Dhamma That Stays “As Advertised”: A Buddha’s Guide to Spotting the Real Deal
Namo Tassa Bhagavato Arahato Samma Sambuddhassa (3 times)
Blessings to all truth-seekers. In a world that moves at the speed of a thumb-swipe, we have all become “shoppers”—whether we are browsing for products online or “shopping” for spiritual ideas and Dhamma. One thing we fear most is finding something that is not “as advertised.” It looks great in the app, but when it arrives, it is unusable. In modern slang, we call this being “catfished” or “scammed.”
The question I want to invite you to contemplate today is: “In the spiritual world, how can we know which Dhamma or which guru is the real deal—the one that stays ‘as advertised’?” Over 2,500 years ago, the Buddha addressed this in the “Cūḷahatthipadopama Sutta.” If we were to summarize it for today, this Sutta is nothing less than the “Buddha’s Official Guide to Fact-Checking.”
1. The Trap of “Reviews” and Social Proof
The story begins with Pilotika, an ascetic who was a total “fan” of the Buddha. He went to “promote” the Buddha to Jāṇussoṇi the Brahmin, exclaiming, “The Buddha is definitely the Awakened One!”
His evidence? Celebrity “reviews.” He saw elite kings, brilliant scholars, and even rival religious leaders who initially intended to “debunk” the Buddha, but after hearing his teachings, they all surrendered and became his followers. Pilotika concluded simply: “If the smartest people in the country believe him, he must be the real deal!”
My friends, this is the behavior of someone looking only at the “thumbnail” or the “cover.” We often believe someone just because they have high “likes,” glowing reviews, or celebrity disciples. But the Buddha warned that these are merely external footprints that can be deceiving.
2. The Elephant Hunter’s Perspective: Don’t Settle for the Surface
When the Buddha heard this, he smiled and taught a sharp principle: “Do not jump to conclusions just because you see a large elephant’s footprint.”
He compared this to a wise “Elephant Hunter”:
- A reckless hunter sees a large footprint and concludes it belongs to a “Great Bull Elephant.”
- But a wise hunter knows that in the forest, there are “Dwarf Elephants” (Wamanika) that have oversized feet. If you trust only the footprint, you might spend your whole life chasing a dwarf elephant while thinking you’ve found the king of the forest.
In seeking Dhamma that is “as advertised,” reputation, fame, or a large following are just footprints. They could belong to a “dwarf elephant.” We must keep tracking until we see the “Actual Elephant” with our own eyes.
3. Verification through Practice: Proving it’s “Not a Scam”
My dear listeners, the point I want to emphasize is this: the Buddha did not want us to be just “fans” who scream for someone else’s reviews. He wanted us to be “Researchers” who verify for ourselves if the Dhamma is “As Advertised.” He gave us a 3-level audit:
- Check the Ethics (First Contact): Is their lifestyle genuinely simple and clean? Or is it just “content” for the camera? If the foundation involves exploitation or harm, it’s already not “as advertised.”
- Check the Mind (Internal Quality): Can they actually manage their anger, greed, and restlessness? Is their heart truly cool and calm when hit by the chaos of the world?
- Check the Wisdom (The Final Result): This is the most important part. The Buddha emphasized that even if someone has high meditation states or “psychic powers,” do not conclude 100% until you reach the point where “the defilements in your own heart actually vanish” (Asavakkhaya-nana).
Remember this one thing: Dhamma is “as advertised and no scam” only when you apply it to yourself and find that “your suffering actually decreases.”
If you have listened to Dhamma for ten years but your heart is still as burning and restless as before, it means you are still following the footprint of a dwarf elephant. But the moment you practice mindfulness, the moment you let go and your heart feels lighter and more peaceful—that is the day you “Meet the Great Bull Elephant.” You don’t need anyone to confirm it for you, because the results in your own heart tell you clearly: “This is the real deal.”
Conclusion: Stop Believing the Reviews, Start Walking the Path
Finally, I invite you all to stop being “collectors of Dhamma reviews” or “listeners who jump from guru to guru” based on social media trends. Instead, be brave travelers who follow the footprints all the way to the stage of practice.
True goodness and the end of suffering are not things anyone can “scam” us on if we have the results of a peaceful heart within ourselves. May the Dhamma in your hearts be “as advertised” and lead you to true happiness.
Blessings to you all.
