Deep Commentary

These six verses were taught by the Buddha at Bamboo Grove Monastery, relating to a woodcutter's boy. According to the story, in Rajagaha, there were two boys – one the son of a Buddhist family, the other the son of a non-Buddhist family. They often played ball together. Out of habit, whenever throwing the ball up, the Buddhist boy would recite "Namo Buddhaya" (Homage to the Buddha). The non-Buddhist boy would recite "Namo Arahantaya" (Homage to the Arahant). In the game, the Buddhist boy often won. The non-Buddhist boy, losing frequently, became annoyed and observed that his young friend won because he recited "Namo Buddhaya." So he decided to do the same and began practicing the habit of recollecting the Buddha. One day, after cutting wood in the forest, the boy and his father stopped at a charnel ground outside the city to eat their meal. In the afternoon, the ox pulling their cart followed other cattle into the city. The father ran after the ox, but by the time he returned, it was dark and the city gate had closed. That night, the boy had to sleep alone under the cart. While he was sleeping, two demons appeared – one evil, one benevolent. The evil demon intended to eat the boy, but the good demon stopped him. However, the evil demon ignored him and grabbed the boy's legs to tear him apart. At that moment, out of habit, the sleeping boy murmured, "Namo Buddha." Hearing this, the evil demon was terrified and retreated. The good demon said, "Now we will surely be punished." To atone for the fault, the good demon guarded the boy all night. Meanwhile, the evil demon sneaked into the palace, took food, filled a gold dish, and brought it out. Then the two demons cared for the boy like parents. Before leaving, they used their psychic power to write a letter on the dish, recounting the story, and instructed that only the king could read it. The next day, the palace discovered the gold dish missing. People searched everywhere but could not find it. Eventually they found the dish on the boy's cart and arrested him, bringing him to the palace for questioning. After reading the story, the astonished king asked what had happened. The boy did not understand what had occurred the night before. The father, hearing the news, came but also did not understand. Then the king took the father and son to see the Buddha. The king asked: "Lord, is recollecting the Buddha a form of protection? Or does recollecting the Dhamma and other things also provide protection?" The Buddha replied: "Great king, recollecting the Buddha is not the only meaningful form of protection. But true Buddhists who deeply practice the six recollections need no other protection, no spells, nor any herbs." On that occasion, the Buddha spoke these six verses.