WISDOM DOES NOT GROW IF MIND WAVERS ||3 (7-8)||The Story of Monk Cittahattha Part-1 & 2 ||Verses 38 & 39||

WISDOM DOES NOT GROW IF MIND WAVERS ||3 (7-8)||

The Story of Monk Cittahattha Part-1 & 2 ||Verses 38 & 39|| 

Place: Jetvana Monastery, Shravasti.

A youth herdsman of a respectable family, living at Savatthi, went into the forest to look for an cow that was lost. During mid-day, he saw the cow and released the herds, and being oppressed by hunger and thirst, he thought to himself, “I can surely get something to eat from the noble monks.” So he entered the monastery, went to the monks and bowed to them. At that time the food which remained over and above to the monks, who had eaten lay in the vessel used for refuse. When the monks saw that youth, exhausted by hunger as he was, they said to him, “Here is food; take and eat it.” So the youth took and ate as much food as he needed drank water, washed his hands, and then bowed to the monks and asked them, “Venerable, did you go to some house by invitation today?” “No, lay disciple; monks always receive food from lay-people in this way.” 

The youth thought to himself, “Though we work continually both by night and by day, we never get so deliciously seasoned foods to eat. But these monks, according to their own statement, eat it every day. Why should I remain a layman any longer? I will become a monk.” He therefore approached the monks and asked to be received into the Sangha. The monks said to him, “Very well, lay disciple,” and received him into the Sangha. After making his full ordination , he started performing various duties. In a few days, sharing in the rich offerings he became fat and comfortable. 

Then he thought to become a layman. So back he went and entered his house. After working in his house for only a few days, his body became thin and weak. Thereupon he said to himself, “Why should I endure this suffering? I will become a monk.” So back he went and re-ordained. But after spending a few days as a monk, becoming discontented again went back to lay-life. 

In this manner he entered the Sangha and left it again six times in succession. The monks: said to themselves, “This man lives under the sway of his thoughts.” So they gave him the name Cittahattha meaning -monk who’s “Thought-Controlled”. 

As he was going back and forth, his wife became pregnant. The seventh time he returned from the forest with his farming implements he went to the house, put his implements away, and entered his own room, his wife happened to be in bed and asleep at the time. Her undergarment had fallen off, saliva was flowing from her mouth, she was snoring, her mouth was wide open; she appeared to him like a swollen corpse. Grasping the thought, “All that is in this world is transitory, is involved in suffering,” he said to himself, “To think that because of her, all the time I have been a monk, I have been unable to continue steadfast in the monastic life!” Straightaway, taking his yellow robe, he ran out of the house, binding the robe about his belly as he ran. 

As Cittahattha ran back to the monastery proceeded on his way, repeating the words, “All that is in this world is transitory, is involved in suffering,” he obtained the fruit of conversion (sotapatti phala). Continuing his journey, he went to the monks, bowed to them, and asked to be received into the Sangha. “No,” said the monks, “we cannot receive you into the Sangha. Why should you become a monk? Your head is like a grindstone.” “Venerable, receive me into the Sangha just this once.” Because he had helped them, they received him into the Sangha. After a few days he attained arahatship, together with the super- natural faculties.