Deep Commentary

These two verses were taught by the Buddha at the Jātiyā cave near Bhaddiya, concerning the monks of Bhaddiya. According to the traditional account: “At one time, the Blessed One was staying in the Jātiyā cave near the city of Bhaddiya. The monks there had developed the habit of decorating their sandals. As described in the tradition, ‘The monks of Bhaddiya were accustomed to wearing sandals of bright colors and in various styles.’ They made them themselves or commissioned them from others, using fine, light, expensive, fashionable, and elegant materials. As a result, they became negligent in study, discipline, meditation, and wisdom. Other monks saw this and were greatly displeased, so they reported it to the Buddha. The Buddha reproached those monks who were fond of adornment, saying: ‘For what purpose have you come here, that now you pursue such useless things?’ On that occasion, the Buddha spoke these two verses. The monks who were attached to beauty, upon hearing them, immediately attained arahantship, and the entire assembly also received benefit.” The teaching of these two verses reminds us to be careful in our conduct. What is worthy should be done, and what is not worthy should not be done. A practitioner must apply wisdom to reflect upon oneself and one’s actions. The important point the Buddha teaches here is: “Those who live heedlessly and indulgently will see the taints gradually increase.” Regarding heedlessness in body and mind, especially in the mind, the Buddha has already provided detailed instruction in the chapter on heedfulness. A practitioner who lives indulgently without the restraint of discipline is living a degenerate life. The Buddha said that such a person lives like a corpse—alive in body but dead in moral and spiritual virtue. The ethical conduct and character of the renunciant are lost, and from there all taints and defilements arise and grow. The aspiration of a renunciant is to escape the cycle of birth and death filled with suffering and to quickly realize the fruit of the path. If one constantly allows the mind to be heedless, how can that aspiration be fulfilled? In the story, the Buddha reproached the monks for engaging in useless activities, wasting their time. A renunciant should always focus the mind diligently on study and practice, living in constant mindfulness and correct contemplation. Only in this way can one align with the path of awakening and liberation. Conversely, monks who busy themselves with trivial matters, endlessly decorating sandals and neglecting spiritual practice, cannot cut off the taints to achieve awakening and liberation. Such actions are unworthy of undertaking. This story invites us to examine ourselves: are we like the monks whom the Buddha reproached? If so, each of us should repent and correct our long-standing mistakes. Only then are we worthy of being called renunciants who study and practice according to the path of awakening and liberation. Otherwise, escaping the cycle of suffering-laden rebirths will remain difficult.