6.6 The Story about the Elder Lakuṇṭaka Bhaddiya
Lakuṇṭakabhaddiyattheravatthu
Dhp 81
Burlingame: Unshaken as a Rock
Compare: Ud 7
The Elder Lakuṇṭaka Bhaddiya was a dwarf who became an Arahat; because of his condition the novices and others used to tease him, but he remained unmoved and the Buddha explained why this was so with a verse.
Keywords: Novices, Teasing, Equanimity
***
“Just as solid rock is not shaken by the wind,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to the Elder Lakuṇṭaka Bhaddiya.
It seems that certain novices and others yet unattained, on seeing the elder, used to pull his hair and tweak his ears and nose, saying: “Uncle, you tire not of the Dispensation? You take delight in it?” But the elder showed no resentment, took no offense. The bhikkhus discussed the matter in the Dhamma Hall, saying: “Behold, friends, when novices and others, seeing Elder Lakuṇṭaka Bhaddiya, plague him thus and so, he shows no resentment, takes no offense.”
The Teacher came in and asked: “Bhikkhus, what are you talking about?” They told him. He replied: “Yes, bhikkhus, they that have rid themselves of the pollutants show no anger or resentment, but are unmoved, unshaken, like a solid rock.” So saying, he joined the connection, and instructing them in the Dhamma, pronounced the following verse:
81. Selo yathā ekaghano vātena na samīrati,
evaṁ nindāpasaṁsāsu na samiñjanti paṇḍitā.
Just as solid rock is
not shaken by the wind,
so the wise are not moved
by either blame or praise.
At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.
