Monks and Acharyas
Damdant Muni
दमदंत मुनि · દમદંત મુનિ
Flowers from some, stones from others, and the same calm smile for both
- 4 min full story
- 2 min children's telling
- For all ages
- Shvetambar telling
A king gives up his throne and becomes a monk. Standing in meditation, he is honoured by one group of princes and insulted by another, and his response becomes one of the best loved examples of samata, evenness of mind.
What it teaches Equanimity Forgiveness Inner strength
The opening of the children's telling
Long ago there was a king named Damdant. One day he gave away his crown and his palace and became a monk. Now he had nothing, but his heart was full of peace.
One day, Damdant Muni stood very still outside a city, with his eyes gently closed. He was praying and resting his mind, quiet as a tree. Birds sang around him, and the wind blew softly, but he did not move at all.
Read the whole story See plans
To carry into the day
Let neither praise nor blame decide the state of your heart.
To talk about together
When someone says something unkind to you, what could help you stay calm like Damdant Muni?
Retold for JainStory from the traditional narrative and checked against published Jain sources. Details vary between tellings.