Deep Commentary

This Dhammapada verse was taught by the Buddha at Jetavana Monastery in connection with Venerable Moonlight. According to the story, in a former life Venerable Moonlight had been a woodcutter. He once offered sandalwood powder to the stupa of Kassapa Buddha in a great round dish like the full moon. As a result, in this life, when he was born, a radiant halo the size of a moon-disc appeared from his navel, so his parents named him Moonlight. Because of this luminous sign, some brahmins placed him on a cart and took him around, claiming that anyone who touched his body would gain power and glory. Those who wanted to touch him had to pay a large sum of money. Wandering in this way, they eventually came to Savatthi and stayed near Jetavana Monastery. At that time, many faithful devotees were going to the monastery to hear the Buddha teach. On the way, the brahmins stopped them and urged them to come touch the brahmin Moonlight, saying that he possessed great spiritual power and could bring unmatched power and honor. The devotees did not believe them and said that only the Blessed One possessed supreme spiritual power. The two sides argued fiercely, and finally they proposed that Moonlight go to the monastery and compare his power with the Buddha’s. As soon as Moonlight came near the Buddha, the Buddha caused his halo to disappear. When they pulled Moonlight farther away, the halo shone again; when he came near the Buddha, it disappeared again. This happened three times. Moonlight thought that the Buddha was using magic and asked whether this was so. The Buddha said that it was. Moonlight asked the Buddha to teach him. The Buddha agreed, on the condition that he go forth and learn under Him. Moonlight declared to everyone that after only a few days of training he would become the most extraordinary person in this world. The Buddha then taught him a method of concentration and contemplation, and before long he attained arahantship. The Buddha then told the monks that Venerable Moonlight no longer delighted in worldly pleasures. A person who has cut off craving has a heart like an unstained moon and like still, clear, shining water. These are beautiful images. Moonlight cannot shine when it is covered by clouds; water cannot be clear when it is mixed with dust and sediment. In the same way, the moon of Buddha-nature in each person is always shining, but it is obscured by the clouds of ignorance and affliction. The nature of water is originally pure, but when dirt and sediment are mixed into it, it becomes muddy. When the clouds are cleared and the sediment settles, both return to their original clarity. A practitioner only needs to break through the clouds of ignorance for the moon of Buddha-nature to appear; there is no need to search far away. If we want the mind to become clear and pure again, we must let the sediment of affliction settle. When deluded thoughts and afflictions cease, the empty nature beyond delusion becomes visible. This is the essential task of practice. Whoever skillfully and continuously lets the mind settle will soon taste peace and liberation. The story of Venerable Moonlight also shows the fruit of his past offering and the danger of pride in spiritual signs. He took pride in his halo, and the brahmins used it to boast and compete with the Buddha, hoping to draw away the Buddha’s disciples. But when they came before the Buddha, Moonlight’s radiance disappeared three times. Seeing that he could not surpass the Buddha, he finally asked to be ordained and soon attained arahantship. This is a lesson not to rely on our own talents and look down on others. However gifted we may be, there are always people of greater wisdom. Pride in talent easily becomes a cause of harm.