No Companionship with Fools

Though the monks were apparently “satisfied and delighted in the Buddha’s words” at that time, the disputes flared up again. Finally, the Buddha simply told the monks to desist. At that point, however, the two factions were so committed to their positions that they were not willing to drop the matter even when the Buddha directly told them to. They insisted that they would resolve it themselves, and in so many words told the Buddha to stay out of it. They had clearly gotten to a point where their stubbornness had made them incapable of receiving any further instruction or guidance and so the Buddha quietly left them to themselves and their conflict. In our day, we can take this to mean that when a Sangha becomes a place of clashing egos and endless conflict, then the spirit of the Buddha will depart.

Then the Blessed One went to those monks and said to them: “Enough, monks, let there be no quarrelling, brawling, wrangling, or dispute.” When this was said, a certain monk said to the Blessed One: “Wait, venerable sir! Let the Blessed One, the Lord of the Dharma, live at ease devoted to a pleasant abiding here and now. We are the ones who will be responsible for this quarrelling, brawling, wrangling, and dispute.”

Then, when it was morning, the Blessed One dressed, and taking his bowl and outer robe, entered Kosambi for alms. When he had wandered for alms in Kosambi and had returned from his almsround, after his meal he set his resting place in order, took his bowl and outer robe, and while still standing uttered these stanzas:

“When many voices shout at once

None considers himself a fool;

Though the Sangha is being split

None thinks himself to be at fault.

They have forgotten thoughtful speech,

They talk obsessed by words alone.

Uncurbed their mouths, they bawl at will;

None knows what leads him so to act.

‘He abused me, he struck me,

He defeated me, he robbed me’ –

In those who harbor thoughts like these

Hatred will never be allayed.

For in this world hatred is never

Allayed by further acts of hate.

It is allayed by non-hatred:

That is the fixed and ageless law.

Those others do not recognize

That here we should restrain ourselves.

But those wise ones who realize this

At once end all enmity.

Breakers of bones and murderers,

Those who steal cattle, horses, wealth,

Those who pillage the entire realm –

When even these can act together

Why can you not do so too?

If one can find a worthy friend,

A virtuous, steadfast companion,

Then overcome all threats of danger

And walk with him content and mindful.

But if one finds no worthy friend,

No virtuous, steadfast companion,

Then as a king leaves his conquered realm,

Walk like a tusker in the woods alone.

Better it is to walk alone, 

There is no companionship with fools,

Walk alone and do no evil,

At ease like a tusker in the woods.”

(Ibid, pp. 1009 – 1010)

These verses are very straightforward and do not really need any comment. Some of them are in fact very well known and often quoted. In particular the third, fourth and fifth stanzas are also found in the “Twin Verses” chapter of the Dhammapada and are often cited as a prime example of the Buddha’s teaching of non-violence and the principle of returning love for hate in order to end conflicts and vendettas. The last three stanzas are also found in the Dhammapada. The “tusker” is a term for an elephant, and while elephants are herd animals, there are occasions when one will tire of the herd and retire to the forest alone in peace. As we shall see, there will be more on this later.