🧚 Opening, part 9 · page 2

The result was that after a time Mistress Vedehikā acquired the following evil reputation: “Cruel is Mistress Vedehikā, no meek woman is Mistress Vedehikā, no tranquil woman is Mistress Vedehikā!”82

“Precisely so, monks, here in this world, many a monk is ever so gentle, ever so meek, ever so tranquil, so long as unpleasant remarks do not reach him.83 But when, monks, unpleasant remarks reach a monk, that is the time to find out whether he is really gentle, really meek, really tranquil.”84

_13.85 Blind Men and Elephant.86

_Avoid vain wrangling.87

Udāna vi.88 4: 66-69.89

Thus have I heard: Once upon a time the Exalted One was in residence at Jetavana, near Sāvatthi.90 Now at that time there entered Sāvatthi for alms a company of heretics, both monks and Brahmans, wandering ascetics, holding heretical views, patient of heresy, delighting in heresy, relying upon the reliance of heretical views.91 There were some monks and Brahmans who held this doctrine, who held this view: “The world is eternal.92 This view alone is truth; any other is folly.”93 But there were other monks and Brahmans who held this view: “The world is not eternal.94 This view alone is truth; any other is folly.”95 Some held that the world is finite, others that the world is infinite.96 Some held that the soul and the body are identical, others that the soul and the body are distinct.97

They quarreled and brawled and wrangled and struck one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: “This is right, that is not right;” “This is not right, that is right.”98

Now in the morning a company of monks put on their under-garments, took bowl and robe, and entered Sāvatthi for alms.99 And when they had made their alms-pilgrimage in Sāvatthi, they returned from their pilgrimage.100 And when they had eaten their breakfast, they approached the Exalted One.101 And having approached, they saluted the Exalted One and sat down on one side.102 And sitting on one side, those monks reported the matter to the Exalted One.103

“The heretics, O monks, the wandering ascetics, are blind, without eyes; know not good, know not evil; know not right, know not wrong.104 Knowing not good, knowing not evil, knowing not right, knowing not wrong, they quarrel and brawl and wrangle and strike one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: ‘This is right, that is not right;’ ‘This is not right, that is right.’”105

In olden times, in this very city of Sāvatthi, there was a certain king.106 And that king ordered a certain man: “Come, my man, assemble in one place all the men in Sāvatthi who are blind from birth.”107 “Yes, your majesty,” said that man to that king.108 And when, in obedience to the king’s command, he had laid hands on all the men in Sāvatthi who were blind from birth, he approached that king.109 And having approached, he said this to that king: “Your majesty, the blind from birth in Sāvatthi are assembled for you.”110 “Very well!111 Now let the blind men feel of the elephant.”112 “Yes, your majesty,” said that man to that king.113 And in obedience to the king’s command he let the blind men feel of the elephant, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.”114

Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant’s head, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.”115 Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant’s ears, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.”116 Some of the blind men he let feel of the elephant’s tusks, saying: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.”117 Others he let feel of the trunk, saying the same.118 Others he let feel of the belly, others of the legs, others of the back, others of the tail, saying to each and to all: “This, O blind men, is what an elephant is like.”119

Now when that man had let the blind men feel of the elephant, he approached that king.120 And having approached, he said this to that king: “Your majesty, those blind men have felt of the elephant; do as you think fit.”121

Then that king approached those blind men.122 And having approached, he said this to those blind men: “Blind men, have you felt of the elephant?”123 “Yes, your majesty, we have felt of the elephant.”124 “Tell me, blind men, what is an elephant like?”125

The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s head, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a water-pot.”126 The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s ears, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a winnowing-basket.”127 The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s tusks, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a plow-share.”128 Those who had felt of the trunk, said: “An elephant is like a plow-pole.”129 Those who had felt of the belly, said: “An elephant is like a granary.”130 Those who had felt of the legs, said: “An elephant is like pillars.”131 Those who had felt of the back, said: “An elephant is like a mortar.”132 The blind men who had felt of the elephant’s tail, said: “Your majesty, an elephant is like a fan.”133

And they fought among themselves with their fists, saying: “This is what an elephant is like, that is not what an elephant is like;” “This is not what an elephant is like, that is what an elephant is like.”134 And thereat that king was delighted.135

“Precisely so, O monks, the heretics, the wandering ascetics, are blind, without eyes; know not good, know not evil; know not right, know not wrong.136 Knowing not good, knowing not evil, knowing not right, knowing not wrong, they quarrel and brawl and wrangle and strike one another with the daggers of their tongues, saying: ‘This is right, that is not right;’ ‘This is not right, that is right.’”137

_14.138 King and Boar.139

_Evil communications corrupt good manners.140

Jātaka 186: ii.141 101-106.142

On a certain occasion the Teacher addressed the monks as follows: “Monks, contact with the corrupt is a bad thing, an injurious thing.143 Indeed, why should it be necessary to discuss the injurious effect on human beings of contact with the corrupt, when in times past even a senseless mango tree, with flavor as sweet as the flavor of celestial fruit, through contact with sour, unpalatable nimbs, turned sour and bitter?”144

_Part.145 1.146 Gem, hatchet, drum, and bowl.147

In times past, when Brahmadatta ruled at Benāres, four Brahman brothers in the kingdom of Kāsi adopted the life of ascetics, and building a row of leaf-huts in the Himālaya region, took up their abode there.148 The eldest of the four brothers died and was reborn as Sakka, king of gods.149 Knowing who he had been, he went from time to time, every seven or eight days, and ministered to his former brothers.150

One day he saluted the eldest ascetic, sat down on one side, and asked: “Reverend Sir, is there anything you need?”151 The ascetic, who was suffering from jaundice, said: “I need fire.”152 Sakka gave him a little hatchet.153 Said the ascetic: “Who will take this and fetch me wood?”154 Then Sakka said to him: “When, Reverend Sir, you need wood, just rub this hatchet with your hand and say: ‘Please fetch me wood and make me a fire.’155 And the hatchet will fetch wood, make a fire, and turn it over to you.”156