A short story from the “Lam Rim”, or “stages of the path”, as taught by Pabongka Rinpoche in Tibet in 1937. Transcribed by then eighteen-year-old Trijang Rinpoche, later the teacher of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

Background: This story concerns ‘Pantaka’ a student with spiritual aspirations but who had great difficulties learning by conventional means. The Buddha (The ‘Blessed One’) finds a way to teach him which is transformative for Pantaka. Pantaka later became one of The Buddha’s finest teachers, capable of facilitating insights in those who heard him teach.

He gave Pantaka two simple phrases to learn: “I am removing dust,” and “I am removing dirt,” but Pantaka could not remember them. Then the Blessed One decided to purify him of his bad karma and said, “Pantaka, can you wipe the shoes of the bhikshus?”

“Venerable One, I can do that.”

“Go then, and wipe the shoes and sandals of the bhikshus.”

The Blessed One also told the bhikshus to allow Pantaka to do this, informing them that its purpose was to remove his bad karma. He further directed that they teach Pantaka to recite the above two phrases. These instructions were carried out and after some time Pantaka did learn the two phrases. 

Then the Master declared, “You need not wipe shoes any longer. Now sweep the temple while reciting the same two phrases.” Although Pantaka swept with great vigor, each time he finished cleaning the right side The Buddha would miraculously cause the left side to become filled with dust. Likewise, each time he finished cleaning the left side, the Buddha would cause the right side to become filled with dust.

Nonetheless, Pantaka persevered in his efforts until finally his karmic obscurations were cleared away. Then the following thought occurred to him:  “When the Master taught me the phrases ‘I am removing dust, I am removing dirt,’ did he mean inner dust or outer dust?”

…Afterwards, Pantaka returned to Jetavana where the Master declared that, of all the disciples, he was the most skilled at producing a beneficial change in beings’ minds.

So we should never think that only meditation is important, and not the activities of cleaning and the like. (pp. 122-123)

Source for the story of Pantaka: Tharchin, Khensur Lobsang and Artemus B. Engel, translators. Liberation in Our Hands: Part One: The Preliminaries. By Pabongka Rinpoche Jampa Tenzin Trinley Gyatso as transcribed and edited by Yongzin Trijang Rinpoche Yeshe Tenszin Gyatso.Howell, NJ, Mahayana Sutra and Tantra Press, 1990.