SUNDARI WHO ATTEMPTED TO
DISCREDIT THE BUDDHA
In the 20th year of the Buddha's ministry, two important events took place. The first event was the conversion of the bandit, Angulimala. The other event happened at Savatthi where some jealous ascetics tried to discredit Him.
The Buddha and His disciples were famous and respected religious teachers at Savatthi. Large numbers of the citizens there came regularly to listen to their sermons and to offer them alms.
However, not all the people of Savatthi were followers of the Buddha. There were many ascetics who believed that their teachings were superior. They were very jealous to see more and more people going to the Buddha and His disciples to offer them alms and gifts of robes and medicine. Soon, overcome by jealousy, they decided to do something about it.
In Savatthi there was a female wandering ascetic by the name of Sundari. She was young in age and bad in character. The ascetics planned to attack the character and reputation of the Buddha and the monks through this female ascetic.
"Sister, you must try to help us do something about the Buddha," they told her. "He is attracting the supporters away from us."
"What can I do for you?" Sundari asked. "You can help us by visiting the Jeta's Grove regularly, and find out as much as you can about the Buddha. With this information we may try to win the people back to support us."
So Sundari visited the Jeta's Grove regularly to spy on the Buddha. She did not know the real purpose - an evil one - why the ascetics had asked her to go there. When the ascetics knew that many people had seen Sundari going regularly to the Jeta's Grove, they killed her and buried her in a hole dug in a ditch nearby. They then went to King Pasenadi Kosala and reported that after Sundari had gone to listen to the Buddha preaching, she was missing.
"Where do you suspect she is?" asked the King.
"She may still be in the Jeta's Grove, great king," they replied. "We are worried because she has never been known to remain very long after the Buddha has finished giving his sermon."
The king said, "Then you must go immediately to search for her there."
The ascetics pretended to search for Sundari in the Jeta's Grove. After searching for some time, they went to the spot where they had buried her and dug up her body. Placing the corpse on a stretcher, they carried it back to Savatthi. All the way they shouted angrily at the top of their voices, "See, Lords, see the work of these monks who call themselves holy people. They are shameless and wicked liars. See what they have done. They have committed sexual misconduct with poor Sundari and then they have killed her to hide their crimes."
The Buddha's disciples became frightened by these accusations and did not know what to do, but the Buddha calmly told them to control their fears. There was nothing to be frightened about, since they were innocent of the crime.
The Buddha advised them, "The people will accuse you and scold you, but you will do nothing except to recite: Those who lie and those who deny what they have done are equal in their evil deeds and will suffer. Just be patient. The people will see how calm you are and they will get tired of scolding you. Within seven days, the shouting and accusations will subside."
The people soon started to ask each other why the Buddha and his disciples were so calm. Then they remembered that the Buddha and His disciples were virtuous and they had never been known to commit any evil crime. Someone else had murdered Sundari. It was impossible that such compassionate religious teachers could have done it. In the end, the shouting stopped and the Buddha used this incident to give some advice to His disciples on how to endure abuse with patience: "When harsh words are spoken to a bhikkhu, let him endure with an unruffled mind."
After some time, the king discovered that the crime was committed by those ascetics. When they were brought before the king, they confessed their crimes in public and they were punished accordingly. After the incident the Buddha and His disciples became more honoured and respected in Savatthi.