The Donkey
Thus I have heard: One time, the Budha was staying at
Anaathapindidas Ashrama in Jetavana of Shraavastii.
At that time, the Bhagavaan said to the bhikshus:
“I will now explain how some people are like donkeys, while others are like oxen.
Listen carefully! Listen carefully and reflect deeply.”
The bhikshus replied, “Yes, Bhagavaan!”
At that time, the bhikshus received the Budha’s teaching.
The Bhagavaan said:
“What does it mean for a person to be like a donkey?
If there is a person who shaves their hair and beard, puts on the three robes, and, with firm faith, leaves the household life to practice the path, yet their faculties remain unsettled—
When their eyes see forms, they immediately follow those perceptions, their mind wandering in countless directions. At that time, their eye faculty is impure, giving rise to chaotic thoughts, unable to exercise restraint. Many kinds of evil arise, and they fail to guard their eye faculty.
Similarly:
• When their ears hear sounds…
• When their nose smells scents…
• When their tongue tastes flavours…
• When their body feels sensations…
• When their mind perceives thoughts…
They give rise to deluded awareness, their mind wandering in countless directions. At that time, their mind faculty is impure, giving rise to chaotic thoughts, unable to exercise restraint. Many kinds of evil arise, and they fail to guard their mind faculty.”
“They lack proper demeanor and decorum, failing to observe the appropriate conduct in walking, standing, sitting, lying down, bending, stretching, lowering, raising, and even in handling their robes and alms bowl.
They completely go against the precepts and are thus criticized by true renunciants:
‘Alas! This foolish person only appears to be a renunciant in form.’
They are reprimanded:
‘If they were truly a renunciant, they should not behave in such a manner.’“
“That person claims, ‘I am also a bhikshu! I am also a bhikshu!’
Just like a donkey that wanders into a herd of cattle and proclaims, ‘I am also a cow! I am also a cow!’
Yet, upon closer inspection, its ears do not resemble those of a cow, nor do its horns, tail or voice.
At that time, the herd of cows may react by goring (stabbing) it with their horns, trampling it with their hooves, or biting it with their mouths.”
“In the same way, this bhikshu is also like that. His faculties are unstable.
When his eyes see a form, he clings to its appearance, and his thoughts scatter in all directions.
At that moment, his eye faculty is impure, giving rise to chaotic thoughts, which he cannot restrain.
Evil arises in abundance, and he fails to guard his eye faculty.
Likewise, when his ears hear sounds, his nose smells scents, his tongue tastes flavours, his body perceives textures, and his mind perceives thoughts—his awareness becomes afflicted, and his thoughts run wild.
At that moment, his mind faculty is impure, giving rise to chaotic thoughts, which he cannot restrain.
Evil arises in abundance, and he fails to guard his mind faculty.”
“Lacking proper conduct and decorum, whether walking, stopping, bending, stretching, lowering, raising, or holding objects, he disregards the precepts.
Thus, he is ridiculed by those who uphold the noble life:
‘Alas! Does this foolish man resemble a true renunciant?’
He is criticised and scorned:
‘If he were truly a renunciant, he should not behave in such a manner.’
Yet, he insists, saying:
‘I am a renunciant! I am a renunciant!’
Just like a donkey that enters a herd of cows and claims,
‘I am a cow! I am a cow!’
This is what is meant by a person resembling a donkey.”
“What is meant by a person resembling an ox?
If there is a person who shaves off their hair and beard, puts on the three Dharma robes, and firmly establishes faith to leave the household life and pursue the path.
At that time, their faculties remain calm and composed.
They practice moderation in eating, engage in walking meditation throughout the day, and never abandon contemplation of the thirty-seven factors of awakening.”
“…If the eye sees a form, it does not give rise to perceptions of form, nor does the mind wander restlessly.
At that time, the eye faculty remains pure, generating wholesome thoughts and maintaining self-control.
No evil arises, and one constantly safeguards the eye faculty…
The same applies to the ear with sounds, the nose with scents, the tongue with tastes, the body with tactile sensations, and the mind with mental phenomena—there is no arising of deluded perceptions.
At that time, the mind faculty attains purity…”
“This person then approaches the assembly of pure practitioners.
Upon seeing him from afar, the practitioners joyfully raise their voices:
‘Welcome, fellow practitioner!’
They provide offerings as needed, ensuring that nothing is lacking.
Just like a fine ox entering a herd of oxen and declaring, ‘I am an ox!’
Its fur, tail, ears, horns, and voice are all unmistakably those of an ox.
Upon seeing it, the other oxen approach and affectionately lick its body.”
“This is also the same: One who shaves off their hair and beard, puts on the three Dharma robes, and, with firm faith, renounces the household life to practice the path.
At that time, this person’s faculties are calm and composed.
They eat in moderation, practice walking meditation throughout the day, and never stray from contemplating the thirty-seven factors of enlightenment.”
“If the eye sees a form, no perception of form arises, nor does the mind wander.
At that time, the eye faculty remains pure, giving rise to wholesome thoughts, and is well-controlled.
No defilements arise, and the eye faculty is always guarded.
Likewise, with sounds heard by the ear, scents smelled by the nose, flavours tasted by the tongue, tactile sensations felt by the body, and mental objects perceived by the mind—there is no arising of deluded perceptions.
At that time, the mind faculty is fully perfected.
This is what is meant by a person resembling an ox.”
14. 如是，諸比丘，當學如牛。 莫像如驢也。 如是，諸比丘，當作是學。
“Thus, O Bhikshus, you should learn to be like the ox. Do not resemble the donkey.
In this way, O Bhikshus, you should train yourselves.”
When the bhikshus heard what the Budha said, they followed it with joy.