Date: 01/18/2025 01/19/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Sariputra’s Care for an Old Friend
One summer, during the rainy season, the Buddha stayed in the bamboo grove of Kalanda, located in the northern outskirts of Rajagriha, the capital of the Magadha Kingdom, while Venerable Sariputra resided in the Jeta Grove in the southern outskirts of Shravasti, the capital of the Kosala Kingdom.
When the three-month retreat period came to an end, a monk came from the Kalanda Bamboo Grove to the Jeta Grove.
Venerable Sariputra, upon learning that this monk had come from Kalanda Bamboo Grove, inquired about the Buddha and the monks, and learned that everyone was doing well. He then asked about an old friend of his who lived in Rajagriha, a lay Brahmin named “Tuo Ran.” He learned that this old friend, taking advantage of the king’s power, was oppressing the people, and also using the power of the masses to threaten the king, deceiving both the king and the people, and committing evil deeds.
Therefore, Venerable Sariputra decided to visit Rajagriha to admonish his old friend.
When the Brahmin Tuo Ran saw that Venerable Sariputra had come from afar, he was very happy and quickly prepared food for him.
However, Venerable Sariputra refused the food and directly asked him whether he was oppressing the people and threatening the king.
Brahmin Tuo Ran explained:
“Sariputra! You know that I am a householder, with business to care for, parents to support, a wife and children to raise, servants to attend to, taxes to pay, and offerings to the gods and ancestors, as well as giving to monks, all for the blessings in the next life. Sariputra! All of this cannot be omitted.”
“Sariputra! I ask you: If someone commits evil in the name of filial piety, and as a result, is born in hell, can they escape the suffering of hell because of their filial piety?”
“No, Sariputra!”
“Likewise, if someone commits evil for their wife, children, servants, king, gods, ancestors, or monks, and as a result, goes to hell, can they escape the suffering of hell because of these reasons?”
“No, Sariputra!”
“Tuo Ran! Laypeople should lawfully and morally earn money, not seek it through evil means. Only in this way can they gain the respect of their family and servants and the goodwill of monks. The respect of family and servants, and the goodwill of monks, will further help to increase one’s virtue and prevent it from regressing.”
After Venerable Sariputra’s guidance, Brahmin Tuo Ran finally admitted that it was for a mistress named “Duan Zheng” that he had been deceiving and committing evil to amass wealth. He then made the resolution to abandon the mistress, change his ways, and take refuge in Venerable Sariputra.
Venerable Sariputra instructed him to take refuge in the Buddha and also to practice the teachings.
A few days later, Venerable Sariputra left Rajagriha and went to a place called “South Mountain.”
Later, Brahmin Tuo Ran fell seriously ill and was near death.
When Venerable Sariputra heard the news, he hurriedly returned to Rajagriha to visit his old friend.
Brahmin Tuo Ran, lying in bed, saw that Venerable Sariputra had arrived and tried to sit up to greet him, but Venerable Sariputra stopped him.
After inquiring about his condition, Venerable Sariputra advised Brahmin Tuo Ran:
“Tuo Ran! Which is better, hell or the realm of animals?”
“The realm of animals is better.”
“Which is better, the realm of animals or the hungry ghost realm?”
“The hungry ghost realm is better.”
“Which is better, the hungry ghost realm or the human realm?”
“The human realm is better.”
“Which is better, the human realm or the Four Heavenly Kings’ realm?”
“The Four Heavenly Kings’ realm is better.”
“Which is better, the Four Heavenly Kings’ realm or the Thirty-three Heavenly realm?”
“The Thirty-three Heavenly realm is better.”
“Which is better, the Thirty-three Heavenly realm or the realm of Yama?”
“The realm of Yama is better.”
“Which is better, the realm of Yama or the realm of Tushita?”
“The realm of Tushita is better.”
“Which is better, the realm of Tushita or the realm of the Blissful?”
“The Blissful realm is better.”
“Which is better, the Blissful realm or the realm of the other Blissful?”
“The other Blissful realm is better.”
“Which is better, the other Blissful realm or the Brahma realm?”
“The Brahma realm is the best.”
At this point, Venerable Sariputra thought to himself, “In the Brahmin faith, most people aspire to the Brahma realm. It would be better for me to teach him the method for rebirth in the Brahma realm.”
Then Venerable Sariputra said:
“Tuo Ran! The Buddha, the fully awakened one, has taught the method of the ‘Four Divine Abidings.’ By practicing and continuously practicing, one can be reborn in the Brahma realm after death.
Tuo Ran! A disciple who has heard much of the Dharma, by immersing their heart in loving-kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, and by extending these qualities infinitely from near to far, until they encompass all, will achieve rebirth in the Brahma realm.”
After Venerable Sariputra finished his teaching, he left Rajagriha and went to the Kalanda Bamboo Grove to meet the Buddha.
Brahmin Tuo Ran, following the method of the ‘Four Divine Abidings,’ practiced and, before Venerable Sariputra reached the Kalanda Bamboo Grove, had abandoned his desires and was reborn in the Brahma realm.
Venerable Sariputra, upon meeting the Buddha, reported the matter of his old friend, Brahmin Tuo Ran.
The Buddha said:
“Sariputra! Why did you not continue to teach Tuo Ran the more ultimate Dharma and then leave? If you had taught him the more ultimate Dharma, Tuo Ran should have been able to attain it.”
“World-Honored One! I thought that the Brahmins all highly esteem the Brahma realm, consider it noble, and regard rebirth in the Brahma realm as the ultimate. Therefore, World-Honored One, I did this.”
“But Sariputra! Tuo Ran has already passed away and has been reborn in the Brahma realm.”
