūrakkhaṁ dunnivārayaṁ,
ujuṁ karoti medhāvī, usukāro va tejanaṁ.

An agitated and unsteady mind,
difficult to guard, difficult to ward,
the sagacious one will make straight,
as a fletcher does his arrow.

34. Vārijo va thale khitto, oka-m-okata ubbhato,
pariphandatidaṁ cittaṁ, Māradheyyaṁ pahātave.

Like a fish thrown up on dry land,
pulled out from its watery home,
mind is agitated, one ought
to throw off the sway of Māra. {1.289}

At the conclusion of the verses the Elder Meghiya was established in the fruition of Stream-entry, and many others became Stream-enterers and so on.