Verse 2
Chapter 7: The Arahats
Chapter 7: The Arahats
The mindful ones exert themselves. They are not attached to any home; like swans that abandon the lake, they leave home after home behind.
The Story of Venerable Mahakassapa
While residing at the Veluvana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Mahakassapa.
After spending the rainy season at Rajagaha, the Buddha announced to the monks that in a fortnight he would set out on an alms-pilgrimage. While the other monks were scalding their bowls and dyeing their robes, Venerable Mahakassapa simply washed his robes.
The monks were offended. In and around the city lived a hundred and eighty million people, they said, and every one of them was either Mahakassapa's relative or his supporter, honouring him with the four requisites. He would never give all that up; even if he set out, he would go no farther than Mapamada Cave.
The cave had got its name because, whenever the Buddha reached it, he would tell the monks who were to turn back, 'Now you may return; be not heedless' (ma pamajjittha).
As he set out, the Buddha reflected that with so many people in and around the city, monks would be needed on occasions of public festivals or disasters, so the monastery could not be left empty. Since the people were nearly all Mahakassapa's relatives or supporters, it was Mahakassapa who should go back.
So the Buddha told Mahakassapa to return with his own followers, since the monastery could not be left without monks. Mahakassapa agreed and turned back with his retinue.
The monks said to one another that it had all happened just as they had predicted: Mahakassapa had washed his robes because he never meant to go with the Buddha.
Hearing this, the Buddha stopped, turned around, and asked what they were saying, and they repeated their conversation word for word.
The Buddha told them they were wrong to think Mahakassapa was attached to his supporters and requisites. He had turned back only to obey the Buddha's command. In a former existence he had made an earnest wish to be able to visit the households of supporters while remaining, like the moon, free of attachment.
Mahakassapa, the Buddha said, had no attachment to any household or requisite. His son was attached to nothing, but was like a royal swan that goes down into a lake, swims, and then rises and leaves it.
Chapter 7: The Arahats
The mindful ones exert themselves. They are not attached to any home; like swans that abandon the lake, they leave home after home behind.
The Story of Venerable Mahakassapa
While residing at the Veluvana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Mahakassapa.
After spending the rainy season at Rajagaha, the Buddha announced to the monks that in a fortnight he would set out on an alms-pilgrimage. While the other monks were scalding their bowls and dyeing their robes, Venerable Mahakassapa simply washed his robes.
The monks were offended. In and around the city lived a hundred and eighty million people, they said, and every one of them was either Mahakassapa's relative or his supporter, honouring him with the four requisites. He would never give all that up; even if he set out, he would go no farther than Mapamada Cave.
The cave had got its name because, whenever the Buddha reached it, he would tell the monks who were to turn back, 'Now you may return; be not heedless' (ma pamajjittha).
As he set out, the Buddha reflected that with so many people in and around the city, monks would be needed on occasions of public festivals or disasters, so the monastery could not be left empty. Since the people were nearly all Mahakassapa's relatives or supporters, it was Mahakassapa who should go back.
So the Buddha told Mahakassapa to return with his own followers, since the monastery could not be left without monks. Mahakassapa agreed and turned back with his retinue.
The monks said to one another that it had all happened just as they had predicted: Mahakassapa had washed his robes because he never meant to go with the Buddha.
Hearing this, the Buddha stopped, turned around, and asked what they were saying, and they repeated their conversation word for word.
The Buddha told them they were wrong to think Mahakassapa was attached to his supporters and requisites. He had turned back only to obey the Buddha's command. In a former existence he had made an earnest wish to be able to visit the households of supporters while remaining, like the moon, free of attachment.
Mahakassapa, the Buddha said, had no attachment to any household or requisite. His son was attached to nothing, but was like a royal swan that goes down into a lake, swims, and then rises and leaves it.