Retelling: Vova Pyatsky and Smadar Pyatsky (based on the translations of the suttas published on Theravada.ru and SuttaCentral.net)

Russian Version: Мадхупиндика сутта, Медовый пирог, Мадджхима Никая 18 | Три Ваджры

Translation to English: Roni Sherman and Marina Sherman

The Unintelligent Dandapani

In the Sakyan clan there was a man named Dandapani who went around in idleness while sporting a gilded cane even though he was young and healthy. This man, irreverent, hostile and arrogant, teamed up with Devadata, who, being envious of the Buddha, declared himself Enlightened and tried to entice inexperienced young members of the Sangha to become his disciples.

Dandapani, upon meeting the Buddha, asked him about the essence of the Dhamma. To this question, aware of Dandapani’s hostility, the Buddha replied: “The essence of the Dhamma is that there is no quarrels or hostility to anyone in this world for those who have abandoned sensual thirst and craving for existence”. Dandapani, upon hearing these words, stuck out his tongue, scrunched his forehead so that three folds formed in it, and shook his head while making a face at the Buddha. Thereafter, quite pleased with himself, he withdrew.  

The disciples’ question

When the disciples heard about this incident from the Buddha, they asked: “How does abandoning sensual thirst and craving for existence lead to the cessation of quarrels and hostility?” To this question, the Buddha replied: “when there is no fascination with the senses, no welcoming of what is pleasant, no retention of arising states — the source of concern and hostility dries up”. Then the Buddha retired, while the disciples, still not fully understanding this explanation, decided to ask for clarification from Mahakchana, one of the senior disciples of the Blessed One.

Mahakkachana’s clarification  

Mahakachanna scolded the young disciples for not asking the Blessed One more about the meaning of His words and explained: “When the eye meets with form, ear with sound, nose with smell, tongue with taste, mind with thought, consciousness of these six senses arises. The sense organ, its object and consciousness, coming into contact, result in perception. When there is fascination with what is pleasant and welcoming of pleasant perceptions, a desire arises to retain the pleasant state. Effort to retain a pleasant state leads to deliberation and growth of desires. Growth of desires leads to the consciousness of the six types to be excited, it is besieged by numerous forms, sounds, tastes, scents, sensations and thoughts of the past, present and imagined future. From this excitement and besiegement, restlessness and hostility towards everything arises, which prevents the acquisition and retention of what is pleasant.

If there is no fascination with perception born of contact with the organs of the senses, their objects and consciousness, there is no welcoming and retention of what is pleasant, there is no growth, restlessness and hostility. 

Having explained this, Mahakacchana advised the disciples to ask the Buddha himself about this and to remember His instructions.   

Honey cake

Returning to the Buddha, the disciples told him about the instructions they had received. The Buddha praised Mahakacchana’s wisdom, without adding anything to his explanation, while Ananda, who had been listening to the whole story, admiringly called this sermon the honey cake which is delicious from all sides.

Ananda is delighted, welcomes wisdom and retains memory of what he heard, anchoring it with the name “Honey cake”. His reactions are opposite to ordinary delight, to welcoming and retaining what is pleasant. Ananda’s state is filled with delight from the mind gaining independence from the senses, while craving for what is pleasant increases this dependence and weakens the mind. (See also Chuladukkhahandha Sutta, MN14)