Look Inward And Not At Others
The Story of the Ascetic Paveyya
Chapter 4: Flowers • Verse 7
The Story of the Ascetic Paveyya
Chapter 4: Flowers • Verse 7
Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to the ascetic Paveyya and a rich lady.
One of the lady's neighbours, having gone to hear the Buddha preach, returned praising his virtues, and the lady, hearing this, wished to go and hear the Dhamma herself. She asked the naked ascetic who served as her spiritual guide for permission, but he repeatedly told her not to go.
Deciding that if she could not visit the monastery she would invite the Buddha to her own house instead, she sent her son that evening to deliver the invitation. On his way, the boy first stopped at the ascetic's residence and received instructions from him before delivering the invitation and returning to report back.
The next morning, the ascetic came early to the house with the boy and sat with him in a back room, while the neighbours decorated the house with flowers and prepared a fine seat for the Buddha.
After the Buddha finished his meal and the lady listened to his discourse, applauding him with "Well said! Well said!", the naked ascetic rebuked her harshly for praising the Buddha, reviled them both, and ran off.
The Buddha asked her whether she was unable to fix her mind on his discourse, and she admitted that the ascetic's insults had distracted her. The Buddha told her, "One should not consider the talk of such a heretic; one should regard only one's own sins of commission and omission."
The Story of the Ascetic Paveyya
Chapter 4: Flowers • Verse 7
Let none find fault with others; let none see the omissions and commissions of others. But let one see one's own acts, done and undone.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to the ascetic Paveyya and a rich lady.
One of the lady's neighbours, having gone to hear the Buddha preach, returned praising his virtues, and the lady, hearing this, wished to go and hear the Dhamma herself. She asked the naked ascetic who served as her spiritual guide for permission, but he repeatedly told her not to go.
Deciding that if she could not visit the monastery she would invite the Buddha to her own house instead, she sent her son that evening to deliver the invitation. On his way, the boy first stopped at the ascetic's residence and received instructions from him before delivering the invitation and returning to report back.
The next morning, the ascetic came early to the house with the boy and sat with him in a back room, while the neighbours decorated the house with flowers and prepared a fine seat for the Buddha.
After the Buddha finished his meal and the lady listened to his discourse, applauding him with "Well said! Well said!", the naked ascetic rebuked her harshly for praising the Buddha, reviled them both, and ran off.
The Buddha asked her whether she was unable to fix her mind on his discourse, and she admitted that the ascetic's insults had distracted her. The Buddha told her, "One should not consider the talk of such a heretic; one should regard only one's own sins of commission and omission."