From craving springs grief,
From craving springs fear:
For one quite free of craving
There is no grief — how fear?– The Buddha (Dhammapada, Verse 216)
… this brahman… went one day to the bank of the river to clear his field. The Teacher [Buddha], seeing that he was ripe for stream-entry, went to the place where he was… The Teacher was the first to speak and said, “Brahman, what are you doing?” — “Clearing my field, Sir Gotama.”… On the following day… The Teacher went to him and asked, “Brahman, what are you doing?” — “Plowing my field, Sir Gotama.”… On several days in succession the Teacher went to the brahman and asked the same question… One day the brahman said to the Teacher, “Sir Gotama, you have been coming here ever since I cleared my field. If my crop turns out well, I will divide it with you. I will not myself eat without giving to you. Henceforth you shall be my partner.”
As time went on, his crop prospered. One day he said to himself, “My crop has prospered; tomorrow I will set the reapers to work.”… But a severe rainstorm raged that night and beat down all his crops; the field looked as if it had been cut clean. The Teacher, however, knew from the very first that his crop would not prosper. Early in the morning the brahman said to himself, “I will go look at my field.” But when he reached the field and saw that it had been swept clean, he thought with deep grief, “The monk Gotama has visited this field from the day when I first cleared it, and I have said to him, ‘If this crop of mine prospers, I will divide it with you. I will not myself eat without giving to you. Henceforth you shall be my partner.’ But the desire of my heart has not been fulfilled.” And he refused to eat and took to his bed…
When the brahman heard that the Teacher had arrived, he said, “Bring my partner in and give him a seat here.” His servants did so. When the Teacher had taken his seat, he asked, “Where is the brahman?” — “He is lying in his room.” — “Summon him.” When the brahman had come in response to the summons and had seated himself on one side, the Teacher said to him, “What is the matter, brahman?” — “Sir Gotama, you have visited me from the day when I first cleared my field, and I have said to you, ‘If my crop prospers, I will divide it with you.’ But the desire of my heart has not been fulfilled. Therefore sorrow has come upon me, and my food no longer agrees with me.” Then the Teacher said to him, “But brahman, do you know from what cause sorrow has come upon you?” — “No, Sir Gotama, that I do not know. But do you know?” The Teacher replied, “Yes, brahman. Whether sorrow or fear arises, it arises solely from desire.” So saying, he pronounced the following stanza [above]… [Desire for Dharma learning and practice is however needed to break free from worldly desires.]
A Treasury Of Buddhist Stories From The Dhammapada Commentary
Translated By E.W. Burlingame
