Tipitaka » Sutta
Pitaka » Samyutta Nikaya » Context
of this sutta
- Samyutta Nikaya VII.2
- Akkosa Sutta
- Insult
- For free distribution only, as a gift of Dhamma
I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Rajagaha
in the Bamboo Grove, the Squirrels' Sanctuary. Then the brahmin Akkosaka
("Insulter") Bharadvaja heard that a brahmin of the Bharadvaja clan had gone
forth from the home life into homelessness in the presence of the Blessed One. Angered
& displeased, he went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, insulted & cursed him
with rude, harsh words.
When this was said, the Blessed One said to him: "What do you
think, brahmin: Do friends & colleagues, relatives & kinsmen come to you as
guests?"
"Yes, Master Gotama, sometimes friends & colleagues, relatives & kinsmen
come to me as guests."
"And what do you think: Do you serve them with staple & non-staple foods &
delicacies?"
"Yes, sometimes I serve them with staple & non-staple foods &
delicacies."
"And if they don't accept them, to whom do those foods belong?"
"If they don't accept them, Master Gotama, those foods are all mine."
"In the same way, brahmin, that with which you have insulted me, who is not
insulting; that with which you have taunted me, who is not taunting; that with which you
have berated me, who is not berating: that I don't accept from you. It's all yours,
brahmin. It's all yours.
"Whoever returns insult to one who is insulting, returns taunts to one who is
taunting, returns a berating to one who is berating, is said to be eating together,
sharing company, with that person. But I am neither eating together nor sharing your
company, brahmin. It's all yours. It's all yours."
"The king together with his court know this of Master Gotama -- 'Gotama the
contemplative is an arahant' -- and yet still Master Gotama gets angry."[1]
[The Buddha:]
Whence is there anger
for one free from anger,
tamed,
living in tune --
one released through right knowing,
calmed
& Such.
You make things worse
when you flare up
at someone who's angry.
Whoever doesn't flare up
at someone who's angry
wins a battle
hard to win.
You live for the good of both
-- your own, the other's --
when, knowing the other's provoked,
you mindfully grow calm.
When you work the cure of both
-- your own, the other's --
those who think you a fool
know nothing of Dhamma.
When this was said, the brahmin Akkosaka Bharadvaja said to the Blessed One, "Magnificent, Master Gotama! Magnificent! Just as if he were to place
upright what had been overturned, were to reveal what was hidden, were to show the way to
one who was lost, or were to hold up a lamp in the dark so that those with eyes could see
forms, in the same way Master Gotama has -- through many lines of reasoning -- made the
Dhamma clear. I go to the Blessed One for refuge, to the Dhamma, & to the community of
monks. Let me obtain the going forth in Master Gotama's presence, let me obtain
admission."
Then the brahmin Akkosaka Bharadvaja received the going forth
& the admission in the Blessed One's presence. And not long
after his admission -- dwelling alone, secluded, heedful, ardent, & resolute -- he in
no long time reached & remained in the supreme goal of the holy life, for which
clansmen rightly go forth from home into homelessness, knowing & realizing it for
himself in the here & now. He knew: "Birth is ended, the holy life fulfilled, the
task done. There is nothing further for the sake of this world." And so Ven.
Bharadvaja became another one of the Arahants.
Note
1
. Akkosaka thinks that the Buddha is cursing him -- and thus
angry -- when actually the Buddha is simply stating a fact in line with the law of kamma. [Go back]