Six Mischievous Monks and the Lesson from the Buddha

This is the story of six monks famous for their mischief in the Sangha during the time of the Buddha, and the lesson about compassion, non-harm, and placing oneself in the position of others.

That afternoon, the golden sunlight was fading over the newly built roofs of the monastery. A hermitage had just been completed, and the young monks were joyfully tidying their living quarters, with laughter ringing out from the small rooms. An atmosphere of purity and peace enveloped the whole forest, where the leaves rustled in the evening breeze.

But then, suddenly, a noisy group burst in. Six older monks, famous throughout the Sangha for their pranks, entered with scowling faces. Without so much as a glance at anyone, they grabbed the young monks by the collar and pushed them out of the rooms. One young monk was slapped hard across the face and fell to the ground. Another had his arm twisted behind his back and cried out in pain. In just a moment, the six had claimed all the best spots, leaving the young monks standing bewildered, holding their faces and weeping.

This was not the first time such a thing had happened. For many years, these six monks—known as the group of six monks—had caused countless troubles. It was precisely because of them that the Buddha had to establish hundreds of monastic rules, down to the smallest details. They practiced while causing trouble, yet strangely, no one ever expelled them from monastic life. They simply stayed on, like a test of patience for the entire Sangha.

"You elders are wrong to do this!" said one young monk, his face flushed with anger, stepping forward. "We have been cleaning since morning. Why should those who arrive later take our places?"

One of the six, eyes flashing, clenched his fist: "You are new to the practice—what do you know? This place belongs to us. If you want to stay, go somewhere else, or else watch out!"

The young monks fell silent and walked away with bowed heads. But in their hearts, a smoldering fire of resentment was burning. They gathered together and talked among themselves. "Those six are old, but we outnumber them. Thirty of us, one stick each—tonight we will block their path and give them a beating they will never forget!" said one, his voice trembling with both fear and anger.

"Yes, we cannot let them carry on like this!" the others agreed. They arranged to meet that night, and when darkness fell, they would bring clubs and wait for the six to pass by so they could strike.

Night fell, and a faint crescent moon hung above. Thirty young monks, clubs in hand, hid behind the bushes, their hearts pounding. They were fully prepared, waiting only for their targets to appear. But the Buddha, with his boundless wisdom, already knew everything. He stepped out of his dwelling, gazed with compassion into the darkness, and called out:

"Venerable ones, come here."

The thirty young monks stepped out, heads lowered, still gripping their clubs tightly. The Buddha looked at them and spoke in a gentle yet powerful voice:

"Do you not know? Everyone fears punishment, everyone fears death. Take yourselves as proof: do not kill, and do not order anyone to kill. Everyone cherishes life, everyone longs for a happy life. Knowing this in your own heart, know that the hearts of others are the same. Never harm anyone, and never order anyone to harm another."

Those words were like cool water pouring over the fire of hatred in the hearts of the young monks. They dropped their clubs, tears streaming down their faces. One stepped forward and knelt down: "World-Honored One, we were wrong. We only wanted revenge, but hearing your teaching, we understand now. We do not want to be beaten, so how could we beat others?"

The Buddha smiled and placed his hand on the monk's head: "That is right. Remember, evil spreads like a burning fire. If you strike them, they will strike back, and the cycle of hatred will continue endlessly. Stop here. Use compassion to transform them, not violence."

From that day on, the thirty young monks no longer thought of revenge. They learned to live according to the Buddha's teaching: placing themselves in the position of others, understanding that everyone fears pain and fears death. As for the six mischievous monks, they too gradually changed, thanks to the patience and compassion of the entire Sangha. This story became a precious lesson about tolerance and transformation, rather than retaliation.

The Meaning of the Story

The lesson from the Buddha: Use your own state of mind to understand the state of mind of others. Everyone fears pain, fears death, fears being hurt. Therefore, never harm anyone, whether through words or actions. Evil spreads easily, but so does goodness. Be the one who radiates goodness, rather than the one who receives and spreads evil.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang