Both Formerly and Now What The Tathāgata Teaches Is Discontentedness and The Elimination of Discontentedness

So saying, Monks, so proclaiming, I have been baselessly, pointlessly, falsely, and wrongly misrepresented by some Ascetics and Brāhmins thus:

The Ascetic Gotama is one who leads astray; he teaches the obliteration, the destruction, the extermination of an existing being. As I am not, as I do not proclaim, so I have been baselessly, pointlessly, falsely, and wrongly misrepresented by some Ascetics and Brāhmins thus: The Ascetic Gotama is one who leads astray; he teaches the obliteration, the destruction, the extermination of an existing being.

Monks, both formerly and now what I teach is discontentedness and the elimination of discontentedness.

If others abuse, criticize, scold, and harass The Tathāgata for that, The Tathāgata on that account feels no annoyance, bitterness, or sadness of the mind.

And if others honor, respect, appreciate and venerate The Tathāgata for that, The Tathāgata on that account feels no happiness, excitement, or elation of the mind.

If others honor, respect, appreciate, and venerate The Tathāgata for that, The Tathāgata on that account thinks thus: They perform such services as these for the sake of what had earlier come to be fully understood.

(Reference: MN 22)

As mentioned in other chapters of this book series, during the lifetime of Gotama Buddha there were many other roaming Ascetics in communities claiming to have discovered The Teachings that lead to Enlightenment. There were also Brāhmin priests performing rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship encouraging the “belief” in countless superstitious and unproven claims.

Brāhmin were part of the caste system who were born into families who were responsible for providing rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship services. The common person would need to pay a set fee to the Brāhmin for their service. The community was taught for many generations to believe they were unable to prayer or worship on their own for any beneficial outcome but instead would need to pay a fee to this special class of people, the Brāhmins, who would provide the service of praying on their behalf.

Gotama Buddha observing this system of payment for prayers and promised beneficial outcomes understood this would not lead to Enlightenment of the mind. There are no rites, rituals, ceremonies, and worship that will produce wisdom in the mind that would lead to liberation of the mind. He also observed corruption as with an entire population of people believing they were unable to pray or worship on their own but instead would need the services of a special class of people. This special class of people, the Brāhmin, could demand any sort of payment they wished and if the people were interested in prayer and worship on their behalf, they would then be motivated to provide the payment.

In this Teaching from Gotama Buddha, he shares that he has been misunderstood of what his Teachings are and the result of his Teachings stating “I have been baselessly, pointlessly, falsely, and wrongly misrepresented by some Ascetics and Brāhmins”.

Those who are not practicing non-judgment of others nor Right Speech might talk negatively of Gotama Buddha misrepresenting his Teachings. The individuals who misrepresented his Teachings were most likely not actually learning, reflecting, and practicing his Teachings, therefore, they would not understand what he did and did not teach or the results experienced. So, it would be easy for someone who is not practicing non-judgment and Right Speech to, through their own false perceptions, misrepresent what Gotama Buddha was sharing as Teachings.

Gotama Buddha goes on to explain that his mind is unaffected by the praise or blame that might be shared as a result of his Teachings. Not only is the Enlightened mind not affected by harsh negative speech of others that might be considered degrading and disparaging, but the Enlightened mind is also unaffected by praise and admiration.

“If others honor, respect, appreciate, and venerate The Tathāgata for that, The Tathāgata on that account thinks thus: They perform such services as these for the sake of what had earlier come to be fully understood”: The Buddha is sharing that if someone chooses to “honor, respect, appreciation, and venerate” him, this is because they have come to “fully understand” that he teaches discontentedness and the elimination of discontentedness. The individual understands clearly what he actually teaches.

Understanding this Teaching, a Practitioner can apply effort to not be affected by praise nor blame in daily life. Should others praise or admire you for anything at all, do not allow the arrogance, pride, and other unwholesome mental qualities to arise. Should others degrade and disparage you for anything at all, do not allow anger, hate, and other unwholesome mental qualities to arise. When sadness or elation arises in the mind, cut it off or let it go residing peaceful, calm, serene, and content with joy.

The Enlightened mind has been deeply trained to be unaffected by impermanent conditions such as praise or blame. The Enlightened mind would be steady, calm, and unshakable in the best or worst of circumstances or situations. There is no one nor nothing that could shake up the mind of an Enlightened being especially that of a Fully Perfectly Enlightened Buddha.

An Enlightened being, an Enlightened mind only needs to walk with wisdom and a smile.