The High-Flying Swan

**Summary:** The story of the Venerable Mahākāśyapa being misunderstood by monks when he was not preparing to follow the Buddha, and the lesson on thinking well of others.

The rains retreat that year ended amidst the persistent chirping of cicadas in the old bodhi trees. In the bamboo grove of Rājagṛha, the atmosphere was unusually bustling. The monks were busy washing their robes, cleaning their bowls, and neatly arranging their sitting cloths and other necessities for the upcoming journey. Everyone was cheerfully preparing to follow the Buddha on his travels to teach.

Only one person sat silently under a tree, without any movement. That was the Venerable Mahākāśyapa. He maintained a serene expression, his hands forming a mudra, his eyes half-closed as if in meditative concentration amidst the hurrying crowd. Monks passing by would glance at him, some shaking their heads slightly. They began to whisper:

"Why doesn't the Venerable prepare anything? Surely he doesn't intend to follow the Buddha?"

"He must be attached to this Rājagṛha. His family is wealthy, he has many relatives here, he receives ample offerings here—who would want to travel far?"

The whispers spread like the wind carrying dry leaves. One person told another, until it became a stream of not very good-natured opinion. The Venerable Mahākāśyapa sat still, as if hearing nothing. But the Buddha, with his compassionate eyes that saw through the three times, knew everything. He then summoned those monks.

The Buddha's voice was deep and warm, yet filled with authority:

"Venerable ones, do not think ill of the Venerable Mahākāśyapa. He is one who has attained the state of an Arhat; his mind is completely liberated. You see he is not preparing, but he has no need to prepare anything. He has let go of everything, no longer bound by home, possessions, or relations. Just like a high-flying swan leaves the small pond bank far behind. Do not bring guilt upon yourselves through thoughtless speech."

Then the Buddha recited a verse:

"Urging himself to mindfulness, He is not attached to any home. Like a swan flying high, Leaving the small pond bank behind."

Hearing this, the monks' faces flushed red, and they bowed their heads in repentance. They realized they had hastily drawn conclusions based on the habit of thinking badly of others, without understanding the noble heart of the saint.

From then on, whenever someone in the Sangha was misunderstood, the monks would remember this story and remind themselves: think well first, do not rush to condemn. And the Venerable Mahākāśyapa continued to live his life of simple poverty, without home or dwelling, like a swan silently soaring high across the vast sky.

**The Meaning of the Story**

People often have the habit of thinking badly of others; this is the nature of ordinary beings. But practitioners need to change this, to train themselves to think well first, to show empathy and stand up for others. This is the first step of compassion. It is better to think well and be deceived once, than to think badly and make yourself suffer while creating unwholesome karma.

Compiled from a dharma talk by Venerable Thích Chân Quang