weekly 6

DHAMMAPADA
YAMAKA VAGGA (TWIN VERSES)

1 (5) The Story of Kosambi Monks (Verse 6)

Pare ca na vijananti

mayamettha yamamase

ye ca tattha vijananti

tato sammanti medhaga

Still others do not understand

that we must perish in this world,

those who understand this,

their quarrels are allayed.

RECOLLECTION OF DEATH BRINGS PEACE

While residing at the Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered this verse, with reference to the monks of Kosambi.

The monks of Kosambi had formed into two groups. One group followed the master of Vinaya and the other followed the teacher of the Dhamma. Once they were quarrelling among themselves over a minor Vinaya rule. Even the Buddha could not stop them from quarrelling; so He left them and spent the vassa, religious retreat in the monsoon season, all alone in Rakkhita Grove near Parileyyaka forest. There, the elephant Parileyya waited upon the Buddha.

The lay disciples of Kosambi, on learning the reason for the departure of the Buddha, refused to make offerings to the remaining monks. This made them realize their mistake and reconciliation took place among themselves. Still, the lay disciples could not treat them as respectfully as before, until they owned up their fault to the Buddha. But the Buddha was away and it was in the middle of the vassa; so the monks of Kosambi spent the vassa in misery and hardship.

At the end of the vassa, the Venerable Ananda and many monks approached the Buddha and gave the message from Anathapindika and other lay disciples imploring Him to return. In due course the Buddha retuned to the Jetavana Monastery in Savatthi. The monks followed Him there, fell down at His feet, and admitted their fault. The Buddha rebuked them for disobeying Him. He told them to remember that they must all die some day and therefore, they must stop their quarrels and must not act as if they would never die.

* * * * *

ettha - in this place; pare - those others;

mayam - we yamamase - die;

na vijananti- do not know; tattha: here;

ye ca: some;

vijananti: know (it);

tato: due to that (awareness);

medhaga: conflicts and disputes;

sammanti: subside;

Most of us are not willing to face the reality of impermanence and death. It is because we forget this fact that our lives are transitory, that we quarrel with each other, as if we are going to live for ever. But, if we face the fact of death, our quarrels will come to an end. We will then realize the folly of fighting when we ourselves are doomed to die. Excited by emotions our thought being clouded, we cannot see the truth about life. When we see the truth, however, our thoughts become free of emotions.