Monday, 04/20/2026
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The Practice of living together peacefully (A brief Sutra in Upakkilesa Suttam)
Update: 25/02/2023
Once the Blessed One used to live in Kosambi, at Ghosita Vihara (Cu-sula). At that time the Bhikkhu-stilts in Kosambi lived competing, arguing, fighting with each other, wounding each other verbally.
Then the Blessed One went to see those bhikkhus and spoke to them upon arrival.
—Please Bhiksu! Don't compete, argue, quarrel, and fight each other anymore!
The Blessed One dissuaded the Kosambi bhikkhus from competing with each other three times. However, they still fought among themselves. Then one morning, the Blessed One put on his robes, took his bowl, and went into Kosambi for alms. Having poetic inspiration, the Blessed One spoke a series of verses and went to the village of Balakalonakara. At that time Venerable Bhagu lived in the village of Balakalonakara.
The Blessed One felt glad, excited, and joyful after preaching an encouraging Dharma for Venerable Bhagu. He rose from his seat and went to Pacinavamsadaya. At that time, Venerable Anuruddha (A-na-law), Venerable Nandiya (Nanda) and Venerable Kimbila (Kim-ty-la) were staying at Pacinavamasadaya.
Then the Venerable Anuruddha, the Venerable Nandiya and the Venerable Kimbila went out to meet the Blessed One. One helped with holding the Blessed One's robe and bowl, another prepared a seat, and the other got washing feet water ready. The Blessed One sat on a prepared seat; After sitting, the Blessed One washed his feet. Then those venerable ones bowed down to the Blessed One and sat down on the side. The Blessed One spoke to the venerable Anuruddha, who was sitting on the side.
To welcome the arrival of the Buddha, three Venerables had organised and allocated tasks to each member to welcome The Master’s coming. How wonderful! The Blessed One inquired about the lives of the three venerable ones. In response, three Venerables took turns to present about the peaceful way of life while living and cultivating Dharma together.
—Oh Anuruddhas, are you well? Do you live happily? Is it tiring to go for alms?
Dear the World-Honored One, we are well. Dear the World-Honored One, we live peacefully. Dear World-Honored One, we do not get tired when we go for alms.
— Oh Anuruddhas, do you live in harmony, rejoice with each other, without quarrelling just like water and milk and looking at each other with sympathetic eyes/ getting along well with each other?
—Dear the World-Honored One, we really live in harmony, rejoice with each other, without quarrels, like water and milk, and we look at each other with sympathetic eyes/ get along well with each other.
—Oh Anuruddhas, how do you live in harmony, rejoicing with each other, like water and milk, looking at each other with sympathetic eyes/ getting along well with each other?
—Dear the World-Honored One, this is what we think: “How beneficial for me! How good it is for me to be able to live with such fellow Brahmans! Dear the World-Honored One, with that thought towards these fellow Brahmins, I think from the body's karma, in front of and behind; I think from my verbal kamma, in front of and behind my back, I think from my mental kamma, in front of and behind my back. Therefore, dear the World-Honored One, this is what we think: "Let us renounce our own mind and live according to the minds of these venerable ones". And dear the World-Honored One, I renounce my own mind, and live according to the minds of those venerable ones. Dear the World-Honored One, although we have different bodies, we are like-minded. Thus, the World-Honored One, we live in harmony, rejoicing with each other, like water and milk, and looking at each other with sympathetic eyes/ getting along with each other.
The above passage gives us a deep and meaningful insight into the way of life together. As the old saying goes, an individual bracelet does not make a sound. However, if the hand is worn with two bracelets, sooner or later they will clash and make sounds. Similarly, the phrase "the dishes are also rattling in the dish drying rack" - describing the friction between one person and the other; Yet, instead of scrutinising, finding faults, the three of you live together looking after each other's well-being. You protect each other with diligence, effort, mindfulness, and the practice of awareness. Everyone knows that each person has their own opinion, it is very difficult to harmonise thoughts, but listen to the words of the three venerable ones: "Let us renounce our own mind and live according to the minds of these venerable ones". “Dear the World-Honored One, I renounce my own mind, and live according to the minds of those venerable ones. Dear World-Honored One, although we have different bodies, we are like-minded.” Just like that, the Buddha praised the three venerable ones:
—Good deed, good deed, Anuruddhas! Anuruddhas, do you live without distraction, live with enthusiasm, diligence?
—Dear the World-Honored One, we really live without distraction, live with enthusiasm and diligence.
—Anuruddhas, how do you live without distraction, live with enthusiasm and diligence?
—Dear the World-Honored One, whoever returns first after going for alms in the village will arrange the seats, prepare drinking water, water for washing feet, and prepare a bowl to dispose of the leftovers. Whoever returns later after going for alms in the village, he could eat whatever leftover otherwise by putting it in a place where there is no green grass or pour it into water where there is no insect. He then rearranges the seats, takes away the drinking water, the foot washing water, scrap bowl and sweeps the dining hall. If anyone notices that the drinking water, feet washing water or the water in the bathroom is empty, one will take care of it. If one’s physical ability doesn’t allow the task to be done, he will use his hands to signal to the second person: "Let's take care of (water)". However, dear the Blessed -One, we do not make noise because of this. And on the fifth day, dear World Honored One, we sat all night discussing the Dharma. Thus, World Honored One, we live without distraction, with enthusiasm and diligence.
What else does this passage show us? It is the self-awareness about the responsibilities and duties in life. One should not wait until the water is pumped by the responsible person in order to use it. Because if no one pumps water, will it be ignored? We often make excuses: "It's not my responsibility". Living together in the same house, everyone should commit to the duty and responsibility to look after the accommodation. If it's dirty, wipe it clean, if it's dusty, wipe it off. As the elders often teach: “wash it if it’s dirty, balance it if it leans' ' - wherever dirty (smudged), wash it; if it’s awry, saggy, and not in the right position, then put it back to the standard. As long as each person takes the time to pay attention, keep a lookout for things and people around, the lives of everyone who lives together will somewhat have less pressure and stress, even prevent conflicts.
Above are some extracts and brief discussion of the peaceful coexistence of the monks who practiced in the Buddha's time. The Buddha extolled with inspiration, “Blessed! Good deed!” - This is proof of the joy of the three generations of Buddhas, the World-Honored One. Since it is a direct teaching from the suttas, it is inevitable that some details and ancient texts may cause difficulty in comprehension for the readers. If we understand the essence of the matters mentioned in the sutras and apply them, our life will be extremely relaxed, peaceful and harmonious because there is no strife, fighting and competition.
Tâm Cung
Translated into English by Thai Nhuoc Don