Being Mindful Stories

Story · Ajahn Chah

Three groups of disciples when the Buddha died

From a talk by Ajahn Chah, “The Four Noble Truths”

1 min read

Content note: death

A traditional tale: A traditional tale from the Buddhist tradition that Ajahn Chah retold in his talk, not something that happened to him.

The story — retold in our own words from Ajahn Chah's talk

Retold in our own words from Ajahn Chah's talk “The Four Noble Truths”, in The Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2007 web edition), pp. 209–210. Read the original talk

Ajahn Chah tells that in the Buddha's time some disciples did not like him, because he exhorted them to be diligent; the lazy were afraid of him and resented him. When he died, one group cried and were distressed that they would no longer have him to guide them — these, he says, were still not clever and had not yet realized the Dhamma. A second group were pleased and relieved that they would no longer have the Buddha on their backs telling them what to do; they had lived in fear of his scorn, and when he passed away they were relieved. A third group were equanimous and reflected that what arises passes away as a natural consequence.

A reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Chah's talk)

Loss brings out very different feelings, sometimes all at once: tears, relief, even resentment. Ajahn Chah describes them without blame. Grief is natural, and so is the slow understanding that whatever arises passes away. Holding both gently, we can honour someone we have lost while learning to let things be as they are.

Reflection written by Being Mindful Stories with AI help, in the spirit of the talk. These are not Ajahn Chah's own words.

In brief (our summary)

When the Buddha died, some disciples wept, some were relieved to be free of his exhortations, and some calmly reflected that whatever arises passes away.

Teaching point

Heedful practice leads to the understanding that what arises passes away.

When this story may help

Themes

Source & credit

Told by Ajahn Chah in the talk “The Four Noble Truths”, in The Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2007 web edition), pp. 209–210

1 other telling of this story

  • the talk “Maintaining the Standard”, in The Teachings of Ajahn Chah (2007 web edition), pp. 300–301
    Same traditional episode: Mahā Kassapa hears of the Parinibbāna; the unenlightened wail; those who had attained Dhamma reflect calmly; Venerable Subhadda says it is good, now they can live at ease without the rules. Linked as the same story, not a separate record.

The book is © The Sangha, Wat Nong Pah Pong, offered for free distribution. Read the talk free at ajahnchah.org.

The story text is Being Mindful Stories's retelling in our own words of how Ajahn Chah tells it in this talk, not his own words and not a quotation. Read the talk in the book for his exact words. The title, summary and reflection are Being Mindful Stories's editorial notes. Please credit the teacher and link the original talk in the book. Markdown version

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