12.10 The Story about the Elder Attadattha

Dhp 166

Burlingame: By Righteousness Men Honor the Buddha

Compare: Dhp-a 15.7; Dhp-a 25.4; DN 16

When Elder Attadattha heard the Buddha declare his intention to finally pass away in four months time, rather than attend on the Buddha, he went to the forest to practice the teaching; the Buddha lauded him and said this is how one truly honours him, and spoke a verse.

Keywords: Striving, Heedfulness, Practising

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“One should not neglect one’s own good,” [29.366] {3.158} this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Elder Attadattha (One’s Own Good).

For when the Teacher was about to pass into Parinibbāna, he said to his disciples: “Bhikkhus, four months hence I shall pass into Parinibbāna.” Thereupon seven hundred bhikkhus who had not yet attained Stream-entry were deeply moved, and never leaving the Teacher’s side, whispered to each other: “Friends, what are we to do?”

But Elder Attadattha thought to himself: “The Teacher says that four months hence he is to pass into Parinibbāna. Now I have not yet freed myself from the power of the pollutants. Therefore so long as the Teacher yet remains alive, I will strive with all my might for the attainment of Arahatship.” Accordingly Elder Attadattha went no more with the bhikkhus.

Now the bhikkhus said to him: “Friend, why is it that you thus avoid our company and no more talk with us?” And conducting Elder Attadattha to the Teacher, they laid the matter before him, saying: “Venerable Sir, this elder does thus and so.”

The Teacher asked Elder Attadattha: “Why do you act thus?” The elder replied: “Venerable Sir, you have said that {3.159} four months hence you are to pass into Parinibbāna; and I have determined that so long as you yet remain alive, I will strive with all my might for the attainment of Arahatship.”

The Teacher applauded him for his wise decision and said to the bhikkhus: “Bhikkhus, whosoever sincerely loves me should be like Elder Attadattha. For truly they honor me not who honor me with perfumes and garlands. They only honor me who practice in accordance with the Dhamma; therefore others also should follow the example of Elder Attadattha.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

166. Atta-d-atthaṁ paratthena bahunā pi na hāpaye;
atta-d-attham-abhiññāya sa-d-atthapasuto siyā.

One should not neglect one’s own good
for another’s, however great;
knowing what is good for oneself
one should be intent on that good.

At the end of the teaching that bhikkhu was established in Arahatship, and those who had assembled also had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.