Commentary on the Dhammapada–by Swami Nirmalananda Giri
The Bees and the Flowers
The final eleven verses of the fourth section entitled “Flowers” present a range of subjects, and we will look at them all in this single article.
The holy “bee”
“A holy man should behave in the village like a bee which takes its food from a flower without hurting its appearance or its scent.”
It is generally assumed that this is an instruction for the wandering monk that “begs” for his food, telling him that he should not take advantage of those who provide his food by putting an undue burden on them–that he should take a little from many places rather than expect one or two people to provide him with all his food, unless some specifically ask him to take their whole meal from them.
But considering that the four hundred and twenty-two other verses are philosophical in nature and applicable to all types of aspirants, I think it is safe to interpret this verse differently. It seems to me that this verse is telling us how to pass through the world, benefiting from it in many ways–especially in the fulfilling of karma–and burdening it in no way. Ashoka, a Buddhist Emperor of India, set up a pillar with a quotation from Jesus: “The world is a bridge. Pass over it; do not build a house on it.” The Bhagavad Gita puts it this way: “He by whom the world is not agitated and who cannot be agitated by the world, and who is freed from joy, envy, fear and anxiety—he is dear to Me.” And Saint Paul: “The world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” These fully support the picture given in the translation of the Venerable Thanissaro Bhikkhu: “As a bee–without harming the blossom, its color, its fragrance–takes its nectar and flies away: so should the sage go through a village.” We should pass through this world without injuring or exploiting it in any way. And especially we should keep moving on, not trying to settle down at any point or trying to carry any of it along with us.
The right focus
“It is not the shortcomings of others, nor what others have done or not done that one should think about, but what one has done or not done oneself.”
The meaning is obvious, so I need only point out that Buddha is telling us that we ought to think about our actions–not to egotistically brood, but to examine and learn how better–intelligently–to act or abstain from action. We are not to shrug off our past actions without a thought and move on heedlessly. This also means that we must ponder our shortcomings so they will not be repeated.
Actions alone matter
“Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at but without scent, fine words are fruitless in a man who does not act in accordance with them. Like a fine flower, beautiful to look at and scented too, fine words bear fruit in a man who acts well in accordance with them.”
“Truth” or “right” are neither if they are not lived out by those who speak or advocate it without applying it in actual life. There is simply no value in theory that is not carried out (successfully) in practice. What a pity that Buddha needs to point this out–but he certainly does. Look at politics for proof.
Creating destiny
“Just as one can make a lot of garlands from a heap of flowers, so man, subject to birth and death as he is, should make himself a lot of good karma.”
Human beings can turn any wisdom into foolishness, and karma no doubt tops the list. Karma is proof that we have the power to completely create our life situations, but nearly everybody acts like it is some kind of imposed “fate.” We easily say “my karma” while ignoring the implication: it is ours, not an external factor, and it is totally under our control. It exists only because we make it exist. It is always right in our hands–and nowhere else.
“Just as from a heap of flowers many garland strands can be made, even so one born and mortal should do–with what’s born and is mortal–many a skillful thing.” (Thanissaro Bhikkhu)
“As many a garland can be strung from a mass of flowers, so should mortal man born in this world perform many wholesome deeds.” (Harischandra Kaviratna)
The power of goodness
Evil always hates good. Why? Because it fears good, since evil is fundamentally weak and good is inherently strong. That is why the propagators of lies, no matter how numerous, are terrified and enraged at one person who speaks the truth. See how tyrants always try to control the means of communication. Radio was the great nemesis of swaggering bullies such as the Nazis and the Communists. Today the Internet is an even greater force, and we see how the destroyers of men’s minds are frantic to limit it. Even here in America the practicers of deceit are constantly screeching about “the bloggers” and “talk radio.” As they say in Kentucky: “The dog that howls is the one that’s hit.” And they say it better in India: “Truth alone triumphs.”
“The scent of flowers cannot travel against the wind, and nor can that of sandalwood or jasmine, but the fragrance of the good does travel against the wind, and a good man perfumes the four quarters of the earth.” World history bears this out. Nero, Hitler, Stalin, and suchlike are ugly memories, but Krishna, Buddha, and Jesus are living presences, changing and preserving lives. How many times do the corrupt and degraded exhort the good and true to “wake up and see how things are” and “go with the flow.” But Buddha assures us that the good absolutely are able to move against “the flow” and exert great influence around them. History also shows how much a single person can change the world, altering the course of culture and history.
“Sandalwood, tagara, lotus, jasmine -- the fragrance of virtue is unrivalled by such kinds of perfume. The perfume of tagara and sandalwood is of little enough power, while the supreme fragrance, that of the virtuous, reaches even up to the devas.” There is no ceiling to the power and glory of virtue.
No fear
Fear has no place in spiritual life, although caution and wariness often does. Yet most religion thrives on fear, especially in relation to “Evil.” The three Western religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam keep their adherents in line by threatening “the power of Satan” against them if they do not follow along. But Buddha has no need for such manipulative mythology. Instead he assures us that: “Perfect of virtue, always acting with recollection, and liberated by final realization–Mara does not know the path such people travel.” In other words, “the Devil” can’t even figure out what the virtuous are doing. Only those whose minds and hearts live in the realm of metaphysical evil will be bothered by it. What if it is their karma from the past? Virtue will dissolve it. This is another major liberating truth of Buddha’s teaching as contrasted with the modern idea that karma is some inexorable entity that must be “worked out” of “fulfilled.” Buddha assures us we can dispel karma along with the ignorance and defilement that produced it. Again: we can undo what we have done.
The contrast
Saint Paul told his disciples: “In the midst of a crooked and perverse nation ye shine as lights in the world.” But Buddha gives a much more colorful picture, saying: “Like a beautiful, fragrant lotus, springing up on a pile of rubbish thrown out on the highway, so a disciple of the Enlightened One stands out among rubbish-like and blinded ordinary people by virtue of his wisdom.” Oh, oh! Can we believe that “the Compassionate Buddha” said such “harsh” words? Yes indeed! He had compassion for human suffering, not human stupidity.
He says flat out that those who follow the Buddha Way, whatever their religious label or lack thereof, are exquisite blossoms of enlightenment in contrast to the “rubbish-like and blinded ordinary people.”
It is a simple matter of wisdom, of the “haves” and the “have nots.” May the wisdom of Buddha be made ours so we, too, can “bloom.”
1) Muni: a sage.
[Go back]
2) Dhammapada 49 [Go back]
3) Bhagavad Gita 12:15 [Go back]
4) Galatians 6:14 [Go back]
5) Dhammapada 50 [Go back]
6) Dhammapada 51,52 [Go back]
7) Dhammapada 53 [Go back]
8) Dhammapada 54 [Go back]
9) Dhammapada 55,56 [Go back]
10) Dhammapada 57 [Go back]
11) Philippians 2:15 [Go back]
12) Dhammapada 58,59 [Go back]
Entire text of the Dhammapada Commentary as PDF download.