Buddhist Stories: “A Certain Monk,” Part 3 of 6, Sept. 28-29, 2015

As the result of the wholesome food they received, their minds became tranquil. And as the result of tranquility of their minds, they developed insight and attained Arhatship together with the Analytical Knowledges by the food even. When those monks arrived at Sravasti, they paid obeisance to the teacher and sat down respectfully on one side. The teacher said to them, “Monks, you have evidently fared very well, had plenty to eat, and have not been troubled on account of food.” “We had plenty to eat and have by no means been troubled on account of food, for a certain female lay disciple, the mother of Mātika, knew the cause of our thoughts so much knew the cause of our thoughts so much that the moment we thought, ‘Oh would it be nice if she prepares such and such food for us,’ then she prepared that, that very food, and gave it to us. The one that we thought of that we wanted.” Another monk, one certain monk in this assembly who heard this story, and heard that the monks praised the virtues of their hostess, conceived a desire to go there and enjoy the food. On the very day he entered the monastery, he thought to himself, “I have heard it said that this female lay disciple knows every thought that passes through the mind of another person. Now I have been wearied by my journey and I shall not be able to sweep the monastery. Oh, that she would send a man to make ready the monastery for me.” And the female lay disciple, sitting in her house pondering within herself, became aware of this fact. So just as he wished, she sent immediately a man to clean up the room and all that for him. So then the monk, desiring to have water to drink, thought to himself, “Would it be good if she would send me some sweetened water?” He was thinking like that. Straight away the female lay disciple sent water to him. Thereupon the monk thought to himself, “I am in a most embarrassing position.” So he said to the female lay disciple, “Lay disciple, I intend to go away.” With these words he departed and went to the Buddha. “Reverend Sir, that female lay disciple knows every single thought that passes through my mind. It occurred to me that the worldlings like me entertain both noble and ignoble thoughts. Were I to entertain a single inappropriate thought, she would doubtlessly change her attitude towards me as they say, ‘Seize the thief with the goods by his hair’. That is why I have returned.”