The Mango Grove and the Lesson on Ego-Attachment

On a misty morning in the Chālikā region, fog still clung to the distant peaks. The air was so still that one could hear the wind threading through the leaves. Bhikkhu Megya, the young attendant of the Buddha, stood before the World-Honored One with his alms bowl, his eyes shining with hope. He had just returned from an alms round through a beautiful mango grove, where the scenery had stirred his heart.

"Venerable Sir," Megya said, his voice trembling with emotion, "today I passed through a mango grove. It is lovely, with clear lakes and babbling streams. I feel it is a perfect place for solitary practice. Please allow me to go there."

The Buddha looked at him with compassion but also with profound insight. He knew that Megya’s mind was not yet stable enough to dwell alone in the wild without being swayed by external conditions. "No, Megya," the Buddha advised gently, "right now, only we two are here. It is not appropriate for you to go alone. Please wait a little longer."

But Megya did not listen. His mind was filled only with the image of the quiet grove, which he believed would help him strive harder in his practice. He knelt down and pleaded a second time: "Venerable Sir, that grove is ideal, neither too far nor too close to villages. If I stay there, I am certain to make progress. Please let me go."

The Buddha patiently refused a third time: "Megya, wait until another bhikkhu arrives here, then you may go." But the stubbornness of the ego clouded the disciple’s reason. He insisted that his intention was correct, believing that leaving his teacher to find solitude was in accordance with the teachings on meditative concentration. Finally, the Buddha sighed and agreed: "If your motive is truly diligent practice, I will not stop you. Go."

Megya rejoiced immensely. He quickly packed his robes and bowl, bowed to the Buddha, and turned away, leaving the Enlightened One sitting alone under the shade of a tree. He crossed the forest and headed straight for the dreamlike mango grove. In the first few days, everything seemed perfect. The scenery was beautiful, and alms food was easy to obtain. He sat cross-legged in meditation, closing his eyes, seeking peace.

Then, something strange happened. Instead of stillness, dark thoughts suddenly arose in his mind. Delusions of lust, hatred, and harm toward others surged continuously. Megya opened his eyes in panic, cold sweat running down his spine. "Why?" he asked himself, his hands trembling as he gripped his robe. "Since ordaining under the Buddha, my mind has always been pure. Why do these evil thoughts arise so violently now, when I try to practice diligently alone?"

A month passed in suffering. Megya could not enter meditative concentration, nor could he find peace. His mind was chaotic, tired, and exhausted. Eventually, he had to return to the Buddha with his robes and bowl. Seeing his disciple’s haggard and distracted face, the Buddha smiled gently but sternly.

"Venerable Sir," Megya collapsed to his knees, tears streaming down his face, "I cannot understand. All conditions were favorable, the place was serene, yet I could not meditate at all. Evil delusions haunted me."

The Buddha explained that to advance in practice, one needs five supporting factors: staying near wise teachers and good friends, keeping precepts strictly, frequently hearing noble teachings, purifying the inner mind, and using wisdom skillfully. He emphasized that Megya’s greatest mistake was not choosing the wrong place, but the disease of "clinging to one’s own views"—believing his own opinion was truth, despite his Teacher’s advice. Leaving the Buddha, even temporarily, caused a serious loss of blessings from merit. When merit runs low, the mind becomes disturbed, and old karma rises up.

The Meaning of the Story

This story reminds us of the dangers of clinging to the self and clinging to one’s own views. Even if the initial intention is good, such as striving for enlightenment, lacking humility, ignoring the advice of wise teachers, and cutting ties with the community of practitioners can lead to illusions about one’s own abilities. Blessings from merit are a crucial foundation for inner peace; when evil thoughts arise, it may be a sign of lost merit due to ingratitude or irresponsibility toward one’s teachers. The core lesson is this: Never trust absolutely in your own thoughts before achieving enlightenment. Closeness to spiritual friends and respect for those who guide us are the keys to liberation.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang