Dhamma Talks - One Teaching Method Of The Buddha :: Buddhapadipa Thai Temple

The Buddha’s teaching method-using speech, Thus have I heard that: One day the Buddha stayed at Chetavan temple belonging to Anathabindika, the millionaire, in Savatthi city. At that time, in the land of king Pasenakosol, there was a murderer named Angulimala who was a very cruel man who killed people to collect a finger from each right hand. His name scared people everywhere.

One morning, after breakfast, the Buddha walked along the route where Angulimala was in ambush. When people saw the Buddha headed there, they tried to stop him from going that way. But the Buddha still continues on the way. Seeing the Buddha walking alone, surprised Angulimala because, for ages, he had never seen anyone using this way alone. He thought that he would kill the Buddha and take the finger. He ran toward the Buddha, but by the power of Abhisamkhara of the Buddha, he could not catch up with him. So he asked the Buddha to stop, the Buddha said, “I have stopped but you do not stop.” Angulimala was stunned with what he saw and what he heard was different from what he expected. The Buddha had said that he had stopped but that Angulimala had not.

Then Angulimala asked the Buddha for the meaning of his words. The Buddha said to him, “Angulimala, I stopped means I stopped doing bad things or bothering other living beings, but you never stop doing evil, or killing living beings.” Then Angulimala understood what the Buddha had said, he threw away his sword and paid respect to the Buddha and requested ordination. With loving-kindness and compassion, the Buddha ordained him.

These words of wisdom were given by the Buddha, to teach us “I have stopped, but you do not stop.” If we commemorate this instruction, we should ask ourselves if we have stopped or not yet succeeded.