Subtitle: How Citta Hatta learned the impermanent nature of the body and attained the first stage of sainthood
Citta Hatta had been searching for one of his oxen that had strayed into the woods when hunger overtook him. He stumbled upon a monastery, where the monks generously offered him a meal. While eating, he noticed that their simple fare was far better than what he could afford even after a hard day’s work. On a whim, he decided to leave his home and wife to become a monk.
At first, Citta Hatta followed the monastic rules diligently. But gradually, boredom set in. He grew restless, avoiding even his daily almsround. Soon, he longed for his wife’s company and returned home. However, domestic life proved challenging, and he once again became a bhikkhu.
This cycle of leaving and returning continued six times. Each time, the pull of sensual desire or the hardship of lay life drew him back and forth between the monastery and his home.
The sixth time Citta Hatta returned home, his wife became pregnant. One night, as she slept soundly, he went to admire her new condition, only to see her snoring, saliva on her chin, and clothes and hair in disarray. She looked bloated and corpse-like to him.
At that moment, a deep disgust and realization arose in him. He understood the unpleasant and impermanent nature of the body. Reflecting, he thought:
“I have entered the Order six times and left each time due to my lust. Now I see the true nature of the body and will not be fooled again.”
With this insight, he left home for good, determined to become a bhikkhu. On the way, he reflected on impermanence and unsatisfactoriness, which led him to attain the first stage of sainthood.
Upon returning, the bhikkhus were reluctant to admit Citta Hatta. His reputation for fickleness had spread widely. They mocked him:
“You have been shaving your head so often it is like a whetting stone!”
Yet Citta Hatta remained steadfast. After several months, even though he had not left again, his fellow monks doubted his determination. They teased him, asking if he planned to return to his wife. He replied:
“Previously, I returned because I had attachments, but now I have none.”
The bhikkhus reported this to the Buddha. The Buddha confirmed:
“His mind was not steadfast before and he did not understand the Dhamma. But now, he is an arahat and has truly discarded all attachments. This time, Citta Hatta will not be going home again.”
Citta Hatta’s journey teaches us:
Verse 38: The mind of the vigilant man is fearless. It is free of lust and anger. It has abandoned both good and evil.
Even today, the story of Citta Hatta is relevant:
Citta Hatta’s tale reminds us that true liberation comes not from external comforts or relationships, but from inner understanding and detachment.
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