Date: 11/02/2024 11/03/2024
Location: Star River Meditation Center
Teacher: Yunquan Huang
Dharma Talk
Foolish Sunaksatra
Once, Buddha was traveling through the Malla country and residing on the outskirts of Anupiya city.
On this particular day, Buddha was preparing to enter the city for alms early in the morning but noticed the weather was still early. He decided to visit the practice garden of an ascetic group to meet their leader, a practitioner named Bhaggava. After exchanging greetings, Bhaggava sought confirmation from Buddha and said:
“A few days ago, a Licchavi noble named Sunakṣatra came to see me and told me that he had stopped learning from you, no longer lived with you, and had abandoned you. Is that true?”
Buddha then explained the situation. As it turned out, Sunakṣatra had felt neglected and had approached Buddha to say:
“Master, since you do not teach me supernatural powers, I am going to leave you and no longer follow your teachings.”
Buddha asked, “Did I ever invite you to study supernatural powers with me? Or when you first came to follow me, did you set any conditions that learning supernatural powers was necessary?”
“No, Master!” Sunakṣatra replied.
“You are a foolish person, Sunakṣatra! How can you say you want to abandon someone like this? Tell me, if someone comes to follow my teachings and practices according to my instructions, whether or not they have supernatural powers, do they not still attain the goal of completely eliminating suffering?”
“Yes, Master!” Sunakṣatra answered. “But Master, you also never told me the origin of the world.” Sunakṣatra then shifted his complaints.
Buddha asked again, “Did I invite you to study the origin of the world with me? Or did you make learning the origin of the world a condition when you started following me? You are a foolish person, Sunakṣatra! What does discussing the origin of the world have to do with the complete elimination of suffering? As long as you practice according to my teachings, you will achieve the end of suffering. Sunakṣatra! Do you remember how, when you were in Vajji, you praised the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha so highly?”
Despite Buddha’s repeated guidance, Sunakṣatra still decided to leave, like a person determined to head towards hell.
Buddha then shared with Bhaggava several of Sunakṣatra’s foolish actions. One of these stories was about a time when Sunakṣatra was traveling with Buddha through the Malla country and they encountered a naked ascetic named Kukkurakatiya, who lived like a dog and practiced “dog-like” behavior. When Sunakṣatra saw this ascetic crawling on the ground and eating food directly off the earth with his mouth, he enthusiastically praised him from the bottom of his heart, foolishly believing that this man must be an Arhat. When Buddha rebuked him, saying, “You foolish person! Do you even deserve to call yourself a disciple of mine?” Sunakṣatra arrogantly questioned if Buddha was jealous of Kukkurakatiya, who he considered to be an Arhat.
Buddha then commented on ancient myths regarding the origin of the world and humanity. Some said that human beings were created by the Great Brahma, but this was a misconception from the first being born in Brahma’s realm. Others said humans fell from the heavens due to jealousy and impurity, which was a partial misunderstanding from ascetics with limited past-life knowledge. Still, others claimed that humans originated without any cause or reason, which was a misconception from past practitioners in the realm of unconscious meditation. Buddha knew all of this clearly, yet he transcended these views. He understood the origin of the world and humans without attachment, and through this understanding, he knew the reality of suffering, its cause, its cessation, its flavor, its danger, and detachment, thus attaining liberation and nirvana.
In the end, Bhaggava greatly praised Buddha for residing in pure liberation and asked Buddha to teach him as well. Buddha compassionately replied, “Bhaggava! It is still difficult for you to grasp the path to pure liberation at the moment because you have different views, aspirations, and practices. However, if you continue to maintain your goodwill toward me, there may still be an opportunity in the future.”
