21.3 The Story about the Bhikkhus of Bhaddiya
Bhaddiyabhikkhuvatthu

“That to be done is rejected,” [30.178] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jātiyāvana near Bhaddiya with reference to the bhikkhus of Bhaddiya.

It seems that these bhikkhus were in the habit of ornamenting their shoes, even as it says: AJ: quoting Vin Mv 5.8.

“Now at that time the bhikkhus of Bhaddiya were in the habit of wearing ornamental shoes of various kinds. They made or caused to be made shoes of grass; they made or caused to be made shoes of thatch; they made or caused to be made shoes of reeds, of the leaves of the date-palm; they made or caused to be made shoes of bulrush; they made or caused to be made woolen shoes. They neglected instruction, inquiry, higher morality, higher meditation, higher wisdom.” {3.452}

When the bhikkhus learned that these bhikkhus were given to this mode of conduct, they were offended and informed the Teacher. Thereupon the Teacher rebuked those bhikkhus, saying to them: “Bhikkhus, you came here for one purpose, but have devoted yourselves to another.” So saying, he taught the Dhamma to them by pronouncing the following verses:

292. Yaṁ hi kiccaṁ tad-apaviddhaṁ, akiccaṁ pana kayirati,
unnalānaṁ pamattānaṁ, tesaṁ vaḍḍhanti āsavā.

That to be done is rejected,
what is not to be done is done,
for the insolent, the heedless,
their pollutants only increase.

293. Yesañ-ca susamāraddhā niccaṁ kāyagatā sati
akiccaṁ te na sevanti, kicce sātaccakārino,
satānaṁ sampajānānaṁ, atthaṁ gacchanti āsavā.

But those who always properly
undertake body-mindfulness
don’t practice what’s not to be done,
persisting in what’s to be done,
for the mindful, fully aware,
the pollutants are laid to rest. {3.453}

At the end of the teaching, those bhikkhus were established in Arahatship, and those who had assembled also had benefit from the Dhamma teaching.

last updated: August 2024