Date: 07/12/2025 07/13/2025
Location: Star Lake Meditation Center
Teacher: Shilin Long
Dharma Talk
A Novice Monk, Though Young, Must Not Be Disrespected
During the Maurya Dynasty, known as a golden era in Indian history, King Ashoka was a devout follower of Buddhism. Whenever he encountered a monastic, he would sincerely offer his respects.
Once, while out on an inspection tour with his ministers, King Ashoka came across a young novice monk (śrāmaṇera). The king wished to bow to him, but hesitated—he was, after all, a mighty emperor surrounded by many officials. To publicly bow before a small novice might undermine his royal dignity.
So he had the novice taken to a secluded place and offered him prostration there. He then earnestly instructed the novice: “Please do not tell anyone that I, King Ashoka, bowed to you today.”
At that moment, the novice noticed a small bottle by the roadside. Using his spiritual power, he transformed himself and entered the bottle, then reappeared after a while.
The novice then pulled King Ashoka’s hand and said: “Great King, please also do not tell others that I, a small novice, was able to enter and exit this bottle.”
King Ashoka stood stunned. He suddenly awakened to the truth: even a small novice is not to be looked down upon.
From that day forward, he treated all monks and novices with even greater reverence, never daring to be negligent.
