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Cleanliness is a universal virtue appreciated by people of all nationalities and religions. The benefits of cleanliness are vast and have been illustrated in many stories from the Buddhist scriptures (Tripitaka). One such example is the story of Venerable Pussadeva Thera (Vinaya Pitaka, M.8, p.556).
Venerable Pussadeva Thera resided at Kalanadakala Vihara, where he diligently cleaned the temple courtyard daily out of devotion to the Buddha. One day, Mara, the tempter, transformed into a black monkey and deliberately made the courtyard dirty. The venerable monk patiently cleaned it again. On the second day, Mara took the form of a cow to soil the area, and on the third day, he appeared as a lame man to do the same.
Realizing it was Mara, the venerable monk questioned him and then challenged him to take the form of the Buddha. Eager to showcase his powers, Mara complied, transforming into a radiant figure resembling the Buddha. Upon seeing this, Venerable Pussadeva Thera contemplated:
"If Mara, who is full of lust, anger, and delusion, can appear so magnificent, then how much more beautiful must the real Buddha be, who is completely free from defilements?"
With this reflection, he developed deep spiritual joy and focused his meditation on the image of the Buddha. Through continuous practice, he eventually attained arahantship (enlightenment).
A more recent example comes from Wat Paknam during the time of Luang Pu Wat Paknam (Phra Mongkol Thepmuni). A devoted disciple, Khun Yai Thongsuk Samdaengpan, struggled to make progress in her meditation. Determined to purify her mind, she decided to clean all the spittoons in the temple thoroughly. Once she had finished cleaning them, she resumed her meditation and successfully attained the Dhammakaya (a deep meditative state).
These stories highlight the profound connection between external and internal cleanliness. Every time we clean our surroundings, our minds also become purified. The more frequently we engage in acts of cleanliness, the more our minds are cleansed of impurities.
Particularly, when we clean sacred places such as temples and meditation centers, we gain special merit because we are preserving the legacy of the Buddha’s teachings. This merit, in turn, acts as a protective force, shielding us from misfortunes and obstacles.
At Wat Phra Dhammakaya, this tradition of cleanliness has been ingrained since its establishment. Khun Yai Ajarn, the temple’s spiritual guide, instilled this value in her disciples, making cleanliness a core part of the temple’s culture. Today, when people think of Wat Phra Dhammakaya, cleanliness is one of the first things that comes to mind.
Thus, merit leaders and temple staff must uphold and promote this beautiful tradition by setting an example for visitors and practitioners. By instilling the value of cleanliness in others, we contribute to the spiritual and physical well-being of society.
(A sermon from Saturday, July 27, 2013, by Venerable Maha Thanyasan Kittisaro, January 17, 2015, at Bundai Kaew Meditation Center.)
