The Proud Students and the Teacher: A Lesson in Humility

The Tale
Once, the Bodhisatta was a revered teacher, known far and wide for his wisdom. He had five hundred students who diligently studied sacred texts under his guidance. But as they grew in knowledge, their pride grew too. They began to believe they were equal to their master and, in their arrogance, stopped attending his lessons and neglected their chores. One day, after the students mocked him, the Bodhisatta posed a question:

“Time consumes all, even time itself. But who consumes the all-consumer?”

The students were puzzled, unable to answer. The Bodhisatta rebuked them, comparing them to a jujube fruit—appealing on the outside but hollow within. He then told them that he possessed knowledge they lacked and instructed them to meditate on the question for seven days.

When the students returned, still confused and without an answer, the Bodhisatta explained that the answer was “arahants,” the enlightened ones, who have transcended time and the cycle of rebirth. He chastised them for having ears but no wisdom. Realizing their mistake, the students sought his forgiveness, resumed their lessons, and humbled themselves once more.

In the Lifetime of the Buddha
In a later life, the same five hundred students were born as wandering ascetics who had studied with the Buddha. After gaining some understanding, they grew proud, thinking they had mastered all of his teachings. They stopped showing respect, left the Buddha, and went out to gather their own followers.

One day, the Buddha delivered a sermon on the succession of causes and the eight stages of knowledge, but the ascetics, full of their own pride, could not comprehend it. It was then that they realized how much more wisdom the Buddha had, and their arrogance melted away.

When the Buddha learned that his disciples were talking about how he had humbled the prideful ascetics, he shared this story, showing that it was not the first time he had put arrogant students in their place.

Moral
True wisdom requires humility. Knowledge alone does not make one equal to a teacher; it is the willingness to learn and respect that fosters growth. Arrogance blinds us to deeper truths, while humility opens the door to greater understanding.