Why Are There So Few Arahants ( i.e. Fully Enlightened Ones )

Why Are There So Few Arahants ( i.e. Fully Enlightened Ones )


I came across the following Sutta by chance and I find it very interesting and extremely relevant.

As such, I'm reproducing it here to share with everyone.

Enjoy!


"Though the Buddha had highly praised Kassapa's ability as an exponent of the Dhamma, there were three occasions when Kassapa hesitated to instruct the monks after being asked by the Buddha to do so.

He did not refuse because he wanted to avoid the effort and distraction of teaching, but because he found that those particular young monks were unresponsive to his admonitions.

In the first of the three instances, Kassapa said that it had now become difficult to speak to some of the monks;

They were not amenable to advice, were intractable, and did not accept admonitions with respect.

He had also heard that two monks boasted of their skill in preaching, saying:

"Come, let us see who will preach more profusely, more beautifully, and at greater length!"

When the Buddha was informed about this by Kassapa, he had these monks summoned and brought them back to reason, making them give up their immature conceit (SN. 16:6).

Hence we can see that Kassapa's negative report turned out to be of benefit to those monks.

It was not done just for criticizing others.

On the second occasion, too, Kassapa did not wish to instruct monks who were not amenable to admonishment, who lacked faith in the good, who lacked shame and fear of wrong-doing, who lacked energy and understanding as to the good.

This was a statement in general about a certain section of the monks, without reference of individuals.

Of these monks Kassapa said further that, in their state of decline, they are like the waning moon that daily loses in beauty (confidence), in roundness (shame), in splendor (fear of wrong-doing), in height (energy), and in width (wisdom) (S.16:7).

Also on a third occasion the Buddha asked Kassapa to instruct the monks, and Kassapa expressed his reluctance for the same reason as before.

It seems that this time, too, the Buddha did not urge Kassapa to change his mind and admonish the monks, but He himself spoke of the reasons for their conduct:

"Formerly, Kassapa, there were elders of the Order who were forest-dwellers, - living on almsfood, wearing rag-robes, using only the threefold set of robes, having few wants and being contented, living secluded and aloof from society, energetic, and they praised and encouraged such a way of life.

When such elders or younger bhikkhus visited a monastery, they were gladly welcomed and honored as being dedicated to the practice of the Dhamma.

Then those who thus welcomed and honored those noble monks would also strive to emulate them in their ways of life, and this would be of great benefit to them for a long time.


"But nowadays, Kassapa, those who are honored when visiting a monastery are NOT monks of austere and earnest life, BUT those who are well known and popular and are amply provided with the requisites of a monk.

These are made welcome and honored, and their hosts try to emulate them, which will bring them harm for a long time.

Hence one will be right in saying that such monks are harmed and overpowered by what does harm to a monk's life."

— Samyutta Nikaya 16:8

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/lib/authors/hecker/wheel345.html#ch5


* Read

1) 'Why Can't They?' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/07/why-cant-they.html

2) 'Taking Refuge' - http://maitre-light.blogspot.com/2009/08/taking-refuge.html




"Ananda! If everyone practices the Dhamma in accordance to the True Dhamma,

There will be no lack of Arahants in this world."

- The Buddha




"Only here is there purity" — that's what they say —

"No other doctrines are pure" — so they say.

Insisting that what they depend on is good,

They are deeply entrenched in their personal truths.

Seeking controversy, they plunge into an assembly,

Regarding one another as fools.

Relying on others' authority,

They speak in debate.

Desiring praise, they claim to be skilled.

Engaged in disputes in the midst of the assembly,

— anxious, desiring praise —

The one defeated is chagrined.

Shaken with criticism, he seeks for an opening.

He whose doctrine is [judged as] demolished, defeated, by those judging the issue:

He laments, he grieves — the inferior exponent.

"He beat me," he mourns.

These disputes have arisen among contemplatives.

In them are elation, dejection.

Seeing this, one should abstain from disputes,

For they have no other goal than the gaining of praise.

He who is praised there for expounding his doctrine in the midst of the assembly,

Laughs on that account & grows haughty, attaining his heart's desire.

That haughtiness will be his grounds for vexation,

For he'll speak in pride & conceit.

Seeing this, one should abstain from debates.

No purity is attained by them, say the skilled. ( Sn 4.8: Pasura Sutta — To Pasura )

- The Buddha, Sutta Nipata 4:8

http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/kn/snp/snp.4.08.than.html