Dhammapada Verses 365 and 366
Vipakkhasevaka Bhikkhu Vatthu
Salabham natimanneyya
na' nnesam pihayam care
annesam pihayam bhikkhu
samadhim nadhigacchati.
Appalabhopi ce bhikkhu
salabham nati mannati
tam ve deva pasamasanti
suddhajivim atanditam.
Verse 365: One should not despise what one has
received (by proper means), nor should one envy others their gains. The bhikkhu
who envies others cannot attain Concentration (Samadhi).
Verse 366: Though he receives only a little,
if a bhikkhu does not despise what he has received (by proper means), the devas
will surely praise him who leads a pure life and is not slothful.
The Story of a Bhikkhu Who Associated With a Follower of
Devadatta
While residing at the Jetavana
monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (365) and (366) of this book, with
reference to a bhikkhu who was on friendly terms with a follower of Devadatta.
Once, a bhikkhu disciple of the
Buddha, being very friendly with a follower of Devadatta, paid a visit to the
monastery of Devadatta and stayed there for a few days. Other bhikkhus reported
to the Buddha that he had been mixing with the followers of Devadatta and that
he had even gone to the monastery of Devadatta, spent there a few days, eating,
sleeping and apparently enjoying the choice food and the comforts of that
monastery. The Buddha sent for that bhikkhu and asked him whether what he had
heard about his behaviour was true. The bhikkhu admitted that he had gone to the
monastery of Devadatta for a few days, but he told the Buddha that he had not
embraced the teaching of Devadatta.
The Buddha then reprimanded him
and pointed out that his behaviour made him appear like a follower of Devadatta.
To him the Buddha said, "My son, even though you have not embraced the
doctrine of Devadatta, you are going about as if you were one of his followers.
A bhikkhu should be contented with what he gets and should not covet other
people's gains. A bhikkhu who is filled with envy at the good fortune of others
will not attain concentration (samadhi), or Insight, or the Path that leads to
Nibbana (Magga). Only the bhikkhu who is contented with whatever he gets will be
able to attain concentration, Insight and the Path."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as
follows:
| Verse 365: One should
not despise what one has received (by proper means), nor should one
envy others their gains. The bhikkhu who envies others cannot attain
Concentration (Samadhi). |
|
| Verse 366: Though he
receives only a little, if a bhikkhu does not despise what he has
received (by proper means), the devas will surely praise him who leads
a pure life and is not slothful. |