Bharadvaja was a wealthy Brahmin farmer. Once he was celebrating his harvest-thanksgiving. At that time, the Buddha came with his alms-bowl, begging for food. Bharadvaja was angry and said, “It is not correct to beg. It would be more fitting for you to go to work than to beg. I plough and sow; I eat. If you did likewise, you, too, would have something to eat.” Then he looked away and started to talk to his guests. The Buddha interrupted him and said, “It is not that I don’t do work, O Brahmin! Faith is the seed I sow. Good work is the rain that fertilizes it. Wisdom and modesty are the plough. My mind is the guiding-rein.” Bharadvaja was ashamed of talking badly to the Buddha. He then poured ricemilk into a bowl and offered it to him. The Buddha thanked him and went his way.
Moral: A monk is not a beggar; he works for the benefit of mankind.
