A Tipitaka Excerpt

One of the inscriptions or kyuaksa at the Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay, Myanmar. The entire Tipitaka is set on 729 marble slabs. Each stone is three and a half feet wide, five feet tall and five inches thick and housed in a kyauksa gu or a small cave-like stupa.

Verse 81

(6) Lakundakabhaddhiyatthera Vatthu (The Story of Thera Lakundaka Bhaddiya)

Selo yatha ekaghano, vatena na samirati; Evam nindapasamsasu, na saminjanti pandita.

While residing at the Jetavana monastery in Savatthi, the Buddha uttered Verse (81) of this book, with reference to Thera Bhaddiya.

Bhaddiya was one of the bhikkhus staying at the Jetavana monastery.  Because of his short stature, he was know[n] as Lakundaka (the dwarf) to other bhikkus.  Lakundaka Bhaddiya was very good-natured; even young bhikkhus would often [tease] him by pulling his nose or his year, or patting him on his head.  Very often they would jokingly say, “Uncle, how are you?  Are you happy or are you bored with your life here as a Bikkhu?” etc.  Lakundaka Ghaddiya never retaliated in anger, or abused them; in fact, even in his heart he did not get angry with them.

When told about the patience of Lakundaka Ghaddiya, the Buddha said, “An arahat never loses his temper, he has no desire to speak harshly or to think ill of others.  He is like a mountain of solid rock; as a solid rock is unshaken, so also, an arahat is unperturbed by scorn or by praise.”

Then the Buddha spoke in verse as follows:

Verse 81. As a mountain of rock is unshaken by wind, so also, the wise are unperturbed by blame or by praise.

From The Dhammapada, published by Selangor Buddhist Vipassana Meditation Society. Printed and bound in Kuala Lumpur by Majujaya Indah Sdn. Bhd.