Deep Commentary

These three verses were taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery and relate to a proud monk. The story goes that one monk accidentally broke a blade of kusa grass. Feeling remorseful, he approached a fellow monk, recounted the incident, and asked, 'Venerable, is it wrong that I broke this grass?' The other monk replied, 'Do not worry about the consequences of breaking grass. Simply confess, and the offense is absolved.' Then he plucked a whole clump of grass and discarded it. The monks reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha reprimanded the proud monk severely and recited these three verses. In verse 311, the Buddha uses kusa grass, a fragrant grass, as a metaphor for worldly pleasures and material desires. Just as grasping the grass improperly can cause injury, pursuing wrongful practices leads a monk toward hell. Even after ordination, if one's desires remain unbridled and meditation practice is immature, the mind is restless and constantly seeks sensual indulgences. Attachment to pleasures, though tempting, contains inherent harm, like the poison hidden in the fragrant grass. Ignorant clinging to these pleasures leads to suffering, just as a rose has thorns despite its beauty. Wrongful actions are unwholesome and contrary to truth, resulting in pain. Monastics are expected to follow the right path, leading toward Nibbana. Verse 312 identifies three major obstacles on the spiritual path: laziness, defilements, and doubt. Laziness hinders diligent practice; indulgence in desires fosters defilements; and doubt prevents realization of enlightenment. Verse 313 exhorts practitioners to exert themselves fully in meditation and mindfulness, learning from the example of past enlightened monks who dedicated their lives entirely to practice. The Buddha criticizes the proud monk not merely for discarding grass, but to teach compassion and humility. Even for seemingly insignificant beings, respect for life is essential, and arrogance must be abandoned.