The Tathāgata Resides Compassionate Towards All Living Beings

‘Venerable Sir, doesn’t The Perfectly Enlightened One resides compassionate towards all living beings?’

Yes, Headman, The Tathāgata resides compassionate towards all living beings.

‘Then why is it, Venerable Sir, that The Perfectly Enlightened One teaches The Teachings thoroughly to some, yet not so thoroughly to others?’

Well then, Headman, I will question you about this. Answer as you see fit. What do you think, Headman? Suppose a farmer here had three fields: one excellent, one of middling quality, and one inferior-rough, salty, with bad ground. What do you think, Headman? If that farmer aspires to sow seed, where would he sow it first: in the excellent field, in the field of middling quality, or in the field that was inferior, the one that was rough, salty, with bad ground?

‘If Venerable Sir, that farmer aspires to sow seed, he would sow it in the excellent field. Having sown seed there, he would next sow seed in the field of middling quality. Having sown seed there he might or might not sow seed in the field that was inferior, the one that was rough, salty, with bad ground. For what reason? Because at least it can be used as fodder for the cattle.’

Headman, just like the field that is excellent are the male and female Ordained Practitioners to me, I teach them The Teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing; I reveal the holy life that is perfectly complete and pure.

For what reason?

Because they reside with me as their island, with me as their shelter, with me as their protector, with me as their refuge.

Then, Headman, just like the field of middling quality are the male and female Household Practitioners to me.

To them too I teach The Teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing: I reveal the holy life that is perfectly complete and pure.

For what reason?

Because they reside with me as their island, as their shelter, with me as their protector, with me as their refuge.

Then, Headman, just like that field that is inferior, rough, salty, with bad ground are the Ascetics, Brāhmins, and wanderers of other communities to me. Yet to them too I teach The Teachings that are good in the beginning, good in the middle, and good in the end, with the right meaning and phrasing; I reveal the holy life that is perfectly complete and pure.

For what reason?

Because if they understand even a single sentence, that will lead to their welfare and peacefulness for a long time.

(Reference: SN 42.7)

Here again, we have another story connected to The Buddha’s Teachings from the life of a farmer that the average person would understand during the lifetime of The Buddha. He is asked a question from a “Headman” or leader of a village, town, city, or community.

The Headman is curious why The Buddha shares Teachings with different groups of people in different ways. Rather than just give him an answer, The Buddha uses questions to help the Headman see the approach he uses is the same as him tapping into the Headman’s existing wisdom so the Headman could essentially teach himself.

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares how he is compassionate towards all beings Teaching all those who are interested to learn, reflect, and practice The Teachings. But he does see a distinction in the groups of people and how thoroughly he chooses to share The Teachings.

A Buddha would be interested in the objective of ensuring his Teachings continue in the world, upon his death, with the guidance of well learned and knowledgeable individuals who are dedicated to see The Teachings continue. He viewed the Ordained Practitioners as the most dedicated to this goal. After all, they have made the biggest commitment to learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings through leaving the household life and entering the lowest livelihood to be a roaming and wandering Ascetic. This was a clear sign to Gotama Buddha that they were committed to progress on The Path to Enlightenment.

Next, he viewed the Household Practitioners as the “middling quality” or middle quality.

While Household Practitioners did attain Enlightenment during the lifetime of The Buddha and after his death, Household Practitioners have many obstacles to overcome. During the lifetime of Gotama Buddha, Household Practitioners were very occupied with countless tasks just to sustain life. To acquire the needed food, water, clothing, shelter, and medical care required much effort which left little time for learning, reflecting, and practicing The Teachings.

Today, we exist during a time where modern conveniences have made it easier for us to acquire the needed supplies to sustain life. While Household Practitioners still have obstacles to overcome, so do Ordained Practitioners. While there is one set of benefits and challenges to the ordained lifestyle, there is another set of benefits and challenges associated with the household lifestyle. Today, in my opinion, it is much more likely for a Household Practitioners to attain Enlightenment than even during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha due to our ability to more readily acquire the needed supplies to sustain life, thus, providing more time to learn, reflect, and practice these Teachings.

Lastly, The Buddha viewed “the Ascetics, Brāhmins, and wanderers of other communities” as the lowest quality Students as their dedication and commitment was not to attaining Enlightenment through The Teachings he shared but instead to other communities outside of The Buddha’s Community that he was cultivating with these Teachings.

There were others during his lifetime that felt it was their Teachings that would lead to Enlightenment. As we know, it was The Buddha’s Teachings that have stood the test of time and now 2,500 years later we are still preserving his Teachings for the world.

Gotama Buddha also shared that if one were to “understand even a single sentence, that will lead to their welfare and peacefulness for a long time” as he knew his Teachings are those that lead to complete liberation of mind, to Enlightenment, because he was experiencing the results of an Enlightened mind clearly understanding exactly what it took to attain the same mental state.

He shared these Teachings with countless people and left them with individuals who took care to ensure these Teachings were preserved, in such a way, that they are now reaching you.

Why did he dedicate his lifetime to such an ambitious goal?

He shares that with us as he opened the conversation with the Headman, “The Tathāgata resides compassionate towards all living beings”. As a wise Practitioner interested to attain Enlightenment, you should also reside compassionate towards all living beings.