19.9 The Story about the Fisherman Named Ariya
Ariyabālisikavatthu
Dhp 270
CST4: Bālisikavatthu
Burlingame: Noble Is as Noble Does
A fisherman named Ariya was going about his business one day when the Buddha and the bhikkhus walked by; the Buddha asked him his name, and on reply told him that only one who does not hurt other beings should be called noble.
Keywords: Killing, Wrong Livelihood
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“Through not hurting living beings,” this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to a certain fisherman named Ariya (Noble).
For one day the Teacher, perceiving that this fisherman had the supporting conditions for the path of Stream-entry, after making his almsround in a settlement near the north gate of Sāvatthī, set out thence to return, accompanied by the Saṅgha of bhikkhus. At that moment this fisherman
The Teacher halted not far from him, and turning about, asked Elder Sāriputta and the other elders their names, saying: “What is your name?” – “What is your name?” In reply the elders told him their respective names, saying: “I am Sāriputta,” – “I am Moggallāna.” Thereupon the fisherman thought to himself: “The Teacher asks the names of all the others; doubtless he will also ask me my name.”
The Teacher, knowing his wish, asked him: “Lay disciple, what is your name?” – “Venerable Sir, my name is Ariya (Noble),” replied the fisherman. Then said the Teacher: “Lay disciple, men like you who take the lives of living beings are not to be called Ariya. Ariyans are rather those who never injure others.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:
270. Na tena ariyo hoti yena pāṇāni hiṁsati,
ahiṁsā sabbapāṇānaṁ ariyo ti pavuccati.
Through not hurting living beings
one is an Ariya, the one who does
not hurt any living beings
is truly said to be an Ariya.
At the end of the teaching that fisherman was established in the fruition of Stream-entry, and those who had assembled also had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.