7.2 The Story about the Elder Mahā Kassapa

Dhp 91

Burlingame: Free from Attachment

The Buddha set out on walkabout with a great host of bhikkhus, but seeing none left behind in Sāvatthī, he sent Elder Mahā Kassapa and his entourage back; some bhikkhus, not knowing about the instruction, accused the elder of being attached to his regular supporters, but the Buddha explained it was otherwise.

Keywords: Walkabout, Obedience, Great Disciples

***

“The mindful ones who are striving,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Veḷuvana with reference to the Elder Mahā Kassapa. {2.167}

For on a certain occasion, after keeping residence during the season of the rains at Rājagaha, the Teacher caused the following announcement to be made to the bhikkhus: “At the expiration of a fortnight the Teacher will go on walkabout.” We are told that this is a practice of the Buddhas when they desire to go on walkabout with the bhikkhus. The following consideration presents itself to their minds: “Under these circumstances the bhikkhus will fire their bowls and dye their robes and will make the walk pleasantly.” This, then, was the reason why the Teacher caused the announcement to be made to the bhikkhus: “At the expiration of a fortnight I will go on walkabout.” But while the bhikkhus were firing their bowls and dyeing their robes, the Elder Mahā Kassapa washed his robes.

The bhikkhus were offended at this and said: “Why does the elder wash his robes? Within and without this city dwell 180 million people. So many of these as are not the elder’s kinsfolk are his supporters; and so many as are not his supporters are his kinsfolk. All these people show honor and reverence to the elder by providing him with the four requisites. If he rejects all their good offices, where will he go? Even were he to go, he would not go farther than [29.199] Māpamāda Cave.”

Māpamāda Cave, by the way, acquired its name in the following way: Whenever the Teacher reached this cave, he would say to the bhikkhus who were to return: “Now you may return; be not heedless, mā pamajjittha.” Thus this cave came to be called Māpamāda Cave.

Likewise the Teacher thought as he set out on his walkabout: {2.168} “Within and without this city dwell a hundred and eighty million people, and on occasions of public festivals or disasters, there the bhikkhus must go. It is therefore out of the question to leave the monastery empty. But shall I direct all of them to return?” Then the following thought occurred to him: “These people are either kinsfolk or retainers of Kassapa; therefore it is Kassapa whom I should direct to return.” Accordingly he said to the elder: “Kassapa, it is out of the question to leave the monastery empty, for there is need of bhikkhus on occasions of public festivals or disasters; therefore take your own retinue with you and return.” – “Very well, venerable Sir,” replied the elder and taking his own retinue with him, he returned.

The bhikkhus were offended at this and said: “Did you observe, friends? Did we not just say: ‘Why is Mahā Kassapa washing his robes? He will not accompany the Teacher.’ Everything has happened just as we said it would.” When the Teacher heard the talk of the bhikkhus, he turned around, stood still, and said: “Bhikkhus, what is this you are saying?” – “We are talking about Elder Mahā Kassapa, venerable Sir,” replied the bhikkhus, and then repeated their conversation word for word.

The Teacher listened to what they had to say and then replied: “Bhikkhus, you say: ‘Kassapa is attached to his households and his requisites.’ As a matter of fact, he turned back because it was his desire to obey my command. For in a previous state of existence he made an aspiration and became, like the moon, free from attachment. He made the aspiration: ‘May I be able to approach the households of supporters.’ {2.169} Kassapa has no attachment for a household or a requisite. Beginning with Kassapa, I taught to all a path like that of the moon, the path of the Ariyan lineage.”

The bhikkhus asked the Teacher: “Venerable Sir, when did the elder make his aspiration?” – “Bhikkhus, do you wish to hear?” – “Yes, venerable Sir.”

The Teacher said to them: “Bhikkhus, 100,000 aeons of time in the past, the Buddha Padumuttara appeared in the world.” Beginning with these words, the Teacher related the [29.200] whole story of the elder’s deed in a previous state of existence, beginning with his aspiration in the dispensation of the Buddha Padumuttara. The story is related in detail in the text about the Elders. BG: Cf. Thag-a 261, see also AN-a 1.14.1.4.

When the Teacher had related in detail this deed of the elder in a previous state of existence, he said: “Thus, bhikkhus, beginning with my son Kassapa, I taught to all a path like that of the moon, the path of the Ariyan lineage. My son has no attachment for requisites or households or monasteries or cells. My son has no attachment anywhere, but is like a royal goose which goes down into a lake and swims therein and abides therein.” And joining the connection and teaching the Dhamma, he pronounced the following verse:

91. Uyyuñjanti satīmanto na nikete ramanti te,
haṁsā va pallalaṁ hitvā, okam-okaṁ jahanti te.

The mindful ones who are striving
do not delight in a dwelling,
like geese who abandon a lake,
they abandon fondness for homes.