Chudapanthaka the Arhat

Venerable Chudapanthaka was the younger brother of Venerable Panthaka. By nature slow-witted, he struggled profoundly in his studies: reciting one line of scripture only to forget it immediately, and after four months still unable to memorise a single gatha. Monks mocked him openly. The Buddha, moved by compassion, assigned him the humble tasks of sweeping away dust and cleaning monks’ sandals—while continuously reciting the phrase ‘sweep away dust, sweep away dust’. Through this mindful labour and unwavering repetition, his mind gradually clarified, and he ultimately realised the state of an Arhat. Thereafter, the Buddha entrusted him with a staff to guard the sangharama (monastery), safeguarding the safety of the monastic community and preserving the purity of the Dharma venue—thus earning the epithet ‘Gate-Keeping Arhat’. His life story became a celebrated kōan in Chan Buddhism: innate dullness is no barrier; steadfast, single-minded dedication inevitably leads to awakening.