16.6 The Story about a Certain Brahmin

Dhp 216

Burlingame: Set Not Your Heart on Worldly Possessions

Compare: Ja 228

A Brahmin farmer wishing for his fields to prosper decided to make the Buddha his partner; just before the crop was brought in floods washed it all away, and the farmer was inconsolable; the Buddha explained the origin of the farmer’s sorrow.

Keywords: Farming, Floods, Loss

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This Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain Brahmin.

It seems that this Brahmin, who was a holder of wrong views, went one day to the bank of the river to clear his field. The Teacher, seeing that he had the supporting conditions, went to the place where he was. The Brahmin, although he saw the Teacher, paid him no mark of respect, but remained silent. The Teacher was the first to speak and said: “Brahmin, what are you doing?” – “Clearing my field, good Gotama.” The Teacher said no more and went his way.

On the following day the Brahmin went to plow his field. The Teacher went to him and asked: “Brahmin, what are you doing?” – “Plowing my field, good Gotama.” The Teacher, hearing his reply, went his way. On several days in succession the Teacher went to the Brahmin and asked the same question. Receiving the answers: “Good Gotama, I am planting my field, I am weeding my field, I am guarding my field,” the Teacher went his way.

One day the Brahmin said to the Teacher: [30.89] “Good Gotama, you have been coming here ever since I cleared my field. If my crop turns out well, I will divide it with you. I will not myself eat without giving to you. Henceforth you shall be my partner.”

As time went on, his crop prospered. {3.285} One day he said to himself: “My crop has prospered; tomorrow I will set the reapers to work.” So he made ready for the reaping. But a severe rainstorm raged that night and beat down all his crops; the field looked as if it had been cut clean. The Teacher, however, knew from the very first that his crop would not prosper.

Early in the morning the Brahmin said to himself: “I will go look at my field.” But when he reached the field and saw that it had been swept clean, he thought with deep grief: “The ascetic Gotama has visited this field from the day when I first cleared it, and I have said to him: ‘If this crop of mine prospers, I will divide it with you. I will not myself eat without giving to you. Henceforth you shall be my partner.’ But the desire of my heart has not been fulfilled.” And he refused to eat and took to his bed.

Now the Teacher stopped at the door of his house. When the Brahmin heard that the Teacher had arrived, he said: “Bring my partner in and give him a seat here.” His servants did so. When the Teacher had taken his seat, he asked: “Where is the Brahmin?” – “He is lying in his room.” – “Summon him.” When the Brahmin had come in response to the summons and had seated himself on one side, the Teacher said to him: “What is the matter, Brahmin?” – “Good Gotama, you have visited me from the day when I first cleared my field, and I have said to you: ‘If my crop prospers, I will divide with you.’ But the desire of my heart has not been fulfilled. Therefore grief has come upon me, and my food no longer agrees with me.”

Then the Teacher said to him: “But, Brahmin, do you know from what cause grief has come upon you?” – “No, Dear Gotama, that I know not. But you know.” The Teacher replied: “Yes, Brahmin. Whether grief or fear arises, it arises solely from craving.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse: {3.286}

216. Taṇhāya jāyatī soko, taṇhāya jāyatī bhayaṁ,
taṇhāya vippamuttassa natthi soko, kuto bhayaṁ?

From craving there arises grief,
from craving there arises fear,
for one who is free from craving
there is no grief, how is there fear?

At the end of the teaching the Brahmin was established in the fruition of Stream-entry.