Kasi~bha~radwa~ja Suthraya

Bha~radwa~ja–

“Although you said you are farming, agricultural implements cannot be seen.
I ask you to know about your farming because I cannot see the agricultural implements”.

The Buddha

“I prepare the field called ‘I’ for farming using the plough and yoke called my wisdom. In that field, I sow the seed called ‘Perfect Confidence’ and water that field with rainwater called ‘my celibate virtue’.

Just as the handle controls the plough in the right direction, the shame for sin directs me in the right direction.

Just as the rope ties the yoke and the oxen together, my mind keeps vigour and wisdom tied together.

Just as the stick directs those oxen, my concentrated consciousness guides me to my determination”.

“Comprehending the Four Noble Truths to liberate from ‘Sansara’ (birth and death cycle) by being disciplined in my body -word and having food only what my stomach needs is the farming I do.

Just as the strong oxen tied to the plough assist in keeping the plough moving forward, the strong vigour and patience that I have instilled in me help me to get rid of the defilements.

With enormous perseverance and patience, I have arrived at the great place called ‘Nirwana’, where I can remain without grieving”.

Celibate virtue, wisdom, Perfect Confidence, the shame of sin, mind, consciousness, vigour and patience are the eight agricultural implements I used in my farming to obtain the paddy harvest called the Fruit of ‘Nirwana’.

The accomplishment of understanding the Four Noble Truths, which was the harvested crop of my farming, liberated me from all Suffering”.

The Buddha paid a visit to Bha~radwa~ja’s field, where he was farming at the time, as the Buddha had recognised through his insight that Bha~radwa~ja Bamuna possessed Perfect merits enough to comprehend the Four Noble Truths. But the Buddha had pretented to Bha~radwa~ja that the Buddha visited him for the begging of food called ‘Pindapatha’. When he saw the Buddha, Bha~radwa~ja became enraged and began scolding him, saying, “Why do you beg for food even though you have such a good body, why can’t you work hard and find your food by farming like I do?” The Buddha then replied that he, too, is farming. At that point, Bha~radwa~ja said, “I don’t see that you farming, I don’t see any of your agricultural equipment”. From that point, the above conversation started to take place. This Bha~radwa~ja became wise enough to comprehend the profound Dhamma points presented by the Buddha by comparing farming. Because of this, he promptly offered alms to the Buddha. The Buddha delivered the following sermon at the time.

“The sustenances I receive by delivering sermons with the intention of profit are unsuitable for me.
The wise one does not think of the Dhamma in this way.
Buddhas are Noble Sages who prevented their thoughts from turning evil and eschewed preaching the Dhamma in order to gain lucrative profits”.

“The Buddhas and Arahaths, who have renounced everything in the world of Sensual pleasure by eliminating all defilements, dwell in solitude, pacifying regrets.
Because the merits a donor can accumulate are inexhaustible by offering sustenances and assistance to those Great Nobles, those Nobles are like fertile fields where one can sow the seeds of merits”.

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