Dhammapada Verses 244 and 245
Culasaribhikkhu Vatthu
Sujivam ahirikena
kakasurena dhamsina
pakkhandina pagabbhena
samkilitthena jivitam.
Hirimata ca dujjivam
niccam sucigavesina
alinena' ppagabbhena
suddhajivena passata.
Verse 244: Life is easy for one who is shameless and bold as a crow, who
slanders others and is pretentious, aggressive and corrupt.
Verse 245: Life is hard for one with a sense of shame, who always seeks
purity, who is free from attachment, who is modest and who sees clearly what is
proper livelihood.
The Story of Culasari
While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verses (244) and
(245) of this book, with reference to a bhikkhu named Culasari who practised
medicine.
One day, Culasari came back after ministering to a patient. On his way he met
Thera Sariputta and related to him how he went to treat a patient and had been
given some delicious food for his services. He also begged Thera Sariputta to
accept some of the food from him. Thera Sariputta did not say anything to him
but continued on his way. Thera Sariputta refused to accept food from that
bhikkhu because that bhikkhu had transgressed the law prohibiting bhikkhus from
practising medicine. Other bhikkhus reported about this to the Buddha and he
said to them, "Bhikkhus! A bhikkhu who is shameless is coarse in
thought, word and deed. He is arrogant like a crow, he would find a living by
unlawful means and live in comfort. On the other hand, life for a bhikkhu who
has a sense of shame is not easy."
Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:
Verse 244: Life is easy for one who is shameless
and bold as a crow, who slanders others and is pretentious, aggressive
and corrupt.
|
|
Verse 245: Life is hard for one with a sense of
shame, who always seeks purity, who is free from attachment, who is
modest and who sees clearly what is proper livelihood.
|
At the end of the discourse many people attained Sotapatti Fruition.