Harmony in a true disciple

Let me share one story from Lord Samma Sambuddha’s time period.  This is in the Sutta Pitaka – Majjima Nikaya – Uparipannasaka (3^rd Book) – Devadaha category – Samagama Sutta) You can read the full sutta in here >>

You may have heard about the “Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta” who was another dhamma teacher lived in Samma Sambuddha’s time period.  He used to have loads of arguments over Samma Sambuddha’s teachings.  When he died, his followers - Nigaṇṭhas divided, split into two; and they had taken to quarrelling and brawling and were deep in disputes, stabbing each other with verbal daggers: “You do not understand this Dhamma and Discipline. I understand this Dhamma and Discipline. How could you understand this Dhamma and Discipline? Your way is wrong. My way is right. I am consistent. You are inconsistent. What should have been said first you said last. What should have been said last you said first. What you had so carefully thought up has been turned inside out. Your assertion has been shown up. You are refuted. Go and learn better, or disentangle yourself if you can!” It seemed as if there were nothing but slaughter among the Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta’s pupils.  And his white-clothed lay disciples were disgusted, dismayed, and disappointed with the Nigaṇṭha Nātaputta’s pupils, as they were with his badly proclaimed and badly expounded Dhamma and Discipline, which was unemancipating, unconducive to peace, expounded by one not fully enlightened, and was now with its shrine broken, left without a refuge.

One of the disciples of Samma Sambuddha named Ven. Chunda saw all these things and went to Ven. Ananda and asked we should ask our blessed one about this.

And Ven. Chunda & Ven. Ananda asked Samma Sambuddha what if this happens to our own disciples, when blessed one passed away.  Such a disagreement would be for the harm and unhappiness of many, for the loss, harm, and suffering of gods and humans.

Then Samma Sambuddha said, this kind of arguments and disagreements arise because of the roots of disputes. 

When one is angry and resentful, disdainful and insolent, envious and greedy, fraudulent and deceitful, and has evil wishes and wrong view, and adheres to his own views, holds on to them tenaciously, and relinquishes them with difficulty.

Such a person dwells disrespectful and undeferential towards the Teacher, towards the Dhamma, and towards the Sangha, and he does not fulfil the training. A bhikkhu who dwells disrespectful and undeferential towards the Teacher, towards the Dhamma, and towards the Sangha, and who does not fulfil the training, creates a dispute in the Sangha, which would be for the harm and unhappiness of many, for the loss, harm, and suffering of gods and humans. 

So, the blessed one guide us with the advice of;

“Now if you see any such root of dispute either in yourselves or externally, you should strive to abandon that same evil root of dispute. And if you do not see any such root of dispute either in yourselves or externally, you should practice in such a way that that same evil root of dispute does not erupt in the future. Thus, there is the abandoning of that evil root of dispute; thus, there is the non-eruption of that evil root of dispute in the future.”

And there are so many advices given in the same sutta and you can read it full in the sutta.

So, it’s basically you should identify what I should need as a Buddhist?  Do you wish to follow the defile thoughts of yours which are easy to follow or do you wish to liberates with the support of pure dhamma?  Do you wish to cling in to a team or cult which says we are the right and all the others are wrong or do you wish to get whatever good from others and cultivate your goodness for your liberation?

It’s simple, you should check your own qualities all the time.  Am I a compassionate one?  Are my words, actions thoughts resonate the beautiful peaceful wise teachings of a Samma Sambuddha?  Am I in the correct track of liberation?  With these observations you can successfully follow the path of pure dhamma of the blessed one. 

So, be wise… be careful my friends… if you are fails to observe your own inner thoughts, action or words what good of the dhamma you are following?  What good it can bring to you or to the others?  So, be open & wise enough to liberate!   

Have a blessed time!