Dhammikasuttaṃ [AN 6.54, PTS 3.366–3.373]

12.

The Discourse on the Righteous

54. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Rājagaha on the Vulture's Peak mountain. Now at that time the Venerable Dhammika was a resident in the native land, in all seven residences in the native land. There the Venerable Dhammika reviled, abused, harassed, pricked, and irritated visiting monks with speech. And those visiting monks, being reviled, being abused, being harassed, being pricked, being irritated with speech by the Venerable Dhammika, departed, did not remain, and abandoned the residence.

Then this occurred to the lay followers of the native land - "We have attended upon the Community of monks with the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. And yet visiting monks depart, do not remain, and abandon the residence. What now is the cause, what is the condition, whereby visiting monks depart, do not remain, and abandon the residence?" Then this occurred to the lay followers of the native land - "This Venerable Dhammika reviles, abuses, harasses, pricks, and irritates visiting monks with speech. And those visiting monks, being reviled, being abused, being harassed, being pricked, being irritated with speech by the Venerable Dhammika, departed, did not remain, and abandoned the residence. What if we were to expel the Venerable Dhammika."

Then the lay followers of the native land approached the Venerable Dhammika; having approached, they said this to the Venerable Dhammika - "Let the Venerable Dhammika depart from this residence, venerable sir; enough of your dwelling here." Then the Venerable Dhammika went from that residence to another residence. There too the Venerable Dhammika reviled, abused, harassed, pricked, and irritated visiting monks with speech. And those visiting monks, being reviled, being abused, being harassed, being pricked, being irritated with speech by the Venerable Dhammika, departed, did not remain, and abandoned the residence.

Then this occurred to the lay followers of the native land - "We have attended upon the Community of monks with the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. And yet visiting monks depart, do not remain, and abandon the residence. What now is the cause, what is the condition, whereby visiting monks depart, do not remain, and abandon the residence?" Then this occurred to the lay followers of the native land - "This Venerable Dhammika reviles, abuses, harasses, pricks, and irritates visiting monks with speech. And those visiting monks, being reviled, being abused, being harassed, being pricked, being irritated with speech by the Venerable Dhammika, departed, did not remain, and abandoned the residence. What if we were to expel the Venerable Dhammika."

Then the lay followers of the native land approached the Venerable Dhammika; having approached, they said this to the Venerable Dhammika - "Let the Venerable Dhammika depart from this residence too, venerable sir; enough of your dwelling here." Then the Venerable Dhammika went from that residence too to another residence. There too the Venerable Dhammika reviled, abused, harassed, pricked, and irritated visiting monks with speech. And those visiting monks, being reviled, being abused, being harassed, being pricked, being irritated with speech by the Venerable Dhammika, departed, did not remain, and abandoned the residence.

Then this occurred to the lay followers of the native land - "We have attended upon the Community of monks with the requisites of robes, almsfood, lodging and medicine for the sick. And yet visiting monks depart, do not remain, and abandon the residence. What now is the cause, what is the condition, whereby visiting monks depart, do not remain, and abandon the residence?" Then this occurred to the lay followers of the native land - "This Venerable Dhammika reviles visiting monks, etc. What if we were to banish the Venerable Dhammika from all seven residences in Jātibhūmi." Then the lay followers of the native land approached the Venerable Dhammika; having approached, they said this to the Venerable Dhammika - "Let the Venerable Dhammika depart, venerable sir, from all seven residences in Jātibhūmi." Then this occurred to the Venerable Dhammika - "I have been banished by the lay followers of Jātibhūmaka from all seven residences in Jātibhūmi. Where now shall I go?" Then this occurred to the Venerable Dhammika - "What if I were to approach the Blessed One?"

Then the Venerable Dhammika, taking his bowl and robe, set out towards Rājagaha. Gradually he arrived at Rājagaha, at the Vulture's Peak mountain, and approached the Blessed One; having approached, he paid respect to the Blessed One and sat down to one side. To the Venerable Dhammika seated to one side, the Blessed One said this: "Well now, from where are you coming, brahmin Dhammika?" "I have been banished, venerable sir, by the lay followers of Jātibhūmaka from all seven residences in Jātibhūmi." "Enough, brahmin Dhammika, what is there for you in this? When they banish you from here and there, you, banished from here and there, come to my presence.

"Once in the past, brahmin Dhammika, seafaring merchants, having taken a shore-sighting bird, plunged into the ocean by boat. When the boat was out of sight of the shore, they released the shore-sighting bird. It goes to the eastern direction, goes to the western direction, goes to the northern direction, goes to the southern direction, goes above, goes to the intermediate directions. If it sees the shore all around, it goes just there. But if it does not see the shore all around, it returns to that very boat. So too, brahmin Dhammika, when they banish you from here and there, you, banished from here and there, come to my presence.

"Once in the past, brahmin Dhammika, there was a king of banyan trees belonging to King Korabya named Suppatiṭṭha, with five branches, with cool shade, delightful. Now, brahmin Dhammika, the spread of the king of banyan trees Suppatiṭṭha was twelve yojanas, and five yojanas for the spreading of the roots. Now, brahmin Dhammika, the fruits of the king of banyan trees Suppatiṭṭha were so large; just like a pot holding an āḷhaka measure. Thus its fruits were sweet; just like pure bee's honey without defect. Now, brahmin Dhammika, of the king of banyan trees Suppatiṭṭha, one branch the king enjoyed together with the women's quarters, one branch the army enjoyed, one branch the townspeople and country folk enjoyed, one branch the ascetics and brahmins enjoyed, one branch the deer enjoyed. Now, brahmin Dhammika, of the king of banyan trees Suppatiṭṭha, no one guarded the fruits, and they did not harm each other's fruits.

"Then, brahmin Dhammika, a certain man, having eaten as much as he liked of the fruits of the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha, broke off a branch and departed. Then, brahmin Dhammika, this occurred to the deity dwelling in the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha - 'Wonderful indeed, friend, marvellous indeed, friend! How evil is this man, that indeed having eaten as much as he liked of the fruits of the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha, he broke off a branch and departed. What if the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha were not to give fruit in the future.' Then, brahmin Dhammika, the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha did not give fruit in the future.

"Then, brahmin Dhammika, King Korabya approached Sakka, the lord of the gods; having approached, he said this to Sakka, the lord of the gods - 'May you know, sir, the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha is not giving fruit.' Then, brahmin Dhammika, Sakka, the lord of the gods, performed such a feat of supernormal power that a severe wind and rain came and overturned the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha and uprooted it. Then, brahmin Dhammika, the deity dwelling in the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha, afflicted, unhappy, with tearful face, weeping, stood to one side.

"Then, brahmin Dhammika, Sakka, the lord of the gods, approached the deity dwelling in the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha; having approached, he said this to the deity dwelling in the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha - 'Why are you, deity, afflicted, unhappy, with tearful face, weeping, standing to one side?' 'Because, sir, a severe wind and rain came and overturned my dwelling and uprooted it.' 'But was it while you were abiding in the nature of a tree that a severe wind and rain came and overturned your dwelling and uprooted it?' 'But how, sir, does a tree abide in the nature of a tree?' 'Here, deity, those desiring roots take the roots of the tree, those desiring bark take the bark, those desiring leaves take the leaves, those desiring flowers take the flowers, those desiring fruits take the fruits. And because of that, displeasure or non-delight should not be made by the deity. Thus, deity, a tree abides in the nature of a tree.' 'Indeed, sir, while I was not abiding in the nature of a tree, a severe wind and rain came and overturned my dwelling and uprooted it.' 'If you, deity, were to abide in the nature of a tree, your dwelling would be as before.' 'I will abide, sir, in the nature of a tree; let my dwelling be as before.'"

"Then, brahmin Dhammika, Sakka, the lord of the gods, performed such a feat of supernormal power that a severe wind and rain came and raised up the king banyan tree Suppatiṭṭha, and the roots became whole again. So too, brahmin Dhammika, was it while you were abiding in the nature of an ascetic that the lay followers of the native land expelled you from all seven residences in the native land?" "But how, venerable sir, does an ascetic abide in the nature of an ascetic?" "Here, brahmin Dhammika, an ascetic does not revile back one who reviles, does not irritate back one who irritates, does not quarrel back with one who quarrels. Thus, brahmin Dhammika, an ascetic abides in the nature of an ascetic." "Indeed, venerable sir, while I was not abiding in the nature of an ascetic, the lay followers of the native land expelled me from all seven residences in the native land."

"Once in the past, brahmin Dhammika, there was a teacher named Sunetta, a founder of a sect, free from lust towards sensual pleasures. And, brahmin Dhammika, the teacher Sunetta had many hundreds of disciples. The teacher Sunetta expounded the Teaching to his disciples for companionship with the Brahma world. But those, brahmin Dhammika, who did not place confidence in their minds when the teacher Sunetta was expounding the Teaching for companionship with the Brahma world, upon the body's collapse at death, were reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. But those, brahmin Dhammika, who placed confidence in their minds when the teacher Sunetta was expounding the Teaching for companionship with the Brahma world, upon the body's collapse at death, were reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world.

"Once in the past, brahmin Dhammika, there was a teacher named Mūgapakkha... etc. there was a teacher named Aranemi... there was a teacher named Kuddālaka... there was a teacher named Hatthipāla... there was a teacher named Jotipāla, a founder of a sect, free from lust for sensual pleasures. The teacher Jotipāla, brahmin Dhammika, had many hundreds of disciples. The teacher Jotipāla expounded the Teaching for companionship with the Brahma world to his disciples. But those, brahmin Dhammika, whose minds were not gladdened when the teacher Jotipāla was expounding the Teaching for companionship with the Brahma world, upon the body's collapse at death, were reborn in a realm of misery, an unfortunate realm, a nether world, in hell. But those, brahmin Dhammika, whose minds were gladdened when the teacher Jotipāla was expounding the Teaching for companionship with the Brahma world, upon the body's collapse at death, were reborn in a fortunate realm, in a heavenly world.

"What do you think, brahmin Dhammika, whoever with a corrupted mind should revile and abuse these six teachers, founders of sects, free from lust for sensual pleasures, with retinues of many hundreds, together with their communities of disciples, would he generate much demerit?" "Yes, venerable sir." "Whoever, brahmin Dhammika, with a corrupted mind should revile and abuse these six teachers, founders of sects, free from lust for sensual pleasures, with retinues of many hundreds, together with their communities of disciples, he would generate much demerit. Whoever with a corrupted mind reviles and abuses a single person accomplished in right view, this one generates more demerit than that. What is the reason for this? I do not, brahmin Dhammika, speak of such forbearance outside of this as among one's fellows in the holy life. Therefore, brahmin Dhammika, you should train thus - 'Our minds will not be corrupted towards our fellows in the holy life.'" Thus indeed, brahmin Dhammika, should you train.