Dhammapada Verse 241
Laludayi Vatthu
Asajjhayamala manta
anutthanamala ghara
malam vanaassa kosajjam
pamado rakkhato malam.
Verse 241: Non-recitation is the taint of learning; non-maintenance is the
taint of houses; indolence is the taint of beauty; unmindfulness is the taint of
one who keeps watch.
The Story of Laludayi
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (241) of
this book, with reference to Thera Laludayi.
In Savatthi, people coming back after hearing the discourses given by Thera
Sariputta and Thera Maha Moggallana were always full of praise for the two Chief
Disciples. On one occasion, Laludayi, hearing their praises, said to those
people that they would be saying the same about him after listening to his
discourses. So Laludayi was asked to deliver a discourse; he climbed on to the
platform but he could not say anything. So he asked the audience to let another
bhikkhu take the turn first and that he would take the next turn. In this way,
he put off three times.
The audience lost patience with him and shouted, "You big fool! When we
praised the two Chief Disciples you were vainly boasting that you could preach
like them. Why don't you preach now ?" So Laludayi ran away and the crowd
chased him. As he was frightened and was not looking where he was going, he fell
into a latrine pit.
When the Buddha was told about this incident, he said, "Laludayi had
learned very little of the Dhamma; he does not recite the religious texts
regularly; he has not memorized anything. Whatever little he has learned gets
rusty by not reciting."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
| Verse 241: Non-recitation is the taint of learning;
non-maintenance is the taint of houses; indolence is the taint of
beauty; unmindfulness is the taint of one who keeps watch.
|