Reading guide
The teaching in one sentence
Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack a companion and leave without apology, but Sāriputta lives with a heart like the earth, water, fire, wind, and a rag — unmoved whether clean or unclean things are thrown upon it — abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will.
A false accusation, and a dramatic summons
The complaint is laid the moment Sāriputta has left for the countryside; the Buddha's terse instruction — “the teacher summons him” — and Moggallāna and Ānanda going from dwelling to dwelling calling the mendicants to come hear “Sāriputta roar his lion's roar” build real anticipation before Sāriputta has said a single word in his own defense.
Ten similes, one repeated refrain
Rather than deny the accusation outright, Sāriputta answers with escalating images of imperturbability — earth, water, fire, wind, and a rag, each unmoved by both clean and unclean things; a humble outcaste child entering town; a gentle gelded bull harming no one; and, turning inward, his own disgust at his “leaking and oozing” body — each closed by the same refrain: someone without mindfulness of the body might well do this, but not him.
A confession, and a condition for forgiveness
The accusing mendicant, moved by Sāriputta's answer, confesses his claim was “incorrect, hollow, false, untruthful,” and the Buddha warns his head will explode into seven pieces unless Sāriputta forgives him. Sāriputta's reply is neither refusal nor automatic pardon: he will forgive if the mendicant himself asks to be forgiven in turn — reconciliation offered, not simply granted.
Key terms
The text
A false accusation, and a summons
§1At one time the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, sat down to one side, and said to him, “Sir, I have completed the rainy season residence at Sāvatthī. I wish to leave to wander the countryside.” “Please, Sāriputta, go at your convenience.” Then Sāriputta got up from his seat, bowed, and respectfully circled the Buddha, keeping him on his right, before leaving. And then, not long after Sāriputta had left, a certain monk said to the Buddha, “Sir, Venerable Sāriputta attacked me and left without saying sorry.” So the Buddha addressed one of the monks, “Please, monk, in my name tell Sāriputta that the teacher summons him.” “Yes, sir,” that monk replied. He went to Sāriputta and said to him, “Reverend Sāriputta, the teacher summons you.” “Yes, reverend,” Sāriputta replied. Now at that time the Venerables Mahāmoggallāna and Ānanda, taking a latchkey, went from dwelling to dwelling, saying: “Come forth, venerables! Come forth, venerables! Now Venerable Sāriputta will roar his lion’s roar in the presence of the Buddha!” Then Venerable Sāriputta went up to the Buddha, bowed, and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: “Sāriputta, one of your spiritual companions has made this complaint: ‘Venerable Sāriputta attacked me and left without saying sorry.’”
Ten similes
§2“Sir, someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry. Suppose they were to toss both clean and unclean things on the earth, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The earth isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this. In the same way, I live with a heart like the earth, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§3Suppose they were to wash both clean and unclean things in water, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The water isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this. In the same way, I live with a heart like water, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§4Suppose a fire were to burn both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The fire isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this. In the same way, I live with a heart like fire, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§5Suppose the wind was to blow on both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The wind isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this. In the same way, I live with a heart like the wind, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§6Suppose a rag was to wipe up both clean and unclean things, like feces, urine, spit, pus, and blood. The rag isn’t horrified, repelled, and disgusted because of this. In the same way, I live with a heart like a rag, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§7Suppose a boy or girl of a corpse-worker tribe, holding a pot and clad in rags, were to enter a town or village. They’d enter with a humble mind. In the same way, I live with a heart like a boy or girl of a corpse-worker tribe, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§8Suppose there was a bull with his horns cut, gentle, well tamed and well trained. He’d wander from street to street and square to square without hurting anyone with his feet or horns. In the same way, I live with a heart like a bull with horns cut, abundant, expansive, limitless, free of enmity and ill will. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§9Suppose there was a woman or man who was young, youthful, and fond of adornments, and had bathed their head. If the carcass of a snake or a dog or a human were hung around their neck, they’d be horrified, repelled, and disgusted. In the same way, I’m horrified, repelled, and disgusted by this rotting body. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.
§10Suppose someone was to carry around a bowl of fat that was leaking and oozing from holes and cracks. In the same way, I carry around this body that’s leaking and oozing from holes and cracks. Someone who had not established mindfulness of the body might well attack one of their spiritual companions and leave without saying sorry.”
A confession, and a condition for forgiveness
§11Then that monk rose from his seat, placed his robe over one shoulder, bowed with his head at the Buddha’s feet, and said, “I made a mistake, sir. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of me to speak ill of Venerable Sāriputta with an incorrect, hollow, false, untruthful claim. Please, sir, accept my mistake for what it is, so I will restrain myself in future.” “Indeed, monk, you made a mistake. It was foolish, stupid, and unskillful of you to act in that way. But since you have recognized your mistake for what it is, and have dealt with it properly, I accept it. For it is growth in the training of the Noble One to recognize a mistake for what it is, deal with it properly, and commit to restraint in the future.” Then the Buddha said to Venerable Sāriputta, “Sāriputta, forgive that futile man before his head explodes into seven pieces right here.” “I will pardon that venerable if he asks me: ‘May the venerable please pardon me too.’”
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