A Ploughman

On one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Magadha, in Ekanàlà village.

At that time is the time for sowing  rice, Brahma Kasi Bhàradvàja got 500 ploughshare ready, was distributing food for workers when Buddha came.

Brahma Kasi Bhàradvàja saw the Blessed One in getting alms-giving, he said:

 

- Hey, Sramana Gautama, I ploughed and sowed rice, after ploughing and sowing rice I take food. And you, did you plough and sow rice, if not which is food for you?

- Oh Brahma, I also plough and sow rice, after ploughing and sowing, I enjoy my labor.

- But we didn’t see the yoke, plough, ploughshare, stick or your cows. And you also didn’t work in farming, how can you say as you are really a farmer. Tell us, in what way you do it.

 - Listen, Brahma: faith is the seed, restraining normal desire is rain, wisdom is yoke and plough, shame (for self and for others ) is plough handle, mind faculty is the rope, right-mindfulness is ploughshare, which gradually lead me to peace, get away from suffering and arrive the never-land. So plough this paddy-field will get the fruit of everlasting, end all suffering and attain forever liberation.

 

(Samyuktà-Nikaya I, chapter 7, part Kulapati)

 

Comment:

It is not only nowadays but from the Buddha time, the noble and pure living of monks still hasn’t been revered yet by almost people. In somewhere on the earth still exists some wrong opinions that the monks are the lazybones, the sponges and burden to society. The narrow-minded viewpoint of Brahma Kasi Bhàradvàja is an example.

 

 Buddha has confirmed that he and his disciples are the true laborers. He works to perfect himself and contributes his knowledge to improve and develop the society.

 

 Although Buddha doesn’t plough and sow rice, he still is a real farmer because he ploughs the land of mind, sows the seed of sage and reaps the fruit of liberation. Therefore, offering Buddha and his disciples the necessary things is synonymous to raise and cultivate the Buddhist’s merit. However, if the monks don’t perfect their missions and duties, they don’t deserve to receive any offering as well as have no right to receive it.

 

Today, along with  crowded monks, the copious offering is also come from followers. It makes the monk’s duty is bigger and heavier. The dharma conversation between Buddha and Brahma Kasi Bhàradvàja still keeps its real meaning. We including the clergy and lay people should take this valuable lesson and have deeply thinking of it in order to living and cultivating better every day.