The Patience of Venerable Sariputta

On the village road of Nalaka, the afternoon sun was fading. Venerable Sariputta led a group of monks on their alms round. But in truth, he had not come only for alms; he had come to look again at his old family home, and to see his mother once more. Venerable Sariputta was a man of remarkably delicate feeling. Though he was foremost in wisdom, he always cared for and attended to each person, down to the smallest detail.

When the group of monks arrived at the gate of the house, his elderly mother was sitting in the courtyard. The moment she saw her son in the yellow robes, she stood up and began shouting:

"How dare you come back here? Our family is so wealthy, and you left to beg for food, following this crowd, abandoning your old mother!"

His mother was a devout Brahmin. She did not believe in the Buddha and did not understand the Dharma. Since Venerable Sariputta had ordained, his younger brothers had followed in his footsteps, and all of them had attained the fruit of an Arhat. She had lived alone in the house for so many years, carrying her anger and her loneliness. Now, seeing her son again, she poured out all her bitterness, cursing without pause, even insulting the monks who had come with him.

Venerable Sariputta simply stood there, his face calm, smiling gently, without saying a single word. The monks who followed him also remained silent, without reacting. After cursing for a while, his mother suddenly turned and went into the house, ordering the servants to cook. She cooked and cursed at the same time, but a mother still loves her child. When the rice was ready, she ladled it out bowl by bowl with her own hands, cursing as she served, yet still offering food to each of the monks.

Venerable Sariputta received the bowl of rice from his mother's hands and bowed his head in gratitude. His mother looked at her son, her eyes still full of anger, but deep within, the love between mother and child still rose up. He showed not the slightest irritation or resentment. His patience moved everyone who witnessed it.

This story reminds us of the Buddha's teaching: patience is one of the most important practices on the path of cultivation. Venerable Sariputta, though a senior leader of the Sangha, remained patient before the scolding of his elderly mother, out of compassion and filial devotion. He did not react, did not become angry; he only remained silent and smiled.

The Meaning of the Story

Venerable Thich Chan Quang taught that patience is a noble virtue of one who practices. Even when treated unfairly, even when scolded and insulted, we can still keep a mind that is calm and full of compassion. The patience of Venerable Sariputta is a shining example for us of filial devotion, of steadfastness in practice, and of the power of unconditional love.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thich Chan Quang.