Deep Commentary

This Dhammapada verse was taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery, concerning a certain bhikkhu. According to the story: "A certain Brahmin ordained under another teacher, not the Buddha, and then thought: 'The ascetic Gotama calls his disciples bhikkhus. I too deserve to be called that.' So he went to the Buddha and raised the matter. The Buddha said: 'I do not call anyone a bhikkhu for the reason you have given. I call a bhikkhu only one who has abandoned the corruptions and defilements—one who has 'gone forth.'" (Excerpted from Dhammapada Stories, Vol. III, p. 330). In this verse, the Buddha clearly raises three points: 1. "Having abandoned all evil actions, he is called a holy man (brahmana)." Here, the Buddha relies on the quality of spiritual practice, not on external forms or titles. No matter how grand a title may be, if one's moral conduct is lacking, that title is hollow, a joke, merely a facade to deceive others. A true practitioner does not need external forms; rather, what matters is the quality of content—a high-quality content. That is the quality of moral virtue, of eradicating defilements, and of living a life of peace and happiness. 2. "One whose conduct is pure is called a recluse (samana)." In the Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters, the first chapter includes the Buddha's teaching: "Those who leave home and family, recognize their own mind, understand their true nature, and realize the unconditioned Dharma are called recluses (samana). They constantly uphold the 250 precepts, live a pure life, practice the Four Noble Truths, and become arahants..." Also in the same sutra, chapter three: "Shaving off beard and hair to become a recluse, one who receives the Dharma must renounce worldly wealth, seek only enough, eat one meal a day at midday, sleep one night under a tree, careful not to turn back—know that what makes people foolish is attachment and desire." Through these two passages, the Buddha clearly explains the practice of a recluse. A recluse's practice must internally penetrate the source of mind and externally maintain dignified conduct and precepts. Both inside and outside pure—only then is one worthy of the name 'recluse.' 3. "Having removed impurities, he is called a renunciate (pabbajita)." In this teaching, we should pay attention to the word 'impurities.' Impurities mean filth, defilement, uncleanness. A renunciate must distance himself from two important kinds of filth: 'defilement taint and livelihood taint.' By distancing oneself from defilements, the mind becomes peaceful. Through mental peace, life becomes fresh and happy. 'Livelihood taint' means a renunciate should not support himself through wrong livelihood. In the Sutra on the Buddha's Bequest, the Buddha clearly teaches about such wrong livelihoods: trading, physiognomy, fortune-telling, divination, making charms and spells, etc. The Buddha taught that a renunciate should not do such things, for they go against the noble aspiration of one who has gone forth from the household life.