19.5 The Story about a Company of Bhikkhus
Sambahulabhikkhuvatthu

Dhp 262-263

Burlingame: What is an Accomplished Gentleman?

Some learned bhikkhus, jealous of other bhikkhus having disciples who carried out their duties for them, went to the Buddha and asked for others to be forbidden to teach until they had undertaken training under their tutelage; the Buddha understood their intentions and taught them with a verse.

Keywords: Jealousy, Vanity, Gains and Fame

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“Not by eloquence only,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a company of bhikkhus. {3.388}

For once upon a time certain elders saw some young bhikkhus and novices dyeing robes and performing the other duties for their preceptors. Thereupon they said to themselves: “We ourselves are clever at putting words together, but for all that, receive no such attentions. Suppose {3.389} now we were to approach the Teacher and say to him: ‘Venerable Sir, when it comes to the letter of the sacred word, we too are expert; give orders to the young bhikkhus and novices as follows: “Even though you have learned the Dhamma from others, do not rehearse it until you have improved your acquaintance with it under these elders.”’ Thus will our gain and honor increase.”

Accordingly they approached the Teacher and said to him what they had agreed upon. The Teacher listened to what they had to say and became aware of the following: “In this dispensation, according to tradition, it is entirely proper to say just this. However, these elders seek only their own gain.” So he said to them: “I do not consider you ‘accomplished’ merely because of your ability to talk. But that man in whom envy and other bad qualities have been [30.144] uprooted by the path of Arahatship, he alone is truly accomplished.” So saying, he pronounced the following verses:

262. Na vākkaraṇamattena vaṇṇapokkharatāya vā
sādhurūpo naro hoti, issukī maccharī saṭho;

Not by eloquence only, or
by a beautiful complexion,
is a person honourable,
if jealous, selfish, deceitful;

263. yassa cetaṁ samucchinnaṁ, mūlaghaccaṁ samūhataṁ,
sa vantadoso medhāvī sādhurūpo ti vuccati.

the one in whom this is cut-off,
destroyed at the root and dug up,
that sage who has thrown out hatred
is said to be honourable.

At the end of the teaching many reached the fruition of Stream-entry and so on.

 

last updated: August 2024