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Practice
The Bhāradvāja Discourse: King Udena Questions Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja
Bhāradvājasuttaṃ
How do young monks, still in the prime of youth, keep the holy life for their whole lives? Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja answers King Udena in three stages: regard women as mothers, sisters and daughters, contemplate the body, and guard the senses.
7 points
In the Bhāradvāja Sutta of the Saḷāyatana Saṃyutta, Saṃyutta Nikāya, Venerable Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja is staying at the Ghositārāma near Kosambī. King Udena comes and asks what enables monks who are young, with jet-black hair, in the first stage of life and without experience of sensual pleasures, to live the holy life purely for their whole lives.
The elder answers by citing three teachings of the Buddha, and the king frankly challenges each one. The first is to regard women of a mother's age as mothers, of a sister's age as sisters, and of a daughter's age as daughters. The king objects that the mind is fickle and greed can still arise. The second is to contemplate this body as made of its various parts. The king objects that for those untrained, one may intend to attend to it as unattractive, yet it appears as attractive. The third is guarding the six sense faculties.
King Udena accepts the last from his own experience, then declares himself a lay follower.
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1
The king's question Daharā susukāḷakesā
King Udena wonders how monks who are young, with jet-black hair and no experience of sensual indulgence, can stay in the holy life for their whole lives. He asks not to find fault but out of genuine curiosity.
Applying it in daily lifeWhen you see someone keeping discipline better than you, ask how they do it instead of assuming they are pretending.
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2
Regarding women as mothers, sisters and daughters Mātumattīsu mātucittaṃ upaṭṭhapetha
The Buddha taught monks to set up the thought of a mother towards women of a mother's age, of a sister towards women of a sister's age, and of a daughter towards women of a daughter's age — to see them with the respect and bond of family.
Applying it in daily lifeWhen you notice yourself looking at someone with inappropriate desire, remember they are someone's mother, sibling or child. Your gaze will turn to respect on its own.
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3
The mind is fickle; one method may not be enough Lolaṃ cittaṃ
King Udena objects that the mind is sometimes fickle, and greed may arise even towards women of a mother's, sister's or daughter's age, so he asks whether there is another reason. The elder does not deny the objection, but brings in the next teaching to support it.
Applying it in daily lifeDon't rely on a single tool to protect your mind. If one method doesn't work on some days, always have a backup.
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4
Contemplating the body from the soles of the feet to the tips of the hair Imameva kāyaṃ uddhaṃ pādatalā adho kesamatthakā
The second is to contemplate this body, from the soles of the feet up and from the tips of the hair down, enclosed in skin and full of various parts such as head hair, body hair, nails, teeth, skin, flesh, sinews and bones, down to blood, sweat, tears and saliva — to loosen infatuation with physical form.
Applying it in daily lifeWhen infatuation with someone's looks disturbs your peace, recall that every body is made of the same parts. Use this to loosen infatuation, not to feel disgust for yourself or others.
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5
For the untrained, the unattractive appears attractive Abhāvitakāyā
The king objects again: for monks trained in body, virtue, mind and wisdom this is not hard, but for those untrained, one sometimes intends to attend to something as unattractive and it comes up as attractive instead. So he asks for yet another reason.
Applying it in daily lifeAdmit honestly that some methods suit those already trained. If you can't do it yet, don't blame yourself; find a method that suits your present strength.
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6
Guarding the senses, not grasping at signs Indriyesu guttadvārā viharatha
The third is to guard the doors of the six sense faculties: on seeing a form with the eye, not to grasp at its sign or its features — neither the overall impression nor the details — because when unguarded, covetousness and displeasure overwhelm the mind. The same holds for ear, nose, tongue, body and mind.
Applying it in daily lifeWhen you scroll past an image or clip that stirs up lust, move on straight away; don't stop to look at the details. Not feeding the fuel from the start is easier than putting out the fire later.
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7
The king confirms it from his own experience Anupaṭṭhitāya satiyā
King Udena says that when he enters the inner palace with body, speech and mind unguarded, mindfulness not established and senses unrestrained, greed overwhelms him strongly; but when he enters with body, speech and mind guarded, mindfulness established and senses restrained, greed does not overwhelm him. He then declares himself a lay follower.
Applying it in daily lifeBefore entering a situation you know will make your mind vulnerable, such as a party or certain meetings, establish mindfulness before you walk in — not after your mind has already drifted.
Try it in daily life
This discourse concerns monastics who keep celibacy, but the principles inside apply to anyone of any gender who wants to keep their relationships honest, such as someone in a committed partnership or someone working closely with colleagues.
Seeing others as a mother, sister or daughter does not lessen women's worth; it shifts the gaze from an object of desire to a family member who deserves respect and protection. Contemplating the body is a means of loosening lust, not of hating one's own body or anyone else's. If such contemplation makes you feel bad about your own appearance, set it aside and use sense restraint instead.
The point the king praises most is the third, which is about mindfulness, not suppressing feelings.
Sources in the Tipiṭaka
Tap to read the actual passage on the page cited.
- Bhāradvāja Sutta Thai Royal Edition · Volume 18 · page 112 Piṇḍola Bhāradvāja's three-stage answer to King Udena on how young monks keep the holy life
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