Seven Times Ordained, Yet Still Attaining Enlightenment: Lessons on Mind and Karma

Have you ever felt a strong urge to leave everything behind and become a monastic, only to miss home deeply just a few days later? Or conversely, while at home, do you find yourself longing for the atmosphere of the monastery? This is the story of a farmer in the Dhammapada who ordained seven times before truly attaining enlightenment.

### The Story of the Farmer Who Ordained Seven Times

In ancient times, outside the city of Shravasti, there lived a cowherd. One day, when one of his cows wandered off, he went searching for it and happened to pass by the Buddha’s monastery. Hungry and exhausted, he watched the monks eating their meal with envy. The monks kindly shared some food with him. As he ate, he thought, "Here, I get good food without the hardship of farming." So, he immediately asked to ordain.

However, after about half a month, he began to miss his wife, his children, his fields, and his herd of cattle. He requested to return to lay life. Back home, facing the hardships of farming and scoldings from his wife, he missed the calm demeanor of the monks, their meditation, and their listening to the teachings. Thus, he secretly left home again to ordain. This cycle continued for six times. Whenever he was at the temple, he missed home; whenever he was at home, he missed the temple.

"He missed home when he was at the temple, but he missed the temple when he was at home."

On the seventh attempt, as he walked toward the monastery, a deep conviction suddenly arose within him: "The world is impermanence (anicca); everything in life is temporary." He held firmly onto this theme, gathering his mind with great effort. Just as he stepped into the monastery, he attained the fruit of Stream-Entry. This time, he stayed and practiced diligently, eventually attaining Arhatship shortly thereafter.

### A Single Word of Agreement, Many Lifetimes of Repaying Karma

When the monks asked the Buddha about the causes and conditions behind this man’s journey, the Buddha revealed that in a past life, this man had also been an ascetic. At that time, a fellow practitioner wished to disrobe and confided in him. This man said, "Well, if you cannot practice, then go home." That single word of agreement created karma that caused him to experience six returns to lay life in his subsequent existence.

This lesson reminds us to be extremely careful with our words and thoughts. Even a simple nod or a supportive word encouraging someone down the wrong path can lead to corresponding karmic consequences.

"It is precisely because of that notion of agreement that within the path, when we understand cause and effect (karmic law), we must be vigilant in all matters."

### Is Longing and Missing Love, or Is It Karma?

Why did the farmer feel such restless longing for both home and the temple? Venerable Thich Chan Quang explains: Because there is love, there is missing. But this love does not arise naturally; it is conditions (dependent origination), it is debt, it is karma from previous lives.

"Only where there is love is there missing. Without love, there is no missing."

Often, we mistake affection for happiness, yet sometimes it becomes a trap through which we repay karma. Consider couples who were once passionately in love, missing each other terribly when apart, yet causing each other suffering when together. This is karma manifesting within relationships.

"Sometimes, loving feels like dying. When they are trapped in that illusion, it is merely an illusion."

### Do Not Rush to Trust Your Own Thoughts

If all our thoughts, emotions, and desires are guided by karma, we must remain highly mindful. When a thought arises or an emotion surges, do not blindly trust it immediately. It may be negative karma from a past life pushing you forward. Practitioners of meditation always begin by letting go of thoughts, refusing to place absolute faith in their own mind/heart.

"Therefore, please reduce your trust in your own thoughts."

This is not pessimism, but a profound understanding of the nature of the mind/heart. Only when we are no longer led astray by fleeting thoughts can we see the truth.

### Meditative Concentration: The Door to Wisdom

How can we avoid trusting these unstable thoughts? By practicing meditative concentration. To possess wisdom, the mind must be pure. To purify the mind, one must sit in meditation. Meditation is not easy; it requires perseverance and endurance.

"To have wisdom, the mind must be pure. To have a pure mind, one must sit in meditation."

Even as laypeople, we should dedicate time to practicing meditation. This is the path the Buddha walked, and it represents the future of humanity.

Begin today: sit in meditation for fifteen minutes, observe your breath, and let go of rushing thoughts. Allow the mind to become still, and from that stillness, wisdom will shine forth. Like the farmer who ordained seven times, it was ultimately through diligence and letting go that he attained enlightenment. We too should allow our minds to become light, stepping out of the vortex of karma to find true peace.