The Dhammapada Puppha Vagga (Flowers). Practice is Better Than Teaching Yathā’pi ruciraṃ pupphaṃ, vaṇṇavantaṃ agandhakaṃ Evaṃ subhāsitā vācā, aphalā hoti akubbato. (Dhp51) Yathā’pi ruciraṃ pupphaṃ, vaṇṇavantaṃ sugandhakaṃ Evaṃ subhāsitā vācā, saphalā hoti kubbato.(Dhp52) As a lovely flower that is beautiful, but scentless, the well-spoken word of one who does not practice is fruitless. (Dhp51) As a lovely flower that is beautiful and fragrant, the well-spoken word of one who practices it bears fruit. (Dhp52) The Parasol-Bearer Chatthapāṇi (Parasol-in-hand) was a Non-returner and well-versed in the Tipiṭaka. One day, as he was sitting listening to the Buddha, King Pasenadi arrived. He didn’t rise from his seat to greet the king, thinking this would show disrespect to the Buddha. The king was angry, but paid his respects to the Buddha and sat down. The Buddha extolled the virtues of Chatthapāṇi, and the king’s anger was allayed. Later, the king saw Chatthapāṇi walking by the palace and had him summoned. He laid aside his sandals and parasol, and paid respect to the king. The king was pleased that he now showed him respect and asked him to teach Dhamma to his consorts. Chatthapāṇi refused, saying it was improper for householders to perform the duty of monks. The king therefore asked the Buddha, and he arranged for the Elder Ānanda to teach the king’s consorts — Mallikā and Vāsabhakhattiyā, the daughter of Mahānāma the Sākyan by a slavewoman. The two royal consorts studied the Dhamma under the Elder Ānanda. Mallikā studied well, but Vāsabhakhattiyā made little progress. When asked by the Buddha, the Elder Ānanda reported that Mallikā studied well, but that the Buddha’s relative, Vāsabhakhattiyā, did not study carefully, nor recite by heart, nor learn well. The Buddha declared that like a scentless flower, the Dhamma is fruitless to one who makes no effort to study it properly.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 04:57:35 +0000
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