The Lion's Roar

The morning after three months of the Rains Retreat, the Jetavana Monastery still held the chill of dew. Young sunlight filtered through the leaves, illuminating the long corridors where monks busily prepared their travel gear. Venerable Sariputta draped his robe, took his alms bowl, and walked quietly amidst the crowd. He bowed respectfully to each bhikkhu, from the elders to the novice monks who had recently joined the Sangha, with a gentle smile always present on his lips. Everyone paid homage to him with reverence, acknowledging him as the chief disciple of the Sangha, personally appointed by the Buddha.

During the past three months, lay followers in the region had made offerings generously. Venerable Sariputta considered their hardships and decided to distribute the monks in various directions to lighten their burden. This thoughtfulness stemmed from compassion, but not everyone understood it. As people crowded around to say goodbye, he inadvertently overlooked one monk. When he turned to leave, the bag holding his robes behind him lightly brushed against that monk’s face.

It was only a minor contact, but pride within the other man flared up like fire meeting wind. He thought, “Who am I to be treated with such disregard? He greeted everyone else but ignored me, and even deliberately struck my face with his robe bag!” Anger clouded his reason. He hurriedly sought out the Buddha, his voice filled with resentment.

“World-Honored One, Venerable Sariputta relies on his status as the leader of the Sangha and looks down on no one. He greets some and ignores others, and he even jabbed his elbow into my face. Please, World-Honored One, investigate this matter for me!”

The Buddha looked at him silently, speaking in a calm tone.

“Monk, have you perhaps misunderstood? Sariputta is a person of virtue and wisdom; how could such a thing happen?”

But the man remained stubborn, pouring out all manner of accusations.

“World-Honored One, you do not know. We have lived here for a long time and can no longer endure it. When he goes for alms and receives much, he says he uses sweet words to lure lay followers. On days when he receives little, he claims he only cares for himself and does not think of the sick in the monastery. Is this how a leader sets an example?”

He spoke ramblingly, exaggerating details, turning a small incident into a grave offense. The Buddha said,

“Very well, let us call Sariputta back so you can hear how he responds.”

While waiting, the accuser went among the assembly, whispering negative things about Venerable Sariputta to this person and that. Many monks who had attained realization merely smiled, confident in the holy conduct of the elder. However, some newly ordained monks wavered. They thought, “Hearing such detailed accounts, there must be some truth to it. If a leader is so careless, what dignity remains?” Doubt spread like oil on water, damaging the faith of many.

Upon hearing the news, Venerables Mahakasyapa, Katyayana, and Ananda rushed to find Venerable Sariputta. They hoped that with his presence, the lion’s roar would sound, ending forever the habits of slander and mutual attack within the Sangha. Venerable Sariputta was walking along the road when he received the summons and immediately returned. Accompanied by several hundred monks, he arrived at the monastery, bowed to the Buddha, and sat down.

The Buddha looked at him with a steady gaze.

“Sariputta, an elder here is displeased with you, believing you looked down on him, violated his body, and failed in your duties as a leader. Today, the Tathagata wishes to hear your perspective.”

Everyone held their breath in anticipation. Venerable Sariputta slowly stood up, pressed his palms together, and spoke in a deep, warm voice that resonated throughout the assembly.

“World-Honored One, please allow me to express the contemplation of the body that I practice and uphold. I offer this reflection as a spiritual gift to my brothers as we part ways on our journeys. World-Honored One, I always view myself as the earth. The earth is peaceful and joyful when people tread upon it. So too am I; I wish to remain peaceful and joyful when others look down on me or trample me. The earth broadly accepts the trash and filth people discard. I also wish to broadly accept bad thoughts and harsh insults. The earth endures plowing to grow orchards of sweet fruit and fragrant rice fields. I also wish to endure harm to bring joy and happiness to the world.”

His voice grew increasingly sincere and moving.

“World-Honored One, I view myself as a chandala, performing the most menial tasks in life, such as dumping garbage or carrying night soil, happily accepting orders. I gladly perform lowly deeds to please others. I view myself as a rag, wiping away the dirt of the world and taking that dirt upon myself. I accept all ugliness so that the world may be clean, fresh, and cool. I view myself as water, cleansing the world while flowing into the drains. I serve the world, leaving myself to drift into oblivion. I view myself as firewood, lighting flames and cooking food to benefit the world, then returning to dust. I view myself as wind, bringing coolness to hearts on summer afternoons and delivering refreshing rains to the world, then dissolving into the void.”

He paused, gazing into the distance.

“World-Honored One, I see this body as impermanence (anicca), destined to become roadside dust any day. Each day of living demands eating, breathing, and the toil of providing for these needs. With such understanding, my heart holds no contempt or ill will toward anyone. Toward any sentient being, my heart is filled only with overflowing love, wishing for all beings to cherish one another and follow the noble path to liberation.”

His words were like the roar of a lion, echoing through space. Many monks burst into tears. The earth trembled widely like an earthquake when he compared himself to a rag or a lowly carrier of waste. The accusing monk could no longer bear it; he fell to his knees and prostrated before Venerable Sariputta.

“Please forgive my sin, Venerable! I thought badly of you and slandered you. I am truly blameworthy!”

The Buddha looked at Venerable Sariputta.

“Sariputta, you must forgive this monk. Otherwise, he will suffer terrible karmic retribution, and his head may split into seven pieces instantly.”

Venerable Sariputta pressed his palms together, bowed to the kneeling monk, and then paid homage to the Buddha.

“World-Honored One, I willingly forgive this venerable brother. And I also ask him to forgive me, for having troubled his mind.”

At this point, everyone was filled with admiration. Except for those who had attained Arhatship, all shed tears before his ultimate generosity and humility. The Buddha quietly recited four verses:

“Like the earth without hatred, like a stone pillar standing firm, like a clear lake in purity, like a sage soaring high.”

The lesson from this story is not limited to the time of the Buddha. Even someone as great as Venerable Sariputta was misunderstood and slandered. Therefore, we ordinary beings should not be surprised when we hear criticism in life. Deep within each person lies the ego, arrogance, and a desire to be superior to others. It is difficult to surpass others through talent or virtue, but it is incredibly easy to belittle them. Thus, people are ready to speak ill of others and readily believe such talk without reflection.

If we possess the compassion of a bodhisattva, we feel sorrow when seeing others’ flaws rather than secret joy. We hope everyone rises above, becoming more skilled and noble than ourselves. If everyone had this mindset, this realm would become a pure land paradise. But because human hearts have not transcended arrogance, mouths continue to enjoy slandering, minds continue to dwell on negativity, and we remain ready to believe bad things about others. This is why this realm remains a place of suffering, where people hate, compete, harbor grudges, fight, and scheme against one another.

The Meaning of the Story

This story teaches us lessons about humility and absolute forgiveness. When falsely accused, instead of defending himself or harboring resentment, Venerable Sariputta viewed himself as earth, water, and wind—the lowest elements serving the world. Consequently, he was not hurt but transformed the slanderer. Simultaneously, the story warns us of the sin of slandering and falsely accusing others, especially those of moral integrity. Slandering a good person burns one’s own merit, and slandering a sage brings incalculable karmic consequences. Always remain mindful, do not trust your mistaken thoughts, and practice compassion and forgiveness just as Venerable Sariputta did.

Compiled from the dharma talk by Most Venerable Thich Chan Quang