old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

Chapter Fifty-Nine
The Net of Theories
Jivaka’s mango grove was tranquil and spacious. Scattered throughout the orchard were small huts for the bhikkhunis. One evening, a
young bhikkhuni named Subha came to discuss a problem with the Buddha. She had completed her begging and was returning to the
mango grove by way of a deserted street, when suddenly a young man appeared and stood in her way. She sensed his dishonorable
intentions, and began to observe her breath in order to remain calm and clear-headed. She looked directly into his eyes and said, “Sir, I am
a nun who follows the Way of the Buddha. Please move out of my way so that I may return to my nunnery.”
The man said, “You are still young and very pretty. Why waste your life by shaving your head and wearing yellow robes? Why live like
an ascetic? Listen, Miss, your lovely body should be clad in a silk sari from Kasi. Why, I’ve never seen a woman as pretty as you. Let me
show you the pleasures of the body. Come with me.”
Subha remained calm. “Don’t speak foolishly. I seek my happiness in a life of liberation and enlightenment. The five categories of desire
only lead to suffering. Allow me to pass. I will be grateful for your understanding.”
But the man refused. “Your eyes are so beautiful. I’ve never seen such beautiful eyes. Don’t think I’m foolish enough to let you go. You
will come with me.”
He reached out to grab her but Subha stepped out of reach and said, “Sir, do not touch me. You must not violate a nun. Because I was
weary of a life burdened with craving and hatred, I chose the life of spiritual practice. You say my eyes are beautiful. Very well, I will pluck
them out and give them to you. Better to be blind than violated by you.”
Subha’s voice was full of determination. The man flinched. He knew she was capable of doing what she said. He stepped back. Subha
continued, “Don’t let your desires cause you to commit crimes. Don’t you know that King Bimbisara has issued a decree that anyone who
harms a member of the Buddha’s sangha will be dealt with severely? If you do not behave properly, if you threaten my chastity or my life,
you will be arrested and punished.”
Suddenly the young man came to his senses. He saw how blind passion can lead to suffering. He stepped out of the nun’s way to let her
pass. He called after her, “Please forgive me, Sister. I hope you attain your goal on the spiritual path.”
Subha walked on without looking back.
The Buddha praised the young nun for her courage and clarity. He said, “It is dangerous for nuns to walk alone on deserted paths. That
is one of the reasons I hesitated initially to ordain women. Subha, from now on, no bhikkhuni should travel alone. Whether crossing a river,
entering a village to beg, or walking through a forest or a field, no bhikkhuni should walk alone. No bhikkhuni should sleep alone, either.
Whether she sleeps in a nunnery, a small hut, or beneath a tree, no bhikkhuni should sleep by herself. She should always travel and sleep
with at least one other bhikkhuni so they can watch out for each other and protect each other.”
The Buddha turned to Ananda and instructed him, “Ananda, please make careful note of this new rule. Request all the bhikkhuni elders
to place this rule in their precepts.”
When the Buddha departed from Jivaka’s mango grove, he went to Nalanda, accompanied by a large number of bhikkhus. They all
walked slowly and mindfully. Each bhikkhu observed his breath. Behind the bhikkhus traveled two ascetics, Suppiyo and his disciple,
Bramadatta. They spoke in loud voices about the Buddha and his teaching. Suppiyo criticized and ridiculed the Buddha. Oddly enough, his
disciple countered his statements by commending the Buddha and his teaching. The disciple spoke eloquently and convincingly to his
teacher, moving the bhikkhus who could not help but hear the conversation going on behind them.
That evening the bhikkhus stopped to rest in Ambalatthika, a lush forest that belonged to the royal family. King Bimbisara had
announced that all spiritual seekers from all sects could use Ambalatthika to rest in whenever they needed. Suppiyo and Bramadatta rested
the night there, too.
The next morning, the bhikkhus discussed among themselves the conversation between the two ascetics. The Buddha heard them and
said, “Bhikkhus, whenever you hear someone criticize or ridicule me or the Dharma, do not give rise to feelings of anger, irritation, or
indignation. Such feelings can only harm yourselves. Whenever you hear someone praise me or the Dharma, do not give rise to feelings of
happiness, pleasure, or satisfaction. That too will only harm yourselves. The correct attitude is to examine the criticism to see what parts
may be true and what parts are not true. Only by doing that will you have a chance to further your studies and make real progress.
“Bhikkhus, most people who praise the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha possess only superficial understanding. They appreciate how the
bhikkhus lead chaste, simple, and serene lives, but they do not see beyond that. Those who have grasped the most subtle and profound