Shadows That Follow: When What the Eyes See Is Not Necessarily Truth

Have you ever felt unjustly misunderstood, while everyone around you seemed to see clear evidence against you? In the Dhammapada, the Buddha tells the story of the bhikkhu Kundaana. Wherever he went, a shadow of a woman followed him, even into the restroom. Everyone saw this shadow except for Kundaana himself.

### The Painful Sword of Harsh Words: The Story of Kundaana

The other monks condemned and boycotted him, believing he had broken his precepts because he was always "leading" a woman with him. Kundaana did not defend himself; he simply endured in silence. It was only when King Pasenadi invited him that the female shadow vanished, overwhelmed by the king’s majestic power. Only then did everyone realize it was a ghost, not a real person.

However, the story does not end there. When praised by the king, Kundaana became angry and hurled harsh insults at the other monks. The Buddha then taught:

"Do not speak cruel words, for cruel words will return to you. Suffering is the speech of anger, like a sword that harms others."

Venerable Thich Chan Quang explained further: "Words are no different from sharp swords. They strike the soul and cause pain, just as if one were wielding a blade to cut someone."

### Karma of Mischief and Division

Why was Kundaana followed by this ghost? The Buddha revealed a past life story. He had once been a monk with a close friend. A celestial maiden, seeing their deep friendship, became jealous and sought to destroy it. She descended to earth and, taking advantage of the moment when one monk entered the bushes, pretended to be adjusting her clothes. This caused the other monk to misunderstand his friend as having broken his precepts. As a result, the two friends fell out and lost trust in each other. That celestial maiden later fell into lower realms, and when reborn as Kundaana during the time of Shakyamuni Buddha, she received the karmic retribution: always being followed by a female shadow that she could not explain away.

Venerable Chan Quang emphasized: "A mind prone to mischief and destruction often creates sins that we cannot fully foresee."

### Jealousy and the Destruction of Unity

In Buddhism, there is a crucial principle: do not form exclusive cliques, and do not destroy the unity of the Sangha. Venerable Chan Quang explained:

"Buddhism does not allow forming exclusive groups, nor does it permit breaking the bonds of solidarity."

Why is this so? Because when we form exclusive friendships, it easily triggers jealousy in others. When people see us being overly intimate, they may develop a desire to divide us. This jealousy is very common: "When we are unhappy but see others happy, a thought of envy can still creep into our minds."

Destroying unity is a grave offense. The Buddha classified this as a sin leading to Avici Hell. When a community is harmoniously practicing, and we intervene to sow doubt or slander, whether we are inside or outside the order, we carry a heavy burden of karma.

### What the Eyes See Is Not Always the Truth

Kundaana’s story reminds us of the poet Do Trung Quan’s line: "Everyone understands, except one." Here, everyone saw the female shadow, but only Kundaana did not. What appears clearly before our eyes may still not be the truth.

We often rush to judge based on what we see and hear. A famous writer once said: "Believe only half of what you see, and none of what you hear." In reality, there are misunderstandings and injustices where those involved cannot clear their names. The Buddha teaches us to practice patience, recognizing this as our own karma. If we respond with anger, we only make the situation worse.

### Practicing Patience and Living in Silence

The Buddha advised: "If you remain silent like a cracked bell, with a mind free from anger, you will attain nirvana." While others misunderstand or criticize you, keep your mind calm and do not rush to retaliate. If you respond with harsh words, you create new karma.

When others provoke your anger, consider it an opportunity to repay old debts and deepen your practice. As Venerable Chan Quang shared, even he was once poisoned in his food and tormented for a long time. Yet, he continued his mission without fear.

### Conclusion

The story of Kundaana and the following shadow is a precious lesson on speech and patience. Learn to remain silent in the face of unjust criticism, and recognize that behind every phenomenon lies a deep chain of cause and effect (karmic law). Do not let words become sharp swords that hurt others and yourself.

Let each of us cultivate compassion, slow down, listen more, and practice patience. For when we can remain silent, we have already conquered ourselves.