Kevatta Sutta
Kevatta Sutta is a story that the Buddha told to teach an important lesson to his disciples.
Once upon a time, there was a group of people who believed in a religion that involved extreme ascetic practices. They would stand on one leg for days, eat only a few grains of rice, and inflict pain on themselves to purify their souls.
One day, a man named Kevatta went to see the Buddha and asked him if his disciples could perform miracles like the ascetics did. The Buddha replied that his disciples did not perform miracles but only focused on cultivating purity of mind and kindness towards others.
To explain his point further, the Buddha told the story of a man who built a raft to cross a river. Once he reached the other side, he realized that carrying the raft on his back was more of a burden than a help. Similarly, the ascetic practices may have served a purpose initially but, in the long run, could become a burden and impede spiritual progress.
The Buddha emphasized that the ultimate goal of his teachings was not to perform miracles but to attain inner peace and wisdom that would benefit both the individual and society.
In short, the Kevatta Sutta teaches us that true spiritual growth comes from cultivating a pure heart and treating others with kindness, rather than performing extreme practices or seeking external validation through miracles.
Once upon a time, there was a group of people who believed in a religion that involved extreme ascetic practices. They would stand on one leg for days, eat only a few grains of rice, and inflict pain on themselves to purify their souls.
One day, a man named Kevatta went to see the Buddha and asked him if his disciples could perform miracles like the ascetics did. The Buddha replied that his disciples did not perform miracles but only focused on cultivating purity of mind and kindness towards others.
To explain his point further, the Buddha told the story of a man who built a raft to cross a river. Once he reached the other side, he realized that carrying the raft on his back was more of a burden than a help. Similarly, the ascetic practices may have served a purpose initially but, in the long run, could become a burden and impede spiritual progress.
The Buddha emphasized that the ultimate goal of his teachings was not to perform miracles but to attain inner peace and wisdom that would benefit both the individual and society.
In short, the Kevatta Sutta teaches us that true spiritual growth comes from cultivating a pure heart and treating others with kindness, rather than performing extreme practices or seeking external validation through miracles.