Cultivate Toughness Born of a Compassionate Heart
Rev. Nikkyo Niwano
Founder, Rissho Kosei-kai
Shakyamuni Admonishes Rahula
Our discussion of cultivating toughness born of a compassionate heart brings to mind the principle of “the two methods of discipline and love.” This is the theory that in nurturing and guiding others, one must combine both firmness and kindness.
The Buddha’s method of guiding people is a perfect example of this principle. Although he concealed great compassion deep within his heart, there could be a sternness to his actual guidance. The following incident is one such example.
This incident took place when Rahula, who was both the Buddha’s son and his disciple, was a boy. Rahula was practicing at the Hot Spring Monastery outside the City of Royal Palaces. Lay followers, wishing to see the Buddha, would ask Rahula, “Where is the World-Honored One now?” and just for the fun of it, he would answer “He is at the Bamboo Grove Monastery,” when in fact, the Buddha was staying on Divine Eagle Peak. And when the Buddha was at the Bamboo Grove Monastery, Rahula would say, “It seems he is on Divine Eagle Peak.” Since the two places were some 8 kilometers apart (about 5 miles), the people would make the trip in vain, becoming utterly exhausted, and end up unable to see the Buddha at all.
As soon as Shakyamuni heard about this, he set out for the Hot Spring Monastery, where Rahula was staying, to admonish him as follows. When he arrived, Shakyamuni instructed Rahula, “Bring a basin filled with water.” After washing his feet in the basin, Shakyamuni asked, “Rahula, do you think this water is fit to drink?” Rahula replied, “Water used to wash one’s feet is unfit to drink.” “That is so,” the Buddha said. “Although the water was originally pure, once it has become like this, it is no longer fit to drink. In the same way, though you have left your home life to enter the pure path, if you fail to devote yourself to the Way, and instead of cultivating your mind you tell lies, cause trouble for people, and enjoy doing so, then you are just like this water.”
Next, the Buddha threw the water out and asked, “Could this basin now be used to hold food and drink?” “No,” Rahula replied. “Since it has been filled with dirty water, it cannot be used for food and drink.” “That is so,” the Buddha said. “Your present state of mind is also just like this basin.” Then he kicked the basin with his foot. It rolled away with a clatter, bouncing several times before coming to a stop.
Shakyamuni then asked, “Were you concerned that this basin might break?” Rahula replied, “No. It is a cheap basin, so we would not be troubled if it broke.” The Buddha then admonished him, saying, “In the same way, if you continue using your words to toy with people and cause them distress, you will become a person who is neither loved nor missed when you are gone.” Rahula took this stern warning deeply to heart. Thereafter, he devoted himself to practice with such diligence that it was as though he had been reborn. Accumulating virtue without drawing any attention to himself, Rahula came to be recognized as “foremost in ‘unseen practices’” and became one of the Buddha’s Ten Great Disciples.
Bodai no me o okosashimu (Kosei Publishing, 2018), pp. 103-105