​Don't look down upon young people!

Being young is sometimes like bearing a label that says, "Inexperienced, much left to learn." Over 2,500 years ago, even the young Buddha, shortly after attaining enlightenment, was also questioned for being young.
 
As recorded in Discourse 1226 of the Saṃyukta Āgama, one day when the Buddha was at the Jetavana in Shravasti, King Pasenadi of Kosala came to visit him. After exchanging pleasantries, King Pasenadi asked, "Mr. Gautama! I've heard that you claim to have attained unsurpassed correct enlightenment. Is this true?" The Buddha replied, "Your Majesty! Precisely speaking, I have attained unsurpassed correct enlightenment. This is true indeed."
 
King Pasenadi further said, "Even so, I find it hard to believe. Even the reputable leaders of other spiritual groups, śramaṇas and brahmins who are widely recognized as virtuous–such as Pūraṇa Kāśyapa, Maskarī Gośālīputra, Nirgrantha Jñātiputra, Sañjayī Vairaṭṭīputra, Kakuda Kātyāyana (Pakudha Kaccāyana), and Ajita Keśakaṃbala–would not dare to claim that they have attained the unsurpassed correct enlightenment. And yet you, still so young and not long into renunciation, say that you have attained it?"
 
Then, the Buddha told King Pasenadi, "Your Majesty! There are four things that should not be despised and disparaged for being young: they are, a prince of kshatriya caste (ruling and military elite in ancient India), a serpent, a fire, and a bhikkhu (male Buddhist monk)."
 
The Buddha further expounded, "A prince of kshatriya caste, though still a child, is born into nobility and has to learn all kinds of skills and the art of governance since young. One day, he will inherit the throne. When that day comes, he will have the power to decide the destiny of his subjects and control state policies. Therefore, he should not be belittled for being young.
 
When encountering a small snake in a village or forest, one should not underestimate it because of its size. Lethal snakes appear in many forms and colors. If one doesn't take them seriously because of their diminutive size and play with them heedlessly, one may get a poisonous snakebite. Therefore, we must not ignore it, no matter how small it seems.
 
An intense fire can consume everything. When conditions are favorable, a small spark can grow into a raging fire. Fueled, it can become a great fire burning down villages and towns, and even spread through forests and areas of wildland. Therefore, we must not ignore it, no matter how small it seems.
 
Similarly, a bhikkhu who upholds the pure precepts, should not be slandered or looked down upon simply for being young. If one disparages or mistreats such a bhikkhu, the consequences will surely bring misfortune, not only to oneself but also to one's descendants. Therefore, we should protect ourselves by not mistreating or using abusive language to a bhikkhu who upholds the pure precepts."
 
The Buddha concluded, "To protect ourselves, we must be cautious in how we treat a prince of kshatriya caste, a small serpent, a tiny fire, and a bhikkhu who upholds pure precepts. None of these should be underestimated." Filled with Dharma joy after listening to the Buddha's Dharma talk, King Pasenadi bowed to him and departed.
 
Therefore, we should not look down on those who are younger or less experienced than ourselves. With their limitless potential, they may one day become the teachers who inspire us.
 
Original Chinese text by Liang Jin-man (梁金滿).



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Resource: Issue 443 of Humanity Magazine (July 2020), Dharma Drum Publishing Corporation
Translation: Li Siang-ling
Editing: Keith Brown, 麗萍