26.28 The Story about the Elder Mahā Moggallāna

Dhp 411

Burlingame: Moggallāna is Misunderstood

After Elder Moggallāna had spent the Rains Retreat with five hundred bhikkhus the lay people still hadn’t donated the requisites; as he was leaving he asked for the requisites to be sent on, or that he be told; the bhikkhus reported it to the Buddha who explained it was concern for the donors and the young bhikkhus that made him ask so, and not craving, and then spoke a verse about the one without craving.

Keywords: Chief Disciples, Offerings, Discipline, Merit

“For the one who has no desires,” [30.303] this Dhamma teaching was given by the Teacher while he was in residence at Jetavana with reference to Elder Mahā Moggallāna.

This story is similar to the preceding. AJ: I include the story with suitable changes. It seems that once upon a time Elder Moggallāna, accompanied by his retinue of five hundred bhikkhus, went to a certain monastery and entered upon residence for the season of the rains. When the people saw the elder, they promised to provide him with all of the requisites for residence. But even after the elder had celebrated the Invitation, not all of the requisites had as yet arrived. So when he set out to go to the Teacher he said to the bhikkhus: “When the people bring the requisites for the young bhikkhus and novices, pray take them and send them on; should they not bring them, be good enough to send me word.” So saying, he went to the Teacher.

The bhikkhus immediately began to discuss the matter, saying: “Judging by what Elder Moggallāna said today, craving still persists within him. For when he went back, he said to the bhikkhus with reference to the requisites for residence given to his own fellow residents: ‘Pray send them on; otherwise be good enough to send me word.’” Just then the Teacher drew near. “Bhikkhus,” he said, “what is the subject that engages your attention now as you sit here all gathered together?” – “Such and such,” was the reply.

The Teacher said: “No, bhikkhus, my son has no craving. {4.186} But the following thought was present to his mind: ‘May there be no loss of merit to the people, and no loss of righteous gain to the young bhikkhus and novices.’ This is the reason why he spoke as he did.” So saying, he pronounced the following verse:

411. Yassālayā na vijjanti, aññāya akathaṅkathī,
amatogadhaṁ anuppattaṁ, tam-ahaṁ brūmi brāhmaṇaṁ.

For the one who has no desires,
who, through knowledge, is without doubt,
who has reached unto the deathless,
that one I say is a Brahmin.