The Jealous Ascetic Paveyya

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yawares
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Joined: Fri Mar 09, 2012 3:23 pm

The Jealous Ascetic Paveyya

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Dear Members,

People might wonder why I love to post Dhammapada stories/Abhidhamma/Itivuttakas etc. to 3-4 websites??? I can tell you the secret......Because whenever I post them I must read them first...and over the years Buddha's dhamma really sink into my brain/my heart, I am a better 'Yawares' ...I feel sins leaving me bit by bit each day.

And I love this story very much. It teachs me to deal with jealous people and not let jealousy/anger creep into my heart...very hard to do but I'll try to practise.

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The Jealous Ascetic Paveyya
[Translated from the Pali by Daw Mya Tin, MA]

While residing at the Jetavana monastery, the Buddha uttered Verse (50) of this book, with reference to the ascetic Paveyya and a rich lady.

A rich lady of Savatthi had adopted Paveyya, an ascetic, as a son and was looking after his needs. When she heard her neighbours talking in praise of the Buddha, she wished very much to invite him to her house to offer him alms-food. So, the Buddha was invited and choice food was offered. As the Buddha was expressing appreciation (anumodana), Paveyya, who was in the next room, fumed with rage. He blamed and cursed the lady for venerating the Buddha. The lady heard him cursing and shouting and felt so ashamed that she could not concentrate on what the Buddha was saying. The Buddha told her not to be concerned about those curses and threats, but to concentrate only on her own good and bad deeds.

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Na paresam vilomani
na paresam katakatam
attanova avekkheyya
katani akatani ca.

Verse 50: One should not consider the faults of others, nor their doing or not doing good or bad deeds. One should consider only whether one has done or not done good or bad deeds. :bow:

At the end of the discourse the rich lady attained Sotapatti Fruition.

*************** :anjali:
:heart: Love Buddha's dhamma,
yawares/sirikanya :heart:
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