The Fish Thrashing on the Shore

On Mount Cachika, within a small stone cave, the Buddha sat in stillness. Beside him, the monk Megia was meditating. Suddenly, he felt his mind unusually pure and clear. He thought to himself, "Surely I only need to go to a secluded place and practice with determination for a week or a month to attain the fruit of Arhatship."

He opened his eyes, looked at the Buddha, and said, "World-Honored One, please allow me to go to a quiet forest to practice alone for a time. Then I will return."

The Buddha looked at him and spoke gently, "No, it is not yet the right time. Never leave your teacher alone like this. The other monks have gone away; you should stay here to attend upon the Buddha."

But Megia insisted stubbornly, "World-Honored One, I feel my mind is pure. I believe that with effort, I will attain enlightenment. Please let me go."

The Buddha remained silent. Megia stood up, took his alms bowl, and left. He found a forest with a cool stream, near a village where he could collect food. He sat down, determined to practice. But the more he tried, the more chaotic his mind became. Thoughts rose like ocean waves. He remembered how peaceful his mind had been when he was beside the Buddha. Now, he could not gather his attention. A month passed, and he remained stuck. His mind was like a fish thrown onto the shore, thrashing without end.

Finally, he returned, bowing his head in repentance before the Buddha. The Buddha looked at him and reproached him lightly, "A disciple must know how to obey his teacher. I told you not to go because I should not be left alone in the mountains. You followed your own wishes and abandoned me, so there was no result."

The Buddha recited a verse:

"A panicked and restless mind is hard to guard and tame, just like a fish thrashing when thrown onto the shore. Look at the skilled craftsman who straightens an arrow tip perfectly. So too does the wise person keep their mind truly calm."

Why did Megia fail? Because without blessings from merit, one cannot achieve meditative concentration. When he left the Buddha, he let go of the merit gained from serving his teacher. Once the blessings were lost, his mind became chaotic. Many people are the same. They see themselves practicing well while busy with communal work, then think that abandoning those duties to practice intensely will be better. Little do they realize that abandoning duties means letting go of merit, causing the mind to become chaotic again. The Noble Eightfold Path is the only way; there is nothing higher. One must practice fully, leaving out no part of the path.

The Meaning of the Story

One must know how to obey the teacher, because the teacher loves us and understands our conditions (dependent origination). Without blessings from merit, one cannot achieve meditative concentration. Do not neglect your duties and merit to chase after your own desires, for that is the root cause of failure in spiritual practice.