Academic Sutta Name Notes PSA Plae Vagga Nikaya PTS Keywords
DhA.

XXV:2 The monk who killed a goose

Once, there was a bhikkhu who was very skilful in throwing stones. He could even hit any fast-moving object. One day while sitting with another bhikkhu after having their bath in the river, he saw two geese flying over them. He told his friend that he could hit the eye of one of the geese. He took a pebble, aimed and threw it at one of the geese. The pebble struck the bird's eye. The bird cried out in pain and dropped dead at the feet of the young bhikkhu.

Other bhikkhus seeing the incident reported it to the Buddha. He admonished the young bhikkhu, 'My son, why have you killed the bird? Especially as a bhikkhu, you should be practising loving-kindness to all beings and should also be striving ardently for liberation. A bhikkhu must have control over his thoughts, words and deeds.'*

55/170 Dhammapada & Commentary Khuddhaka J.i.106ff. despair


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Last modified on: Sunday, 13 August 2000.