The Journey Beyond Criticism

**Summary:** A wealthy elder, determined to hear the Buddha's teachings despite being obstructed and criticized by non-believers, attains the Fruit of Stream-entry through his steadfastness. The Buddha then teaches him a verse on how we easily see the faults of others but rarely our own.

The golden afternoon sun beat down on the earth road leading into the city. Dust swirled with each hurried step of an elder, over fifty years old, dressed in fine clothes and holding a feathered fan, as he hastened towards the Jeta Grove. Having just heard of the Buddha, a profound reverence had arisen in his heart, compelling him to go and hear the Dharma for himself.

Suddenly, a group of strangely dressed people, heads smeared with ash and clothes in disarray, blocked his path. Their leader, in a shrill voice, called out: "Where are you going in such a hurry, elder? Surely to hear that ascetic Gotama preach? Don't be deceived! He is a fraud, teaching things that make people despise life, neglect their families, and forsake enjoyment!"

Another chimed in: "Exactly! His disciples are just beggars, roaming with their bowls, becoming a burden to society. What kind of path tells people to abandon their parents, shave their heads, and destroy tradition!"

The elder paused, looking them over, but his gaze remained resolute. He replied gently: "You say these things, but I have heard many praise the wondrous Dharma. I wish to go and hear it for myself. If the teachings are truly wrong, I will return. But if they are right, then it is my good fortune."

With that, he continued walking, heedless of the whispers and curses behind him. His heart did not waver, driven only by a powerful conviction.

When he arrived at the grove, a scene of extraordinary tranquility unfolded before his eyes. The Buddha sat upon a high seat, radiating light, surrounded by hundreds of disciples in deep listening. The elder bowed respectfully, then sat in a corner, his mind settling into stillness with each word of the Buddha's teaching. The Dharma talk that day spoke of the suffering of the world and the path to liberation. With each word, he absorbed it deeply; all doubts in his mind dissolved, replaced by an inexpressible peace.

When the talk concluded, the elder knelt, joined his palms, and said to the Buddha: "Blessed One, on my way here, many spoke ill of you and tried to stop me. But I was determined to come. Now, I understand why I came. I beg to take refuge in you."

The Buddha smiled, his compassionate gaze resting upon him, and slowly spoke this verse:

"It is easy to see the faults of others, But hard to see one's own. One sifts out the faults of others Like husking fine rice. But one hides one's own faults, As a cheat conceals a false die."

Upon hearing this, the elder's heart blossomed. He realized he himself had once been like those non-believers, seeing only the faults in others while blind to his own. Now, through the Buddha's teachings, he saw the path of practice. At that very moment, his mind became completely purified, and he attained the Fruit of Stream-entry, entering the stream of the noble ones.

Later, the monks asked the Buddha about the elder's past conditions. The Buddha explained: "This elder, in many past lifetimes, made offerings to past Buddhas and Pratyekabuddhas. Through the blessings from that merit, he was born wealthy wherever he went. But because his mind was still inclined towards the worldly, he only enjoyed conditioned blessings and did not attain noble fruition. It was only in this life, with conditions perfectly ripened, that he finally entered the noble stream."

From then on, the elder practiced diligently. Not only he, but his entire family also heard the Dharma and attained the first fruit of awakening. His story spread far and wide, reminding everyone of the difficulty in seeing one's own faults and the importance of setting the mind towards enlightenment.

**Meaning of the Story**

This story teaches us that people easily see the faults of others but struggle to recognize their own. A true practitioner is one who learns to turn inward, examining themselves bit by bit to correct their shortcomings. We should not rush to criticize others, but instead use a heart of compassion to empathize and help. The story also reminds us that each person's conditions for encountering the Dharma are different, but if we maintain unwavering faith and direct our minds towards enlightenment, then across however many lifetimes, we will surely achieve a beautiful result.

*Compiled from a Dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang*