Date: 11/08/2025 11/09/2025
Location: Star Ocean Meditation Center
Teacher: Otto Huang
Dharma Talk
The Bhikkhu Who Loved Sleep
Thus have I heard:
At one time, the Blessed One was dwelling in Śrāvastī, instructing the community of monks. He constantly admonished the disciples, saying:
“When learning and practicing the Dharma, one must be diligent and earnest, never lax or indolent. Through diligence, many attain the fruit of Arhatship, cutting off defilements and ending suffering.”
Most disciples followed the Blessed One’s words, practicing with vigor. Yet there was one bhikkhu who refused to be diligent. While others sat in meditation, he lay in deep slumber. Though his brethren exhorted him again and again, he paid no heed, continuing in his careless ways.
This bhikkhu’s greatest fault was his love of sleep. After eating his fill, he would shut himself in his room, covering his head, and slumbering so soundly that no call could rouse him.
On one day, after returning from alms-round at noon, he ate and then fell into slumber, not rising again. His thunderous snoring continued through the night until the next morning.
The following day was the time when the Blessed One expounded the Dharma to the assembly. All disciples were present, save only the one who loved sleep.
The Blessed One asked:
“Where is that disciple who slumbers?”
One monk rose and answered:
“World-honored One, since yesterday at noon he has slept without waking. We have called him, yet he stirs not.”
Then the Blessed One thought:
“This disciple has but seven days left to live. If he should die in slumber, he will pass away in delusion and without attainment. How pitiful! I shall go and awaken him.”
The Blessed One instructed the assembly to recite the Dharma, and together with Ānanda went to the bhikkhu’s dwelling.
Before they arrived, they already heard the sound of snoring like thunder, wave after wave. Entering, they saw him still curled upon his bed, fast asleep. Ānanda called out, but he did not stir. Then the Blessed One approached, and with his finger gently touched him. Immediately the bhikkhu awoke.
Seeing the Blessed One standing before him, gazing upon him with compassion, he rose in haste, bowed, and said:
“Revered Blessed One, forgive my offense.”
The Blessed One said:
“You have but seven days of life remaining. I could not bear to see you die in delusion, without attaining the fruit. Therefore I have come to awaken you.”
The bhikkhu was struck with fear and astonishment, never imagining his life was so short. He trembled, not knowing what to do.
The Blessed One comforted him:
“This is the destiny of your past karma. Long ago, in former lives, you became a monk, but cared only for eating and sleeping. You never contemplated the Dharma, nor kept the precepts. Lacking all merit, upon death you were reborn as a grain-worm, living thus for fifty thousand years. Again you were born as a snail, then as a clam, then as a worm within wood, each for fifty thousand years.
All these lives were spent in darkness, clinging to the body, treasuring life, and ever in slumber, sleeping for a hundred years at a time, without seeking higher wisdom. For two hundred thousand years you bore these karmic fruits. At last, those debts were repaid, and now you have gained human birth and the robe of a bhikkhu.
As a bhikkhu, you should be diligent and earnest in the Path. Yet you remain as before, clinging to food and sleep. Why do you never wake? Forget not the fate of your past lives!”
Hearing these words, the bhikkhu was ashamed, his face flushed with guilt. He confessed and repented with all his heart. In that moment of true contrition, his scattered thoughts ceased. Within the seven days that remained, he practiced with utmost diligence, and attained the fruit of Arhatship.
