# Sariputta and the novice who corrected him

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-sariputta-novice-badly-dressed
- Themes: humility, truth, hierarchy, respect
- Life situations: being corrected, seniority at work, pride

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Told as a monk that even kings must bow to him, Ajahn Brahm reads of Venerable Sariputta, wisest monk after the Buddha, on alms round: a little novice says, 'You're badly dressed.' Sariputta looks, says 'My goodness, you're right,' goes behind a bush to adjust his robe, comes back, raises his hands in respect and calls the novice 'teacher'.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

But then I read in this story of the one of the wisest monks next to the Buddha Venerable Sariputta. He was walking on alms round, and a little novice, this little squeak of a novice, came out to him and said, "You're badly dressed." Now, usually, that would be a no-no. You can't sort of tell these very high monks and criticise that they're badly dressed. But the wisest monk next to the Buddha had a look and said, "My goodness, you're right." He went behind a bush. He adjusted his robe, and he came out afterwards. And he put his hands up, and he called this little novice "teacher".

## Teaching point

Respect truth more than hierarchy; real wisdom is humble.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

A little novice told Sariputta, the wisest monk after the Buddha, that his robe was a mess. Sariputta checked, agreed, fixed it behind a bush, and bowed to the boy as his teacher. Truth matters more than rank. When someone junior points out your mistake, thank them.

## Source

- [Wisdom and Stupidity | Ajahn Brahm | 04-02-2011](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 57:50 to 58:29: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbOShAIwNJA&t=3470s