During Shakyamuni Buddha's time, a woman called Jhanje had tried to defame the Buddha by claiming that the Buddha had had a son with her. Another woman, Sundari, also libelously accused the Buddha and many of the five hundred arhats of having sexual relationship with her. Later, Devadatta also slandered the Buddha when he tried to become head of the Buddhist order. The Buddha's reputation suffered greatly during those incidents.

Also, in the city where the Buddha was living, when husbands left their families to follow the Buddha to become monks, their wives would hurl insults at the Buddha. When sons or daughters followed the Buddha to become monks or nuns, their parents would curse at the Buddha.

In those seasons, Shakyamuni Buddha suffered an unsavory reputation. People pointed their fingers at him and echoed the views of others. Rumors were set afloat and spread unchecked.

At that time, Ananda suggested to the Buddha, "Let's move away!"

The Buddha responded, "Where to?"

Ananda answered, "To a city where people would not recognize us."

The Buddha spoke sternly, "Wherever our sangha moves to and settles down, over time, the same kinds of problems would eventually arise again. At the beginning, it will be relatively quiet. But, later, in this world of dust, the same kinds of gossips would definitely descend upon us. When that happens, where are you going to move to again?"

Ananda could not reply. Then he asked again, "If we don't move, then what should we do?"

"Endure the insults and keep silent."

"For how long should we keep silent?"

"Till the end of time."

After reading this passage of Ananda Questioning the Buddha in the sutra, I understood the truth behind Shakyamuni Buddha's decision to not defend himself or rebuke any of the slanders. I realized that by truly practicing the paramita of endurance and not responding to the slandering, it puts a stop to the creation of any other new slandering and gossip.

By not responding or defending oneself, the rumors would eventually gradually come to rest.

The paramita of wisdom consists of two very ordinary but also very wise statements:

"Everything will become the past."

"Everything will transform into emptiness."

These two statements may look very simple and insignificant, but they are the pathway to liberate one from emotional afflictions.

Keeping one's mouth shut.
Not saying one word.
Completely silent.

This is:

The greatly wise ones always do not speak,
It is fitting for Buddhists to be silent;
No words can describe the True Condition,
Truth is intuited and not explained.

 

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