Three Days of Making Offerings

That morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the bodhi trees, whispers began to spread through the Sangha. A few monks glanced at one another, their eyes full of doubt. The story passed from one mouth to another ear: Venerable Moggallana, foremost in supernatural powers, had for three days in a row visited the same house where a beautiful young woman lived.

"They say he has attained Arhatship, yet how can there be such obvious signs of craving?" one young monk whispered to his companion. "He goes every day, right at alms time. Who wouldn't think something of it?"

In truth, the story had begun three days earlier, when Venerable Moggallana was walking on his alms round. A middle-aged woman, her hands trembling, knelt down before him, tears streaming down cheeks already etched with the wrinkles of age and hardship.

"Venerable sir," she said, her voice choked with emotion, "my household has only three women: my elderly mother, myself, and my young daughter. We know you are one of extraordinary liberation. Please allow our three generations to plant conditions with the path of liberation. On the first day, my mother will make offerings. On the second day, I will offer. On the third day, my daughter will offer. Only three days, please accept our request."

Venerable Moggallana looked deeply into the woman's eyes and clearly saw her capacity and her sincerity. He nodded and accepted. And so, for three consecutive days, he came to that small house: on the first day receiving a bowl of rice from the hands of the elderly woman with her bent back, on the second day from the middle-aged woman, and on the third day from the young girl, still shy and unaccustomed.

But those outside saw none of this. They saw only a monk—and not just any monk, but the foremost in supernatural powers—entering the house of a beautiful woman three days in a row. And so the whispers began.

The Buddha knew of the matter. He knew the truth clearly, but he also knew that if the gossip were allowed to spread, many people would incur grave fault by doubting a noble one. Therefore, he spoke four verses from the Dhammapada, affirming that Moggallana was one who had realized the deathless, free of craving and free of doubt.

"Bhikkhus," the Buddha said, looking around at the assembly, his voice calm yet full of power, "when you see someone passing back and forth before a house, you draw conclusions. But do you realize that such conclusions reveal more about yourselves than about the other person?"

He paused, looking at each one of them. "A person of passion will immediately think of romance. A thief will think of stealing. A superstitious person will think of feng shui. And one who watches too many spy films will think of espionage and kidnapping. Do you see? When you judge someone, the truth is that you are revealing your own nature."

One monk bowed his head, his face flushed red. Another quietly shed tears. The Buddha continued: "A good person, when looking at something that appears wrong, does not rush to judge. For they know that their own heart, whether helping someone or having to reprimand someone, always arises from a good mind. But seen from the outside, it is easily misunderstood. And yet they feel no need to explain. As long as they act well, that is enough."

He stopped, his voice growing deeper: "But one whose mouth is always criticizing this person and blaming that person—that person's mind is still full of what is unwholesome. Good people are reluctant to criticize or blame anyone. Only when someone is standing at the edge of hell will a noble one be compelled to speak a single word. And once a noble one has spoken, there is no way back for that person."

The assembly fell silent. Each one looked inward at their own heart. Venerable Moggallana remained seated in peace, offering not a word of defense. For he knew that one free of craving has no need to justify oneself. And one with wisdom, free of doubt, sees clearly what is true and what is false.

The Meaning of the Story

When we judge someone, the truth is that we are revealing our own nature. Do not rush to speculate in a negative direction, for every person has deep reasons that we cannot see. Learn to be tolerant, to slow down before passing judgment, and remember: if we keep thinking ill of others, we are the ones who are unwholesome.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang