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50 EASTERN HORIZON | REFLECTION
patience, while Vepacitti, the lord of asuras, desires Patience is the greatest “action” that we can take. With this
revenge and punishment. In the texts, Vepacitti action we will always be the winners since we will not have
warned Sakka that if he didn’t immediately punish allowed our minds to be moved by the “worldly winds”,
bad mannered beings they would take advantage but will thereby have gained and maintained control over
(SN 11.5): 1 ourselves. But if we act against an enemy, we’re not just
“Fools would vent their anger even more acting out of weakness, we continue to feed them.
If no one would keep them in check.
Hence with drastic punishment Finally, with respect to this particular tragic situation
The wise man should restrain the fool.” in Sri Lanka, I recall a story from the well known
But Sakka responded: Mahāparinibbāna Sutta (DN 16). There was a war
“I myself think this alone between King Ajātasattu Vedehiputta of Māgadha and the
Is the way to check the fool: neighboring Republic of Vajji. The leaders of the Kingdom
When one knows one’s foe is angry of Māgadha realized that they could not destroy the
One mindfully maintains one’s peace.” Vajjians directly, for Vajji was a republic which followed
Vepacitti was not convinced, warning: the Buddha’s advice to hold frequent meetings, to carry
“When the fool thinks of you thus, on their business in harmony, to respect the laws and
‘He endures me out of fear,’ traditions, to honor their elders and think them worth
The dolt will chase you even more listening to, to respect and support women and noblemen.
As a bull does one who flees.” And because of that, they remained a strong nation, living
But Sakka remained unconcerned: in prosperity and peace. So it would not be possible to
“Let it be whether or not he thinks, destroy them, because they were united and would act in
‘He endures me out of fear,’ unison! The Kingdom of Māgadha realized: “The Vajjians
Of goals that culminate in one’s own good cannot be overcome by the Magadhan King Ajātasattu by
None is found better than patience. war, but only through diplomacy, or by sowing dissension.”
“When a person endowed with strength They realized that the only way to win was to cause
Patiently endures a weakling, division within the Vajjians! That is, by provoking clashes of
They call that the supreme patience; views and false accusations, even to the extent of plotting
The weakling must be patient always. to cause anger against themselves just to stir up emotions
“They call that strength no strength at all— and cause division!
The strength that is the strength of folly—
But no one can reproach a person This discourse is a really powerful and important warning
Who is strong because guarded by Dhamma. for Sri Lanka. External forces will try desperately to
“One who repays an angry man with anger destroy unity and peace by causing internal divisions,
Thereby makes things worse for himself. and in that way make the country weak and fragile. When
Not repaying an angry man with anger, it is weak and fragile it becomes vulnerable to those
One wins a battle hard to win. malicious external forces. Such challenges will probably
“He practises for the welfare of both, always exist, but, no matter what happens, it’s important
His own and the other’s, to always follow the advice of the Buddha: to not use anger
When, knowing that his foe is angry, and cruelty as weapons, to stay united no matter what
He mindfully maintains his peace. ideology one’s fellow citizens hold and – as Sakka said – to
“When he achieves the cure of both— be patient. In that way, you will help unify people, you will
His own and the other’s— collectively be one, and thereby defeat those who would
The people who consider him a fool seek to harm or even destroy you. EH
Are unskilled in the Dhamma.”
1 Translation by Bhikkhu Bodhi, The Connected
Discourses of the Buddha, Wisdom Publications, 1999.
