Date: 09/20/2025 09/21/2025
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
The Bhikkhu Pantha Who Was Thought to Be Dull-witted
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Śrāvastī, in the country of Kosala.
Now there was an aged bhikkhu named Pantha. Though he applied himself diligently to learning, he made no progress, and the monks often mocked him as being dull-witted.
The Blessed One, moved with compassion, personally taught him a single verse, and carefully explained its meaning and profound intent.
The Blessed One said to Bhikkhu Pantha:
“Though it is but a single line, if you hold it firmly in memory, contemplate it with your heart, and practice accordingly, you too shall attain the path of Buddhahood.”
Grateful for the Buddha’s great compassion, Bhikkhu Pantha recited the verse day by day, reflecting deeply upon it. At length, his mind opened, wisdom arose, and he attained the fruit of Arahantship, becoming one among the Enlightened Ones in the Sangha.
On one occasion, the Blessed One sent Arahant Pantha to a convent to recite the Teaching before the assembly of nuns. When the nuns heard of it, they laughed among themselves, saying:
“Ha! That fool who once could not even remember half a verse is now coming to preach to us!”
“Let us find a way to mock him and watch him be disgraced!”
And so they eagerly awaited the next day.
When Arahant Pantha came, the nuns received him and requested that he speak. Seated upon the high seat, he looked upon them calmly and said:
“Shameful it is that in old age I have learned so little. Today, I shall expound but a single verse. I pray that you listen with a still mind.”
The nuns whispered and laughed among themselves, but Arahant Pantha paid no heed. He recited the verse taught him by the Buddha:
“Guard the mouth, restrain the mind,
Transgress not with the body.
Whoso walks thus with vigilance,
Shall cross beyond this world.”
He then explained in detail the meaning of the verse. Hearing the profound Dharma, the nuns who had come to ridicule him were filled with shame, prostrated themselves at his feet, and confessed their fault. When the teaching ended, five hundred bhikkhunīs abandoned delusion, and all attained the fruit of Arahantship.
Again, on another occasion, King Prasenajit invited the Blessed One to a royal feast. The Buddha, accompanied by two hundred monks, went to the palace. Handing his alms-bowl to Arahant Pantha, the Buddha said:
“Bear this, and follow after me.”
When they reached the palace gate, the guards stopped Pantha, saying:
“Are you not the dull-witted old monk Pantha? Such as you have no right to the king’s offerings. You shall not enter.”
The Buddha said to him:
“Wait here with my bowl.”
Thus Arahant Pantha remained outside.
Within the hall, the Buddha and the monks sat with the king, the queen, and the ministers. The Buddha then called out:
“Pantha, bring me my bowl!”
From outside the gate, Pantha, by his spiritual power, extended his arm through the air. In the midst of the great assembly, they beheld a wondrously long arm reaching forth, and placing the bowl into the hands of the Buddha.
The king and ministers were astonished, asking:
“Whose arm is this, so wondrously long?”
The Blessed One smiled and said:
“It is the arm of my disciple, Arahant Pantha.”
The king marveled:
“Excellent indeed is this disciple of the Buddha, possessed of such great spiritual power! Yet why is he not within?”
A minister replied:
“He was barred by the guards at the gate.”
The king, angered, said:
“Foolish men! How could you act thus? Bring him in at once!”
Then he turned to the Buddha and asked:
“World-honored One, we have long heard that this monk was dull of nature. How has he attained such realization?”
The Blessed One replied:
“Learning is not in multitude of words, but in true practice. Though Pantha learned but a single verse, he penetrated its meaning, embodied it in conduct, and was steadfast in the path. Unlike those who covet much and gain nothing in depth, his attainment is complete.”
The king, the queen, and all ministers bowed their heads, saying:
“Indeed, it is so! Indeed, it is so!”
At that time, Arahant Pantha entered calmly, and sat behind the Buddha. The Blessed One looked upon him with a smile. All present were filled with reverence, and from that day none dared mock him again.
