The Scholar Monk and the Arahat
ONCE THERE WERE TWO MEN who entered the monkhood at the same
time but who followed different aspirations. One studied the sacred
doctrines until he attained such a proficiency in them that quite a number of
admiring students gathered around him to hear him reach. The other practiced
very hard and eventually became an arahat with great spiritual
insights.
One day. the two bhikkhus happened to meet each other for they had gone to see the
Buddha at the
same rime. The proud master of the sacred texts, however, had no idea that the monk
he just
met was already
one of high spiritual attainments. Treating him with disdain, as he did most
monks, the scholar wanted to
embarrass the
arahat in front of everyone by asking him questions from the texts
which he was
sure the
arahat would not be able to answer. What the scholar did not know, however, was
that whoever brought harm in any form upon an arahat would end up being reborn in a lower world,
To prevent that from happening. the Buddha decided to choose and ask the questions himself. He put
questions concerning the higher states of
meditation to the
scholar monk who, of course, could not answer them because he had not practised what he had recited and
preached. On the other
hand, the second bhikkhu had no problem with the questions. answering them
humbly but yes with evident authority. When the
questioning session was aver, the Buddha praised
the arahar generously. but made no mention of the learned scholar.
The other bhikkhus wondered why the Buddha praised the arahat and not
the illustrous
teacher. Thc Buddha explained to them that although the first bhikkhu was well versed in and
knowledgeable of the sacred scriptures, he did not live in accordance with
the Dhamma.
The Buddha compared him to a cowherd who tended somebody else's cows only
to earn money and so did not get
to drink any
of the cows’ milk, while the one who practised the Dhamma was like the owner
who enjoyed
not only his cows’ milk but all the dairy products that could be made from
it as well.
Similarly, the scholar monk only enjoyed whatever
services his pupils afforded him but not the benefits of sainthood. On the other hand, though the arahat could barely recite anything from the sacred scriptures, through
his diligent practice he had come to understand the essence of the Dhamma and so no longer harbored
any greed. hatred,
or delusion in his mind. He thus truly reaped the benefits of sainthood.
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