(Part
Two) 20.
The Quarrel at Kosambi
In the
ninth year of his ministry, the Buddha was residing at Kosambi.
While he was there, a quarrel arose between two parties of
monks. One party consisted of experts in the disciplinary
code or the Vinaya rules; the others were experts in the Dharma,
or the teachings.
The Buddha
tried in various ways to settle the quarrel peacefully, but finally,
when his efforts failed, he left them without a word, taking
only his bowl and robes, and retired to the Paileyyaka Forest.
During
his time in the forest, an elephant ministered to the needs
of the Buddha. The elephant cleared a portion of the forest
in the midst of which stood a stone cave. Each day the elephant
brought fruits as offerings to the Buddha. One day a monkey,
who had watched the elephant making his offerings, brought
a honeycomb as an offering too.
Meanwhile,
the people of Kosambi found out that the Buddha had gone alone
to the Paileyyaka Forest because of the quarreling amongst
the monks. When they heard these stories, they stopped offering
alms to the monks. News of this reached Ananda at Savatthi.
At the end of the rainy season Ananda decided to visit the
Buddha and told him that people everywhere were eager to hear
the Dharma from him, especially the people at Savatthi. In
this way the Buddha was persuaded to return to Savatthi and
some time after this, the quarreling monks came to seek the
Buddha's forgiveness. It was because of the quarrel at Kosambi
that the Buddha gave a sermon in which he said:
"One
should associate with the wise, not the foolish.
It would be better to live alone if we cannot find good friends.
There is no companionship with the foolish."
