Among the Buddha’s disciples, Katyayana was foremost in debating the Buddha’s teachings. He was skilled at answering difficult questions, easing people’s curiosity, and filling their hearts with admiration. Katyayana believed the Truth was to be explained in ways easily understood by all.

Once, while Katyayana was begging for alms, a brahmin approached. After greeting him, the brahmin asked, “Bhiksu Katyayana, I am truly fortunate to meet you. I have been thinking about a particular issue and need your objective view. Please help me get rid of my doubts.”

“Yes, please tell me, what has filled you with doubts?” Katyayana asked.

The brahmin said, “I have seen ksatriyas fighting ksatriyas and brahmins fighting brahmins. What causes them to fight their own people?”

“Sadly, this is because of the delusion of greed,” replied Katyayana.

“So, if ksatriyas and brahmins fight each other due to greed, then, may I ask, what causes bhiksus to fight one another?” the brahmin asked.

Katyayana nodded, pursed his lips, and said, “Because they are attached to the notion of self.”

Closing his eyes for a moment in contemplation, the brahmin then said with a smile, “Yes, your answer sounds fair and true. But, answer me this, what person can free themselves from greed and the notion of self?”

Without hesitation, Katyayana replied, “My teacher, the Buddha. He is the unsurpassed enlightened one, who does not suffer from greed and is without attachment to the notion of self. He is truly the teacher of humans and heavenly beings, one worthy of offerings, and all-knowing. The Buddha is now teaching in the city of Sravasti.”

Deeply touched, the brahmin immediately expressed his wish to meet the Buddha. After meeting the Buddha, the brahmin took refuge and became a lay devotee.

On another occasion, Katyayana was challenged by a brahmin who envied his reputation as foremost in debating the Buddha’s teachings. He had traveled from afar specifically to meet with Katyayana, hoping to defeat him in a debate.

When they met, the brahmin immediately issued his challenge, “I heard that the former brahmin Katyayana is now a bhiksu. He does not revere the elder Brahmins. He does not stand to greet them nor offer them his seat, showing them disrespect. When I heard of this, I felt it could not be true. I have come to see if this is true. For if it is, it cannot be the truth, it is wrong.”

Katyayana listened patiently as the brahmin spoke, his face impassive. When the brahmin finished, Katyayana replied calmly, “I am indeed now a bhiksu, the Buddha’s disciple, and I do not revere or stand to greet the elder Brahmins as I once did. But this is not out of disrespect or disregard for their teachings. Rather, it is because I now understand that true respect and reverence cannot be earned through titles or social status, but rather through one’s own actions and character. Studying the Buddha’s teachings, I now understand that all beings are equal and deserving of respect, regardless of their social standing. If a brahmin elder is aged eighty or ninety, yet full of wickedness, fallen into greed and deviant views, what does his age matter?”

When the brahmin heard Katyayana’s reply, he had no response and felt ashamed for his deviant views. At that moment, he requested that Katyayana take him to meet the Buddha to seek refuge in his teachings.

Such was Katyayana’s mastery of debate and eloquence that, with just a few words, others would understand and be ready to seek refuge in the Buddha. As a result, many devotees of other sects would forgo their deviant views and turn to the Buddha’s teachings after hearing Katyayana.

In another instance, as Katyayana was traveling to the kingdom of Avanti, he encountered a woman crying by the riverside. Katyayana grew concerned, afraid she would drown herself in the river over some misfortune. He approached her and said, “I am Katyayana, the Buddha’s disciple. Please tell me, why are you in pain? Maybe I can help.”

Sobbing, the woman said, “No one can help me, so what’s the point of telling you?”

Katyayana looked at the woman kindly and nodded.

The woman then continued, “This world is unfair! Rich people tower over the poor. My whole life I have suffered because I am poor. I no longer wish to live.”

“Please do not despair at your poverty. Indeed, this world is filled with both the rich and the poor. However, the poor do not inevitably suffer just as the rich are not inevitably happy. Although the seemingly rich own lands and servants, they still suffer the evil of greed and afflictions. If you can live a happy and contented life, why should you be sad if you are seen as poor?” Katyayana said.

The woman, still crying, replied, “You are a bhiksu. Though you can accept your words, I cannot. I am a wealthy family’s slave. I have no freedom, dwell in poverty, and spend my years in hard labor. My wicked master is greedy and violent, his heart utterly without compassion. At the slightest mistake, he scolds and beats me. This is all because I am poor. I feel so terrible I sometimes wish for death’s release. What else can I do but cry at my situation?”

Katyayana replied, “Please do not cry. I will teach you how to escape from poverty and attain wealth.”

The woman’s eyes lit up and she said, “Really? How?”

“It is simple. All you need to do is to sell your poverty to me,” Katyayana replied.

“How on Earth can I sell my poverty to you?” the woman asked.

Katyayana replied, “By practicing generosity. Poverty has its causes. Those who are poor in this life did not practice generosity and cultivate merit in their past lives. Therefore, practicing generosity and cultivating merits in this life are the means of selling one’s poverty to others.”

When the woman heard this, she immediately understood the importance of earning merits. However, a look of anguish crossed her face and she said, “Yes, you’re right. I understand what to do. But, I’m so poor I have nothing to give. Even this jar of water in my hands belongs to my master. So, how can I practice generosity?”

Katyayana gave his alms bowl to her and said, “Please take my bowl, fetch some clean water and offer it to me.”

The woman joyfully did as instructed.

After receiving her offering, Katyayana bid the woman farewell and continued on his journey.

As a result of practicing generosity and cultivating merit, the woman was reborn in Triyatrimsa Heaven, free from the suffering of poverty.

Katyayana, known for his skill with words, guided many people to take refuge in the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha.

This story highlights the importance in our lives of having a Dharma friend like Katyayana. A Dharma friend can take many forms, such as buddhas, bodhisattvas, fellow humans, or heavenly beings. They guide us to practice wholesome actions, eliminate unwholesome actions, and follow the path to buddhahood. In this story, Katyayana exemplifies the qualities of a Dharma friend by resolving the brahmin’s doubts and offering hope to the weeping woman, showing that he not only understood the teachings, but also how to practice them. By following the example of a Dharma friend like Katyayana, we can progress on our path to enlightenment and find greater peace and fulfillment in our lives.

Just as Venerable Master Hsing Yun says,

“Practice is more fruitful than theory.

Action is more powerful than empty talk.

Diligence is more successful than genius.

Hard work is more effective than intelligence.”

???????

????????????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????

?????????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????

???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

??????????????

?????????????????????????????????

????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????

?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

???????????????????

???????????????????

??????????????????????????

????????????????????????????