The Story of Venerable Cittagutta

In the great cave Kurandaka, in Sri Lanka, there was a lovely painting depicting the renunciation of the Seven Buddhas, such as Vipassī, etc. A number of guest bhikkhus wandering amidst the dwellings, saw the painting and said: “Venerable Sir, what a lovely painting it is in your cave!” The Venerable replied: “For more than sixty years, friends, I have lived in the cave, and I did not know whether there was any painting or not. Today, I come to know about it through you who have very keen eyesight.” (Though the Venerable had lived there for more than sixty years, he had never raised his eyes and looked up at the cave even once. And, at the entrance of his cave, there was a great ironwood tree. The Venerable had never looked up at the tree either. But seeing the flower petals on the ground each year, he knew it was in bloom.)

Hearing the Venerable’s strict observance of Indriyasamvara-sīla, the King of Mahāgama sent for him three times, desiring to pay homage to him. When the Venerable did not go, the King had the breasts of all the women with infants in the village bound and sealed off, saying: “As long as the Venerable does not come, let the children go without milk.” Out of compassion for the children the Venerable went to Mahāgama.

Being informed that the Venerable had arrived, the King said: “Go and bring the Thera into the palace. I want to take the precepts.” In the inner chamber, the King paid homage to the Venerable and provided him with a meal, after which, he said: “Venerable Sir, it is not opportune for me today to take the precepts. I shall do so tomorrow.” Carrying the Venerable’s bowl, he followed him for a short distance and paid homage with the Queen. Whether it was the King or the Queen who paid homage to him, the Venerable gave the blessing: “May the King be happy!” Seven days went by in this manner.

The fellow-bhikkhus asked him: “Venerable Sir, why it is that, whether it is the King or the Queen who pays homage, you say: ‘May the King be happy?’” The Venerable replied: “Friends, I have no particular awareness whether it is the King or the Queen.” At the end of seven days, when the King found that the Venerable was not happy living there, he allowed him to leave. He went back to the great cave at Kurandaka. When night came, he went out onto his walk.

A deva, who dwelt in the ironwood tree, stood by with a torch. The Venerable’s meditation was so pure and bright that it gladdened him. Immediately after the middle watch, he attained arahatship, making the whole mountain resound with a thunderous roar.

(This story gives a good example of how Indriyasamvara should be observed.)