BE NOT A SCENTLESS FLOWER
As a lovely flower that is beautiful, but scentless, the well-spoken word of
one who does not practice is fruitless.
As a lovely flower that is beautiful and fragrant, the well-spoken word of
one who practices it bears fruit.
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 Ananda to teach the king’s consorts —
Mallikā and Vāsabhakhattiyā, the daughter of Mahānāma the Sākyan by a slave woman.
The two royal consorts studied the Dhamma under the Elder Ananda. Mallikā
studied well, but Vāsabhakhattiyā made little progress.
When asked by the Buddha, the Elder Ananda 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.
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 Ananda to teach the king’s consorts —
Mallikā and Vāsabhakhattiyā, the daughter of Mahānāma the Sākyan by a slave woman.
The two royal consorts studied the Dhamma under the Elder Ananda. Mallikā
studied well, but Vāsabhakhattiyā made little progress.
When asked by the Buddha, the Elder Ananda 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.
Comments