Venerable Mahākātyāyana’s Teaching to an Old Woman

This teaching was given by the Venerable Mahākātyāyana—one of the ten principal disciples of Śākyamuni Buddha—to an elderly woman:

“Guard your mind with care. Don’t let it wander into endless thought. Even if random thoughts drift in on their own, don’t chase them or keep them going. Stop judging what’s right or wrong, and stop weighing whether people’s actions are justified or not. Don’t label your current situation as suffering or joy. Let go of what has already happened, and stop projecting into what hasn’t yet arrived. Clear all of this out—don’t let any of it loop in your mind.”

The Venerable continued:

“Whenever your master tells you to do something, carry it out respectfully and obediently—don’t hold any resentment or bitterness in your heart. You have to realize that the tough times you’re facing right now are just past negative karma catching up with you—you’re simply paying off an old debt. Once that karma is cleared, those toxic people and bad situations will naturally disappear from your life.

Think of it like throwing something into water: if it’s heavy, it sinks; if it’s light, it floats. It’s the weight of the object that decides its fate—what’s meant to sink sinks, and what’s meant to float floats. The water isn’t doing anything to it on purpose; it’s all about the object itself.

Life works in just the same way. Whether we meet good fortune or adversity, joy or bitter hardship, the principle is identical. It all comes down to our own karma. It has nothing to do with other people, and nothing to do with our external circumstances.”

May we, too, follow these teachings to let go of deluded thoughts and mental afflictions, and attain true inner peace and joy.