शीलन
Summary
A disciple of the Buddha named Moggallana asked the Buddha: "Will all those who have attained the path be certainly freed from the world's sufferings?" The Buddha, who was of the Shakya clan, replied to Moggallana: "Do you know the way to Rajagriha (a city)?" Moggallana answered, "No." The elder then asked another question: "Do you tell anyone the way to that place?" Moggallana said, "Certainly. This is the road to Rajagriha. If you go along this path, after some distance you will come to a certain village. Further on, you will find a garden whose natural scenery will be of such and such a kind... and so on." The Buddha said: "If someone follows the path you described, they will reach the city by that very route. But it is possible that some may stray due to confusion and not reach there." Moggallana said: "Is that my responsibility, O Lord? I have only shown the way." The Buddha replied: "I too only show the way. Some who have attained the path reach the goal, and some do not. The teacher's duty is merely to show the path." This is from the book "Buddha for the Youth" by N. Bhattacharya.
Conclusion
The dialogue between Buddha and his disciple Moggalana underscores a profound implication: spiritual liberation is not guaranteed by mere instruction or proximity to a teacher. Buddha explicitly states that he only shows the path, just as Moggalana could only describe the route to a destination. The outcome is that some disciples achieve liberation while others do not, despite receiving the same guidance. This places the ultimate responsibility on the individual practitioner. The document’s core implication is that no external authority, not even a fully enlightened Buddha, can ensure another’s freedom from suffering. The outcome is a clear delineation of roles: the teacher provides the map, but the student must undertake the journey themselves, with success or failure resting solely on their own effort and understanding.