Dhammapada 22.5.p2

22.5.p2

Eko kira bhikkhu asañcicca ekaṃ tiṇaṃ chinditvā kukkucce uppanne ekaṃ bhikkhuṃ upasaṅkamitvā, ‘‘āvuso, yo tiṇaṃ chindati, tassa kiṃ hotī’’ti taṃ attanā katabhāvaṃ ārocetvā pucchi. Atha naṃ itaro ‘‘tvaṃ tiṇassa chinnakāraṇā kiñci hotīti saññaṃ karosi, na ettha kiñci hoti, desetvā pana muccatī’’ti vatvā sayampi ubhohi hatthehi tiṇaṃ luñcitvā aggahesi. Bhikkhū taṃ pavattiṃ satthu ārocesuṃ. Satthā taṃ bhikkhuṃ anekapariyāyena vigarahitvā dhammaṃ desento imā gāthā abhāsi –

The story goes that a certain monk thoughtlessly broke off a single blade of grass. His conscience troubled him about it, and so he went to a certain other monk, told him what he had done, and asked him the following question, "Brother, what happens to a monk who breaks off a blade of grass?" The other monk replied, "Evidently you think something happens to a man who breaks off a blade of grass, but such is not the case. One has but to confess what he has done and he is free." So saying, he himself seized a clump of grass with both his hands and pulled it up. The monks reported the incident to the Teacher. The Teacher rebuked that monk soundly, and preaching the Law, pronounced the following Stanzas,