The Hindu ascetic Dirghanakha, soliciting a debate with the Buddha, said, "I would debate with you; if my doctrine is refuted, I'll cut off my own head." The Buddha said, "What is the basis of your doctrine?" The ascetic said, "I take total nonacceptance to be fundamental." The Buddha said, "Do you accept this view?" The ascetic abruptly left. On the way he reflected and said to his disciples, "I should go back and cut off my head to apologize to the Buddha." His disciples said, "You should hopefully gain victory in the presence of humans and deities - why cut off your head?" The ascetic said, "I would rather cut my head off before a man of wisdom than gain victory before ignoramuses." Then he said regretfully, "My doctrine fails on two points. If I accept this view, my failure is crude; if I do not accept this view, my failure is a fine point. No humans, deities, or followers of the two vehicles know the point of failure of my doctrine; only the Buddha and the great bodhisattvas know the failure of my doctrine." He went back to the Buddha and said, "My doctrine fails on two points, so I should cut off my head to apologize to you." The Buddha said, "There is no such thing in my doctrine of enlightenment. You should change your mind and aim for enlightenment." At this the ascetic and his group of five hundred disciples all submitted to the Buddha at once, became monks, and realized sainthood.
Master Tianyi Huai said in verse,
If he accepts this view, he disbands his school;
If he doesn't accept this view, with whom will be debate?
The carrying pole suddenly breaks; both sides fall off.
Heaven and earth appear on the tip of a hair.
My comment:
Even deeply committed ascetics would concede victory when it was due. Why can't you?
Being mistaken is only an obstacle if you let it.
Submitted September 29, 2020 at 09:05PM by CultAwarenessNetwork https://ift.tt/2S7wj1l
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