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

XXVI:24 Arahants have no mental defilements (Maha Panthaka)*

Venerable Maha Panthaka was already an Arahant when his younger brother Cula Panthaka joined the Order. Cula Panthaka was born a dullard because he had made fun of a very dull bhikkhu in one of his past existences. He could not even memorise one verse in four months. Maha Panthaka then suggested it would be better for his younger brother to leave the monastery.

It was in this connection that, on one occasion, the bhikkhus asked the Buddha, 'Do the Arahants still lose their temper? Do they still have mental defilements like ill-will in them?' The Buddha explained, 'Bhikkhus! Arahants have no mental defilements like passion and ill-will in them. My son Maha Panthaka acted as he did with the view of helping his brother and not out of ill-will.'

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


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Last modified on: Sunday, 13 August 2000.