["X. The\tBuddha's\tChief\tOpponents And\tSupporters \\\"As\ta\tsolid\trock\tis\tnot\tshaken\tby\tthe\twind Even\tso\tthe\twise\tare\tnot\truffled\tby\tpraise\tor blame.\\\" \u2014\tDhp\tv.\t81 T he\tBuddha\tworked\tdisinterestedly\tfor\tthe\tweal\tof mankind,\t making\t no\t distinction\t between\t the\t rich and\t the\t poor,\t the\t high\t and\t the\t low.\t His\t followers and\tsupporters\twere\tdrawn\tboth\tfrom\tthe\thighest\tand\tlowest rungs\tof\tthe\tsocial\tladder.\tSo\tspontaneous\twas\tthe\tlove\tand so\tprofound\twas\tthe\tveneration\tof\tthe\tpeople,\tthat\tkings\tand nobles,\tmillionaires\tand\tpaupers,\tpious\tfolk\tand\tcourtesans, men\tand\twomen\tof\tall\tranks,\tvied\twith\tone\tanother\tto\tbe\tof service\t to\t him\t and\t make\t his\t noble\t mission\t a\t success.\t The wealthy\tspent\tlavishly\tto\terect\tsuitable\tmonasteries\tfor\thim, while\tthe\tpoor,\tfull\tof\tfaith,\tdemonstrated\ttheir\tpiety\tin\ttheir humble\t way.\t With\t perfect\t equanimity\t he\t accepted\t the\t gifts of\t the\t rich\t and\t the\t poor,\t but\t showed\t no\t partiality\t to\t any. Nevertheless,\t he\t showed\t more\t compassion\t to\t the\t poor\t and the\t lowly.\t Like\t a\t bee\t that\t extracts\t honey\t from\t a\t flower without\t hurting\t it,\t he\t lived\t amongst\t his\t followers\t and 151","supporters\t without\t causing\t the\t slightest\t inconvenience\t to any.\t Offerings\t of\t diverse\t kinds\t were\t showered\t on\t him,\t and he\taccepted\tthem\tall\twith\tperfect\tnon-attachment. Though\t absolutely\t pure\t in\t motive\t and\t perfectly\t selfless in\t his\t service\t to\t humanity,\t yet\t in\t preaching\t and\t spreading his\t teaching,\t the\t Buddha\t had\t to\t contend\t against\t strong opposition.\t He\t was\t severely\t criticised,\t roundly\t abused, insulted\t and\t ruthlessly\t attacked,\t as\t no\t other\t religious teacher\t had\t been.\t His\t chief\t opponents\t were\t ordinary teachers\t of\t rival\t sects\t and\t followers\t of\t heretical\t schools whose\t traditional\t teachings\t and\t superstitious\t rites\t and ceremonies\the\tjustly\tcriticised.\tHis\tgreatest\tpersonal\tenemy, who\t made\t a\t vain\t attempt\t to\t kill\t him,\t was\t his\t own\t brother- in-law\tand\tan\terstwhile\tdisciple\u2014Devadatta. The\tBuddha\tand\tDevadatta Devadatta\twas\tthe\tson\tof\tKing\tSuppabuddha\tand\tPamit\u0101,\tan aunt\tof\tthe\tBuddha.\tYasodhar\u0101\twas\this\tsister.\tHe\twas\tthus\ta cousin\t and\t brother-in-law\t of\t the\t Buddha.\t He\t entered\t the order\t in\t the\t early\t part\t of\t the\t Buddha's\t ministry\t together with\t \u00c1nanda\t and\t other\t S\u0101kya\t princes.\t He\t could\t not\t attain any\t of\t the\t stages\t of\t sainthood,\t but\t was\t distinguished\t for worldly\t psychic\t powers\t (pothujjanika-iddhi).\t One\t of\t his chief\tsupporters\twas\tKing\tAj\u0101tasattu\twho\tbuilt\ta\tmonastery for\thim. During\t the\t early\t part\t of\t his\t career\t he\t led\t such\t an exemplary\t life\t that\t even\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta\t went\t about R\u0101jagaha\t extolling\t him.\t Later,\t overcome\t by\t worldly\t gain and\t honour,\t and\t growing\t jealous\t of\t the\t Buddha,\t Devadatta 152","became\tso\tradically\tchanged\tin\this\tcharacter\tthat\the\tproved to\t be\t the\t greatest\t personal\t enemy\t of\t the\t Buddha. Simultaneous\twith\tthe\tarising\tof\till\twill\tin\this\theart\ttowards the\tBuddha\this\tpsychic\tpowers\tautomatically\tceased. Despite\t his\t evil\t ways\t and\t corrupt\t life,\t he\t had\t a\t large following\tand\tmany\tadmirers,\tand\tsome\teven\tpreferred\thim to\tVenerable\tS\u0101riputta. On\t one\t occasion\t he\t approached\t the\t Buddha\t and requested\t him\t to\t hand\t over\t the\t leadership\t of\t the\t Sangha\t to him\t as\t the\t Buddha\t was\t advanced\t in\t age.\t The\t Buddha straightaway\t refused,\t saying:\t \\\"Not\t even\t to\t S\u0101riputta\t or Moggall\u0101na\t would\t I\t hand\t over\t the\t Sangha.\t Would\t I\t then hand\t it\t over\t to\t thee?\\\"\t He\t was\t enraged\t at\t this\t refusal\t and vowed\tvengeance.\tTo\tsafeguard\tand\tmaintain\tthe\tdignity\tof the\t Sangha\t the\t Buddha\t caused\t a\t proclamation\t to\t be\t made that\t Devadatta\t alone\t was\t responsible\t for\t anything\t done\t by him\t in\t the\t name\t of\t the\t Buddha,\t the\t Dhamma,\t or\t the Sangha. Devadatta,\t therefore,\t conspired\t with\t King\t Aj\u0101tasattu\t to kill\tthe\tBuddha.\tHe\tadvised\tAj\u0101tasattu\tto\tkill\this\tfather\tand usurp\t the\t throne,\t while\t he\t himself\t decided\t to\t kill\t the Buddha\tand\tlead\tthe\tSangha. Ungrateful\t Aj\u0101tasattu\t succeeded\t in\t killing\t his\t devout father,\t and\t Devadatta\t hired\t bowmen\t to\t murder\t the\t Buddha but,\t contrary\t to\t his\t expectations,\t all\t the\t hirelings\t became the\t Buddha's\t followers.\t Foiled\t in\t his\t attempt,\t he\t himself resolved\tto\tkill\tthe\tBuddha.\tWhen\tthe\tBuddha\twas\twalking on\t the\t slopes\t of\t Gijjhak\u016ba,\t he\t climbed\t the\t Peak\t and mercilessly\t hurled\t a\t rock\t at\t the\t Buddha.\t Fortunately\t it 153","struck\tanother\tpiece\tof\trock\tand\ta\tsplinter\tslightly\twounded the\t Buddha's\t foot,\t causing\t the\t blood\t to\t flow.\t J\u012bvaka\t the physician\tattended\thim\tand\tcured\thim. Devadatta\t made\t another\t unsuccessful\t attempt\t to\t kill\t the Buddha\t by\t dispatching\t the\t elephant\t N\u0101l\u0101giri,\t after infuriating\t him\t with\t liquor,\t against\t the\t Teacher.\t When\t the ferocious\t elephant\t approached\t the\t Buddha\t the\t Venerable \u00c1nanda\t stepped\t forward\t to\t sacrifice\t his\t life\t for\t the\t sake\t of his\t master,\t but\t the\t Buddha\t subdued\t the\t beast\t by\t his\t loving kindness\t(mett\u0101). By\t this\t last\t wicked\t act\t Devadatta\t became\t extremely unpopular,\tand\tpublic\topinion\twas\tso\tmuch\tagainst\thim\tthat the\t king\t was\t compelled\t to\t withdraw\t his\t patronage. Devadatta\tfell\tinto\tdisrepute\tand\tall\this\tfavours\tdecreased. He\t now\t decided\t to\t live\t by\t deceit.\t His\t fertile\t brain devised\tanother\tseemingly\tpeaceful\tplan. With\t the\t help\t of\t equally\t evil-minded\t bhikkhus\t such\t as Kok\u0101lika,\t he\t thought\t of\t causing\t a\t schism\t in\t the\t order.\t He requested\t the\t Buddha\t to\t enforce\t the\t following\t five\t rules among\tthe\tbhikkhus: i.\t That\tmonks\tshould\tdwell\tall\ttheir\tlives\tin\tthe\tforest. ii.\t That\tthey\tshould\tlive\ton\talms\tbegged. iii.\t That\t they\t should\t wear\t pa\u1e43suk\u016bla\t robes\t (i.e.,\t robes made\t from\t rags\t collected\t from\t the\t dust-heap\t and cemeteries.) iv.\t That\tthey\tshould\tlive\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\ta\ttree. v.\t That\tthey\tshould\tnot\teat\tfish\tor\tflesh\tthroughout\tlife. 154","This\t he\t did,\t knowing\t fully\t well\t that\t the\t Buddha\t would\t not assent\t thereto.\t He\t desired\t to\t make\t Buddha's\t refusal\t a pretext\tfor\tdisparaging\tthe\tBuddha,\tand\tthereby\twinning\tthe support\tof\tthe\tignorant\tmasses. When\t this\t request\t was\t made\t the\t compassionate\t and tolerant\t Buddha\t declared\t that\t his\t disciples\t were\t free\t to adopt\t these\t rules\t or\t not,\t but\t he\t would\t not\t make\t them compulsory\tfor\tall. Devadatta\t made\t this\t refusal\t a\t cause\t for\t a\t schism\t in\t the order.\t He\t appealed\t to\t the\t bhikkhus,\t saying:\t \\\"Brethren, whose\t words\t are\t the\t nobler,\t the\t words\t of\t the\t Tath\u0101gata\t or the\t words\t which\t I\t myself\t have\t uttered?\t Whoever\t desires release\tfrom\tsuffering,\tlet\thim\tcome\twith\tme.\\\" Newly\t ordained\t monks,\t who\t were\t not\t conversant\t with the\tDhamma,\tapparently\tapproved\tof\this\tdemands\tand\twent over\t to\t him.\t Accompanied\t by\t them,\t he\t went\t to\t Gay\u0101s\u012bsa. But\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta\t and\t Moggall\u0101na,\t on\t the\t advice\t of the\t Buddha,\t went\t there\t and\t succeeded\t in\t winning\t them back\tafter\texplaining\tthe\tDhamma\tto\tthem. Thereafter\t evil\t days\t fell\t upon\t Devadatta.\t He\t fell grievously\t ill,\t and\t before\t his\t death\t he\t sincerely\t repented and\t desired\t to\t see\t the\t Buddha.\t But\t his\t bad\t kamma interfered\t and\t he\t had\t to\t die\t a\t miserable\t death\t without seeing\t the\t Buddha.\t However,\t he\t sought\t refuge\t in\t the Buddha\tat\tthe\tlast\tmoment. Although\t he\t suffers\t in\t a\t woeful\t state\t for\t his\t heinous crimes,\tyet\tas\ta\tresult\tof\tthe\tholy\tlife\the\tled\tduring\tthe\tearly part\t of\t his\t career,\t it\t is\t stated\t that\t he\t would\t become\t a paccekabuddha\tnamed\tAtthissara\tin\tthe\tdistant\tfuture. 155","An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika The\t chief\t supporter\t of\t the\t Buddha\t was\t An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t the millionaire.\t Amongst\t his\t lay-followers\t he\t was\t regarded\t as the\tforemost\talms-giver\t(d\u0101yaka). The\t original\t name\t of\t An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika,\t which\t means\t the \\\"Feeder\t of\t the\t Helpless,\\\"\t was\t Sudatta.\t Owing\t to\t his unparalleled\t generosity\t he\t was\t latterly\t known\t by\t his\t new name.\tHis\tbirthplace\twas\tS\u0101vatth\u012b. One\t day\t he\t visited\t his\t brother-in-law\t in\t R\u0101jagaha\t to transact\t some\t business.\t His\t brother-in-law\t did\t not\t come forward\t as\t usual\t to\t welcome\t him\t but\t Sudatta\t found\t him\t in the\tback\tyard\tmaking\tpreparations\tfor\ta\tfeast.\tOn\tinquiry,\tto his\tindescribable\tjoy,\the\tunderstood\tthat\tthose\tarrangements were\t being\t made\t to\t entertain\t the\t Buddha\t on\t the\t following day.\t The\t utterance\t of\t the\t mere\t word\t \\\"Buddha\\\"\t roused\t his interest\t and\t he\t longed\t to\t see\t him.\t As\t he\t was\t told\t that\t the Buddha\t was\t living\t in\t the\t S\u012btavana\t forest\t in\t the neighbourhood\t and\t that\t he\t could\t see\t him\t on\t the\t following morning,\t he\t went\t to\t bed.\t However\t his\t desire\t to\t visit\t the Buddha\twas\tso\tintense\tthat\the\thad\ta\tsleepless\tnight\tand\the arose\t at\t an\t unusual\t hour\t in\t the\t morning\t to\t start\t out\t for\t the S\u012btavana.\t It\t appears\t that,\t owing\t to\t his\t great\t faith\t in\t the Buddha,\ta\tlight\temanated\tfrom\this\tbody.\tAs\the\tproceeded\tto the\tspot\the\tpassed\tthrough\ta\tcemetery.\tIt\twas\tpitch-dark\tand a\t fear\t arose\t in\t him.\t He\t thought\t of\t turning\t back.\t Then S\u012bvaka,\t a\t Yakkha,\t himself\t invisible,\t encouraged\t him, saying: \\\"A\thundred\telephants\tand\thorses\ttoo, 156","Ay,\tand\ta\thundred\tchariots\tdrawn\tby\tmules, A\thundred\tthousand\tmaidens,\tin\ttheir\tears Bejewelled\trings:\tall\tare\tnot\tworth The\tsixteenth\tfraction\tof\ta\tsingle\tstride. Advance,\tO\tcitizen,\tgo\tforward\tthou! Advance\tfor\tthee\tis\tbetter\tthan\tretreat.\\\"\t147 His\tfear\tvanished\tand\tfaith\tin\tthe\tBuddha\tarose\tin\tits\tplace. Light\t appeared\t again,\t and\t he\t courageously\t sped\t forward. Nevertheless,\tall\tthis\thappened\ta\tsecond\ttime\tand\tyet\ta\tthird time. Ultimately\t he\t reached\t S\u012btavana\t where\t the\t Buddha\t was pacing\t up\t and\t down\t in\t the\t open\t air\t anticipating\t his\t visit. The\t Buddha\t addressed\t him\t by\t his\t family\t name,\t Sudatta, and\tcalled\thim\tto\this\tpresence. An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t was\t pleased\t to\t hear\t the\t Buddha\t address him\t thus\t and\t respectfully\t inquired\t whether\t the\t Buddha rested\thappily. The\tBuddha\treplied: \\\"Surely\tat\tall\ttimes\thappily\tdoth\trest The\tarahant\tin\twhom\tall\tfire's\textinct. Who\tcleaves\tnot\tto\tsensuous\tdesires, Cool\tall\this\tbeing,\trid\tof\tall\tthe\tgerms That\tbring\tnew\tlife,\tall\tcumbrances\tcut\tout, Subdued\tthe\tpain\tand\tpining\tof\tthe\theart, Calm\tand\tserene\the\trests\thappily For\tin\this\tmind\the\thath\tattained\tto\tpeace.\\\"\t148 Hearing\t the\t Dhamma,\t he\t became\t a\t sot\u0101panna\t (stream- 157","winner),\tand\tinvited\tthe\tBuddha\tto\tspend\tthe\trainy\tseason\tat S\u0101vatth\u012b.\t The\t Buddha\t accepted\t the\t invitation\t suggesting that\t Buddhas\t take\t pleasure\t in\t solitude.\t An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika, returning\t to\t S\u0101vatth\u012b,\t bought\t the\t park\t belonging\t to\t Prince Jeta\tat\ta\tprice\tdetermined\tby\tcovering,\tso\tthe\tstory\tgoes,\tthe whole\tsite\twith\tgold\tcoins,\tand\terected\tthe\tfamous\tJetavana Monastery\t at\t a\t great\t cost.\t Here\t the\t Buddha\t spent\t nineteen rainy\t seasons.\t This\t monastery\t where\t the\t Buddha\t spent\t the major\tpart\tof\this\tlife\twas\tthe\tplace\twhere\the\tdelivered\tmany of\this\tsermons. Several\t discourses\t which\t were\t of\t particular\t interest\t to laymen\t were\t delivered\t to\t An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika,\t although\t he refrained\t from\t asking\t any\t question\t of\t the\t Buddha,\t lest\t he should\tweary\thim. Once\t the\t Buddha\t discoursing\t on\t generosity\t reminded An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t that\t alms\t given\t to\t the\t order\t of\t monks together\t with\t the\t Buddha\t is\t very\t meritorious;\t but\t more meritorious\t than\t such\t alms\t is\t the\t building\t of\t a\t monastery for\t the\t use\t of\t the\t order;\t more\t meritorious\t than\t such monasteries\t is\t seeking\t refuge\t in\t the\t Buddha,\t the\t Dhamma, and\tthe\tSangha;\tmore\tmeritorious\tthan\tseeking\trefuge\tin\tthe Buddha,\t the\t Dhamma,\t and\t the\t Sangha\t is\t the\t observance\t of the\tfive\tprecepts;\tmore\tmeritorious\tthan\tsuch\tobservance\tis meditation\t on\t loving\t kindness\t (mett\u0101)\t for\t a\t moment;\t and most\t meritorious\t of\t all\t is\t the\t development\t of\t insight\t as\t to the\tfleeting\tnature\tof\tthings\t(vipassan\u0101).\t149 It\tis\tevident\tfrom\tthis\tdiscourse\tthat\tgenerosity\tis\tthe\tfirst stage\t on\t the\t way\t of\t Buddhist\t life.\t More\t important\t than generosity\t is\t the\t observance\t of\t at\t least\t the\t five\t rules\t of regulated\tbehaviour\twhich\ttend\tto\tthe\tdisciplining\tof\twords 158","and\t deeds.\t Still\t more\t important\t and\t more\t beneficial\t is\t the cultivation\t of\t such\t ennobling\t virtues\t like\t loving\t kindness which\t lead\t to\t self-development.\t Most\t important\t and\t most beneficial\t of\t all\t self-discipline\t is\t the\t sincere\t effort\t to understand\tthings\tas\tthey\ttruly\tare. Commenting\t on\t the\t four\t kinds\t of\t bliss\t a\t layman\t may enjoy,\tthe\tBuddha\tdeclared: There\t are\t these\t four\t kinds\t of\t bliss\t to\t be\t won\t by\t the householder\t who\t enjoys\t the\t pleasures\t of\t sense\t from time\t to\t time\t and\t when\t occasion\t offers\u2014the\t bliss\t of ownership\t (atthi-sukha),\t the\t bliss\t of\t wealth\t (bhoga- sukha),\tthe\tbliss\tof\tdebtlessness\t(ana\u1e47a-sukha),\tand\tthe bliss\tof\tblamelessness\t(anavajja-sukha).150 What\tis\tthe\tbliss\tof\townership? Herein\ta\tclansman\thas\twealth\tacquired\tby\tenergetic striving,\t amassed\t by\t strength\t of\t arm,\t won\t by\t sweat, lawful,\t and\t lawfully\t gotten.\t At\t the\t thought,\t wealth\t is mine,\t acquired\t by\t energetic\t striving,\t lawfully\t gotten, bliss\t comes\t to\t him,\t satisfaction\t comes\t to\t him.\t This\t is called\tthe\tbliss\tof\townership. What\tis\tthe\tbliss\tof\twealth? Herein\t a\t clansman\t by\t means\t of\t wealth\t acquired\t by energetic\t striving,\t both\t enjoys\t his\t wealth\t and\t does meritorious\t deeds\t therewith.\t At\t the\t thought,\t by\t means of\t wealth\t acquired,\t I\t both\t enjoy\t my\t wealth\t and\t do meritorious\t deeds,\t bliss\t comes\t to\t him,\t satisfaction comes\tto\thim.\tThis\tis\tcalled\tthe\tbliss\tof\twealth. What\tis\tthe\tbliss\tof\tdebtlessness? 159","Herein\t a\t clansman\t owes\t no\t debt,\t great\t or\t small,\t to anyone.\t At\t the\t thought,\t I\t owe\t no\t debt,\t great\t or\t small, to\t anyone,\t bliss\t comes\t to\t him,\t satisfaction\t comes\t to him.\tThis\tis\tcalled\tthe\tbliss\tof\tdebtlessness. What\tis\tthe\tbliss\tof\tblamelessness? Herein\t the\t ariyan\t disciple\t is\t blessed\t with\t blameless action\t of\t body,\t blameless\t action\t of\t speech,\t blameless action\t of\t mind.\t At\t the\t thought,\t I\t am\t blessed\t with blameless\t action\t of\t body,\t speech\t and\t mind,\t bliss comes\tto\thim,\tsatisfaction\tcomes\tto\thim.\tThis\tis\tcalled the\tbliss\tof\tblamelessness. (The\tBuddha\tcontinued:) \\\"Winning\tthe\tbliss\tof\tdebtlessness\ta\tman May\tthen\trecall\tthe\tbliss\tof\treally\thaving. When\the\tenjoys\tthe\tbliss\tof\twealth,\the\tsees 'Tis\tsuch\tby\twisdom.\tWhen\the\tsees\the\tknows. Thus\tis\the\twise\tindeed\tin\tboth\trespects. But\tthese\thave\tnot\tone-sixteenth\tof\tthe\tbliss (That\tcometh\tto\ta\tman)\tof\tblamelessness.\\\" On\t another\t occasion\t when\t the\t Buddha\t visited\t the\t house\t of An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika,\the\theard\tan\tunusual\tuproar\tinside\tthe\thouse and\tinquired\twhat\tit\twas. \\\"Lord,\tit\tis\tSuj\u0101t\u0101,\tmy\tdaughter-in-law,\twho\tlives\twith\tus. She\t is\t rich\t and\t has\t been\t brought\t here\t from\t a\t wealthy family.\t She\t pays\t no\t heed\t to\t her\t mother-in-law,\t nor\t to\t her father-in-law,\tnor\tto\ther\thusband;\tneither\tdoes\tshe\tvenerate, honour,\t reverence\t nor\t respect\t the\t Exalted\t One,\\\"\t replied 160","An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika. The\t Buddha\t called\t her\t to\t his\t presence\t and\t preached\t an illuminative\t discourse\t on\t seven\t kinds\t of\t wives\t that\t exist even\tin\tmodern\tsociety\tas\tit\twas\tin\tthe\tdays\tof\told. \\\"Whoso\t is\t wicked\t in\t mind,\t ill-disposed,\t pitiless,\t fond of\tother\t(men)\tneglecting\thusband,\ta\tprostitute,\tbent\ton harassing\u2014such\ta\tone\tis\tcalled\t\\\"a\ttroublesome\twife.\\\" Whoso\t wishes\t to\t squander\t whatever\t profits,\t though little,\t that\t the\t husband\t gains\t whether\t by\t crafts,\t trade, or\tplough\u2014such\ta\tone\tis\tcalled\t\\\"a\tthievish\twife.\\\" Whoso\t is\t not\t inclined\t to\t do\t anything,\t lazy, gluttonous,\t harsh,\t cruel,\t fond\t of\t bad\t speech,\t lives domineering\t the\t industrious\u2014such\t a\t one\t is\t called\t \\\"a lordly\twife.\\\" Whoso\tis\tever\tkind\tand\tcompassionate,\tprotects\ther husband\tlike\ta\tmother\ther\tson,\tguards\tthe\taccumulated wealth\t of\t her\t husband\u2014such\t a\t one\t is\t called\t \\\"a motherly\twife.\\\" Whoso\t is\t respectful\t towards\t her\t husband\t just\t as\t a younger\t sister\t towards\t her\t elder\t brother,\t modest,\t lives in\t accordance\t with\t her\t husband's\t wishes\u2014such\t a\t one is\tcalled\t\\\"a\tsisterly\twife.\\\" Whoso\trejoices\tat\tthe\tsight\tof\ther\thusband\teven\tas\ta friend\t on\t seeing\t a\t companion\t who\t has\t come\t after\t a long\ttime,\tis\tof\tnoble\tbirth,\tvirtuous\tand\tchaste\u2014such a\tone\tis\tcalled\t\\\"a\tfriendly\twife.\\\" Whoso,\twhen\tthreatened\twith\tharm\tand\tpunishment, 161","is\tnot\tangry\tbut\tcalm,\tendures\tall\tthings\tof\ther\thusband with\t no\t wicked\t heart,\t free\t from\t hatred,\t lives\t in accordance\t with\t her\t husband's\t wishes\u2014such\t a\t one\t is called\t\\\"a\thandmaid\twife.\\\"\t151 The\t Buddha\t describing\t the\t characteristics\t of\t the\t seven kinds\tof\twives\tremarked\tthat\tof\tthem\tthe\ttroublesome\twife (vadhaka-bhariy\u0101),\t the\t thievish\t wife\t (cora-bhariy\u0101),\t and the\t lordly\t wife\t (ayya-bhariy\u0101),\t are\t bad\t and\t undesirable ones,\t while\t the\t motherly\t wife\t (m\u0101tu-bhariy\u0101),\t sisterly\t wife (bhagini-bhariy\u0101),\t friendly\t wife\t (sakh\u012b-bhariy\u0101),\t and handmaid\t wife\t (d\u0101si-bhariy\u0101),\t are\t good\t and\t praiseworthy ones. \\\"These,\tSuj\u0101t\u0101,\tare\tthe\tseven\tkinds\tof\twives\ta\tman\tmay have:\tand\twhich\tof\tthem\tare\tyou?\\\" \\\"Lord,\t let\t the\t Exalted\t One\t think\t of\t me\t as\t a handmaid\twife\t(d\u0101si-bhariy\u0101)\tfrom\tthis\tday\tforth.\\\" An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t used\t to\t visit\t the\t Buddha\t daily\t and,\t finding that\tpeople\twere\tdisappointed\tin\tthe\tabsence\tof\tthe\tBuddha, wished\t to\t know\t from\t the\t Venerable\t \u00c1nanda\t whether\t there was\t a\t possibility\t for\t the\t devout\t followers\t to\t pay\t their respects\twhen\tthe\tBuddha\twas\ton\this\tpreaching\ttours.\tThis matter\t was\t reported\t to\t the\t Buddha\t with\t the\t result\t that\t the \u00c1nanda-bodhi\t tree,152\t which\t stands\t to\t this\t day,\t was planted\tat\tthe\tentrance\tto\tthe\tmonastery. Pu\u00f1\u00f1alakkha\u1e47\u0101,\ta\tvery\tvirtuous\tlady,\twas\this\twife.\tMah\u0101 Subhadd\u0101,\t C\u016ba\t Subhadd\u0101,\t and\t Suman\u0101\t were\t his\t three devout\t daughters.\t The\t elder\t two\t had\t attained\t stream-entry (sot\u0101patti),\t while\t the\t youngest\t was\t a\t once-returner 162","(sakad\u0101g\u0101\u012b).\tHis\tonly\tson\tK\u0101la,\twho\twas\tat\tfirst\tirreligious, later\tbecame\ta\tstream-enterer\t(sot\u0101panna)\tby\tthe\tskilfullness of\tthe\tfather. An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t breathed\t his\t last\t after\t hearing\t a\t profound discourse\tfrom\tVenerable\tS\u0101riputta.\t153\tAs\the\twas\tabout\tto die\t he\t sent\t a\t messenger\t to\t inform\t the\t Buddha\t that\t he\t was seriously\t ill,\t that\t he\t paid\t his\t homage\t to\t him\t and\t to\t request the\tVenerable\tS\u0101riputta\tto\thave\tcompassion\ton\thim\tand\tvisit him\t in\t his\t house.\t As\t invited,\t the\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta, accompanied\tby\tVenerable\t\u00c1nanda,\tproceeded\tto\this\thouse and\t inquired\t about\t his\t health.\t He\t replied\t that\t he\t was suffering\t from\t an\t acute\t pain\t and\t that\t he\t saw\t no\t signs\t of progress. The\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta\t then\t preached\t a\t profound discourse.\tTears\tcame\tto\this\teyes\tat\tthe\tclose\tof\tthe\tsermon. Venerable\t\u00c1nanda\tseeing\thim\tin\ttears\tasked\thim\twhether\the was\t sinking.\t An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t answered:\t \\\"Not\t at\t all, Venerable\t Sir.\t Though\t I\t have\t long\t attended\t on\t the\t Master and\this\tdisciples,\tnever\tdid\tI\thear\tsuch\ta\tdiscourse.\\\" \\\"Such\t profound\t discourses\t are\t not\t taught\t to\t the\t white- robed\tlaymen\tas\tthey\tcannot\tcomprehend\ttheir\tmeaning\tbut are\t reserved\t for\t advanced\t disciples,\\\"\t replied\t Venerable S\u0101riputta. But\t An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\t begged\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta\t to expound\tsuch\tintricate\tDhamma\tto\tthe\tlaity\tas\twell\tfor\tthere would\tbe\tsome\twho\tcould\tunderstand. Not\tlong\tbefore\tthe\tdeparture\tof\tthese\ttwo\tgreat\tdisciples An\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika\tpassed\taway\tand\twas\timmediately\treborn\tin Tusita\theaven. 163","At\tnight\tDeva\tAn\u0101thapi\u1e47\u1e0dika,\tilluminating\tthe\twhole\tJeta Grove,\t came\t up\t to\t the\t Buddha,\t saluted\t him,\t and\t extolling the\tvirtues\tof\tVenerable\tS\u0101riputta,\texpressed\this\tpleasure\ton seeing\t the\t Buddha\t and\t his\t disciples\t residing\t in\t his monastery,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Goodwill\tand\twisdom,\tmind\tby\tmethod\ttrained, The\thighest\tconduct\ton\tgood\tmorals\tbased, This\tmaketh\tmortals\tpure,\tnot\trank\tnor\twealth.\\\"\t154 Vis\u0101kh\u0101 Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t was\t the\t devout\t and\t generous\t daughter\t of millionaire\tDhana\u00f1jaya.\tHer\tmother\twas\tSuman\u0101\tDevi,\tand her\tbeloved\tgrandfather\twas\tmillionaire\tMe\u1e47\u1e0daka. When\t she\t was\t only\t seven\t years\t old,\t the\t Buddha happened\tto\tvisit\ther\tbirth\tplace,\tBhaddiya,\tin\tthe\tkingdom of\tA\u1e47ga.\tHer\tgrandfather,\thearing\tof\tBuddha's\tvisit,\tsaid\tto her:\t\\\"Dear\tgirl,\tthis\tis\ta\thappy\tday\tfor\tyou\tand\ta\thappy\tday for\t me.\t Summon\t the\t five\t hundred\t maidens\t who\t are\t your attendants,\t mount\t five\t hundred\t chariots,\t and\t accompanied by\t your\t five\t hundred\t slave-maidens,\t go\t forth\t to\t welcome the\tBuddha.\\\" Readily\t she\t agreed\t and,\t as\t advised,\t went\t up\t to\t the Buddha,\t saluted\t him\t and\t sat\t respectfully\t at\t one\t side.\t The Buddha\t was\t pleased\t with\t her\t refined\t manners\t and\t he preached\t the\t Dhamma\t to\t her\t and\t others.\t Though\t young\t in age,\t she\t was\t comparatively\t far\t advanced\t from\t a\t moral standpoint.\t As\t such,\t immediately\t after\t hearing\t the Dhamma,\tshe\tattained\tthe\tfirst\tstage\tof\tsainthood\t(sot\u0101patti) 164","despite\ther\tearly\tage. Books\t state\t that\t even\t in\t the\t prime\t of\t her\t youth\t she possessed\t masculine\t strength\t and\t was\t gifted\t with\t all womanly\tcharms.\t155\tHer\thair\twas\tlike\ta\tpeacock's\ttail\tand when\t loosened\t it\t reached\t the\t hem\t of\t her\t skirt\t and\t then\t the ends\tof\tthe\thair\tcurled\tand\tturned\tupwards.\tHer\tlips\twere\tof a\t bright\t red\t colour\t and\t were\t smooth\t and\t soft\t to\t the\t touch. Her\tteeth\twere\twhite\tand\twere\tevenly\tset\twithout\tinterstices and\tshone\tlike\ta\trow\tof\tdiamonds.\tHer\tskin,\twithout\tthe\tuse of\t any\t cosmetic,\t was\t as\t smooth\t as\t a\t blue\t lotus-wreath\t and was\t of\t a\t golden\t colour.\t She\t retained\t her\t youthful appearance\talthough\tshe\tbore\tseveral\tchildren. Endowed\twith\tthese\tfive\tkinds\tof\tfeminine\tbeauty\u2014hair, flesh,\t bone,\t skin\t and\t youth\u2014young\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t excelled\t both in\tworldly\twisdom\tand\tspiritual\tinsight. When\t she\t was\t about\t fifteen\t or\t sixteen\t years\t old,\t on\t a certain\t festival\t day,\t she\t went\t on\t foot\t with\t her\t retinue\t in\t a holiday\t spirit\t to\t the\t river\t to\t bathe.\t Suddenly\t there\t arose\t an unexpected\tshower,\tand\tall\tbut\tyoung\tVis\u0101kh\u0101\tungraciously ran\tas\tfast\tas\tthey\tcould\tand\tentered\ta\thall\twhere\tthere\twere some\t brahmins\t who\t had\t come\t in\t search\t of\t a\t suitable maiden\tpossessed\tof\tthe\tfive\tkinds\tof\tbeauty\tfor\ttheir\tyoung master.\t Cultured\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\t without\t any\t particular\t haste, gracefully\t proceeded\t at\t her\t usual\t gait\t and\t entered\t the\t hall with\t garments\t and\t ornaments\t all\t wet.\t The\t inquisitive brahmins\t criticised\t her\t for\t not\t quickening\t up\t her\t pace\t as others\t had\t done\t and\t thus\t escaping\t being\t drenched\t in\t the rain. Talented\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t rose\t to\t the\t occasion\t and\t gave\t an 165","extempore\t discourse\t on\t deportment\t according\t to\t her\t view. She\t said\t that\t she\t could\t have\t run\t even\t faster\t but\t she refrained\t from\t doing\t so\t purposely.\t Then\t she\t explained\t that it\twas\tnot\tbecoming\tfor\ta\tKing,\tadorned\twith\tall\tjewels,\tto gird\t up\t his\t loins\t and\t run\t in\t the\t palace-court.\t Likewise\t it\t is not\tbecoming\tfor\ta\tfully\tcaparisoned\tstate\telephant\tto\trun;\tit should\t move\t about\t with\t the\t natural\t grace\t of\t an\t elephant. Monks\t also\t incur\t criticism\t when\t they\t run\t about\t like ordinary\t laymen.\t Likewise\t it\t is\t not\t a\t dignified\t spectacle\t to see\ta\twoman\trunning\tabout\tlike\ta\tman. Brahmins\t were\t pleased\t with\t her\t instructive\t talk\t and thought\t that\t she\t was\t an\t ideal\t wife\t for\t their\t master. Accordingly,\t arrangements\t were\t made\t to\t give\t her\t in marriage\tto\ttheir\tmaster,\tPu\u00f1\u00f1avaddhana,\thimself\tthe\tson\tof a\tmillionaire\tnamed\tMig\u0101ra,\twho\twas\tnot\ta\tfollower\tof\tthe Buddha. The\t marriage\t festival\t was\t conducted\t on\t an\t elaborate scale.\tOn\tthe\twedding\tday,\tin\taddition\tto\ta\tlarge\tdowry\tand an\t exquisitely\t rich\t ornament,\t her\t wise\t father\t gave\t her\t the following\tadmonitions: 1.\t Do\tnot\tcarry\toutside\tthe\tindoor\tfire.\t156 2.\t Do\tnot\ttake\tinside\tthe\toutdoor\tfire. 3.\t Give\tonly\tto\tthose\tthat\tgive. 4.\t Do\tnot\tgive\tto\tthose\tthat\tdo\tnot\tgive. 5.\t Give\tboth\tto\tthose\tthat\tgive\tand\tdo\tnot\tgive. 6.\t Sit\thappily. 7.\t Eat\thappily. 166","8.\t Sleeli>\thappily. 9.\t Tend\tthe\tfire. 10.\t Honour\tthe\thousehold\tdivinities. Their\timplied\tmeaning\tis\tas\tfollows: 1.\t The\t wife\t should\t not\t speak\t ill\t of\t her\t husband\t and parents-in-law\t to\t others.\t Neither\t should\t their shortcomings\t nor\t household\t quarrels\t be\t reported elsewhere. 2.\t A\t wife\t should\t not\t listen\t to\t the\t reports\t and\t stories\t of other\thouseholds. 3.\t Things\tshould\tbe\tlent\tto\tthose\twho\tdo\treturn\tthem. 4.\t No\t article\t should\t be\t lent\t to\t those\t who\t do\t not\t return them. 5.\t Poor\tkinsfolk\tand\tfriends\tshould\tbe\thelped\teven\tif\tthey do\tnot\trepay. 6.\t A\t wife\t should\t sit\t in\t a\t becoming\t way.\t On\t seeing\t her parents-in-law\t or\t her\t husband,\t she\t should\t keep standing\tand\tnot\tsit. 7.\t Before\t partaking\t of\t her\t meals,\t a\t wife\t should\t first\t see that\t her\t parents-in-law\t and\t husband\t are\t served.\t She should\talso\tsee\tthat\ther\tservants\tare\twell\tcared\tfor. 8.\t Before\tsleep\ta\twife\tshould\tsee\tthat\tall\tdoors\tare\tclosed, furniture\t is\t safe,\t servants\t have\t performed\t their\t duties, and\t that\t parents-in-law\t have\t retired.\t As\t a\t rule\t a\t wife should\trise\tearly\tin\tthe\tmorning\tand,\tunless\tunwell,\tshe 167","should\tnot\tsleep\tduring\tthe\tday. 9.\t Parents-in-law\tand\thusband\tshould\tbe\tregarded\tas\tfire. One\tshould\tdeal\tcarefully\twith\tthem\tas\tone\twould\tdeal with\tfire. 10.\t Parents-in-law\t and\t husband\t should\t be\t regarded\t as divinities.\t It\t is\t noteworthy\t that\t the\t Buddha\t himself refers\tto\tparents-in-law\tas\tdivinities\t(sassudev\u0101). On\tthe\tday\tshe\tarrived\tin\tS\u0101vatth\u012b,\tthe\tcity\tof\ther\thusband, she\twas\tshowered\twith\tvarious\tpresents\tsent\tfrom\tpeople\tof all\t ranks\t according\t to\t their\t status\t and\t ability.\t But\t so\t kind and\tgenerous\twas\tshe\tthat\tshe\tdistributed\tthem\tamongst\tthe donors\t themselves\t with\t a\t kind\t message,\t and\t treated\t all\t the residents\t of\t the\t city\t as\t her\t own\t kinsfolk.\t By\t this\t noble gesture\t on\t the\t very\t first\t day\t she\t came\t to\t her\t husband's home,\tshe\tbecame\tendeared\tto\tall\tthe\tpeople\tof\tthe\tcity. There\t is\t an\t incident\t in\t her\t life\t which\t reveals\t her\t dutiful kindness\t even\t towards\t animals.\t Hearing\t that\t her\t well-bred mare\t gave\t birth\t to\t a\t foal\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t the\t night, immediately\t she\t repaired\t to\t the\t stable\t with\t her\t female attendants\tbearing\ttorches\tin\ttheir\thands,\tand\tattended\tto\tall the\tmare's\tneeds\twith\tthe\tgreatest\tcare\tand\tattention. As\t her\t father-in-law\t was\t a\t staunch\t follower\t of\t Niga\u1e47ha \u00d1\u0101taputta,\the\tinvited\ta\tlarge\tnumber\tof\tnaked\tascetics\tto\this house\t for\t alms.\t On\t their\t arrival\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t was\t requested\t to come\t and\t render\t homage\t to\t these\t so-called\t arahants.\t She was\t delighted\t to\t hear\t the\t word\t arahant\t and\t hurried\t to\t the hall\t only\t to\t see\t naked\t ascetics\t devoid\t of\t all\t modesty.\t The sight\t was\t too\t unbearable\t for\t a\t refined\t lady\t like\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101. She\treproached\ther\tfather-in-law\tand\tretired\tto\ther\tquarters 168","without\t entertaining\t them.\t The\t naked\t ascetics\t took\t offence and\t found\t fault\t with\t the\t millionaire\t for\t having\t brought\t a female\t follower\t of\t the\t Ascetic\t Gotama\t to\t his\t house.\t They asked\t him\t to\t expel\t her\t from\t the\t house\t immediately.\t The millionaire\tpacified\tthem. One\t day\t he\t sat\t on\t a\t costly\t seat\t and\t began\t to\t eat\t some sweet\t rice\t porridge\t from\t a\t golden\t bowl.\t At\t that\t moment\t a bhikkhu\t entered\t the\t house\t for\t alms.\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t was\t fanning her\tfather-in-law\tand\twithout\tinforming\thim\tof\this\tpresence she\tmoved\taside\tso\tthat\the\tmight\tsee\thim.\tAlthough\the\tsaw him\the\tcontinued\teating\tas\tif\the\thad\tnot\tseen\thim. Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t politely\t told\t the\t bhikkhu:\t \\\"Pass\t on,\t Venerable Sir,\tmy\tfather-in-law\tis\teating\tstale\tfare.\\\" The\t ignorant\t millionaire,\t misconstruing\t her\t words,\t was so\t provoked\t that\t he\t ordered\t the\t bowl\t to\t be\t removed\t and Vis\u0101kh\u0101\tto\tbe\texpelled\tfrom\tthe\thouse. Vis\u0101kh\u0101\twas\tthe\tfavourite\tof\tall\tthe\tinmates\tof\tthe\thouse, and\tso\tnobody\tdared\tto\ttouch\ther. But\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\t disciplined\t as\t she\t was,\t would\t not\t accept without\t protest\t such\t treatment\t even\t from\t her\t father-in-law. She\tpolitely\tsaid:\t\\\"Father,\tthis\tis\tno\tsufficient\treason\twhy\tI should\tleave\tyour\thouse.\tI\twas\tnot\tbrought\there\tby\tyou\tlike a\t slave\t girl\t from\t some\t ford.\t Daughters,\t whose\t parents\t are alive,\tdo\tnot\tleave\tlike\tthis.\tIt\tis\tfor\tthis\tvery\treason\tthat\tmy father,\t when\t I\t set\t out\t to\t come\t here,\t summoned\t eight clansmen\tand\tentrusted\tme\tto\tthem,\tsaying:\t'If\tthere\tbe\tany fault\tin\tmy\tdaughter,\tinvestigate\tit.'\tSend\tword\tto\tthem\tand let\tthem\tinvestigate\tmy\tguilt\tor\tinnocence.\\\" The\t millionaire\t agreed\t to\t her\t reasonable\t proposal\t and 169","summoning\t them\t said:\t \\\"At\t a\t time\t of\t festivity,\t while\t I\t was sitting\t and\t eating\t sweet\t milk\t rice-porridge\t from\t a\t golden bowl,\t this\t girl\t said\t that\t I\t was\t eating\t what\t was\t unclean. Convict\ther\tof\tthis\tfault\tand\texpel\ther\tfrom\tthe\thouse.\\\" Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t proved\t her\t innocence\t stating\u2014\\\"That\t is\t not precisely\twhat\tI\tsaid.\tWhen\ta\tcertain\tbhikkhu\twas\tstanding at\tthe\tdoor\tfor\talms,\tmy\tfather-in-law\twas\teating\tsweet\tmilk rice-porridge,\t ignoring\t him.\t Thinking\t to\t myself\t that\t my father\twithout\tperforming\tany\tgood\tdeed\tin\tthis\tlife,\tis\tonly consuming\tthe\tmerits\tof\tpast\tdeeds,\tI\ttold\tthe\tbhikkhu:\t'Pass on,\t Venerable\t Sir,\t my\t father-in-law\t is\t eating\t stale\t fare.' What\tfault\tof\tmine\tis\tthere\tin\tthis?\\\" She\t was\t acquitted\t of\t the\t charge,\t and\t the\t father-in-law himself\tagreed\tshe\twas\tnot\tguilty. But\t the\t spiteful\t millionaire\t charged\t her\t again\t for\t having gone\t behind\t the\t house\t with\t male\t and\t female\t attendants\t in the\tmiddle\twatch\tof\tthe\tnight. When\t she\t explained\t that\t she\t actually\t did\t so\t in\t order\t to attend\ton\ta\tmare\tin\ttravail,\tthe\tclansmen\tremarked\tthat\ttheir noble\t daughter\t had\t done\t an\t exemplary\t act,\t which\t even\t a slave-girl\t would\t not\t do.\t She\t was\t thus\t acquitted\t of\t the second\tcharge\ttoo. But\t the\t revengeful\t millionaire\t would\t not\t rest\t until\t she was\t found\t guilty.\t Next\t time\t he\t found\t fault\t with\t her\t for\t no wrong\tof\thers.\tHe\tsaid\tthat\tbefore\ther\tdeparture\tfrom\thome her\tfather\tgave\ther\tten\tadmonitions.\tFor\tinstance,\the\tsaid\tto her:\t \\\"The\t indoor\t fire\t is\t not\t to\t be\t taken\t out\t of\t doors.\t Is\t it really\t possible\t to\t live\t without\t giving\t fire\t even\t to\t our neighbours\ton\tboth\tsides\tof\tus?\\\"\tquestioned\tthe\tmillionaire. 170","She\t availed\t herself\t of\t the\t opportunity\t to\t explain\t all\t the ten\tadmonitions\tin\tdetail\tto\this\tentire\tsatisfaction. The\tmillionaire\twas\tsilenced\tand\the\thad\tno\tother\tcharges to\tmake. Having\t proved\t her\t innocence,\t self-respecting\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101 now\tdesired\tto\tleave\tthe\thouse\tas\tshe\twas\tordered\tto\tdo\tso at\tfirst. The\t millionaire's\t attitude\t towards\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t was completely\t changed,\t and\t he\t was\t compelled\t to\t seek\t pardon from\t his\t daughter-in-law\t for\t what\t he\t had\t uttered\t through ignorance. Forbearing\tVis\u0101kh\u0101,\tin\taccordance\twith\ther\ttrue\tBuddhist spirit,\t granted\t him\t pardon\t on\t condition\t that\t he\t would\t give complete\t freedom\t to\t her\t to\t carry\t on\t her\t religious\t activities as\t she\t desired.\t Her\t father-in-law\t readily\t agreed\t to\t this\t and granted\ther\tfull\tfreedom\tto\tperform\ther\treligious\tactivities. Now\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t lost\t no\t time\t in\t inviting\t the\t Buddha\t to\t the house\t for\t alms.\t The\t Buddha\t came\t and\t had\t his\t meal.\t After the\t meal\t was\t over\t the\t Buddha\t expounded\t a\t sermon.\t The millionaire\t sat\t behind\t a\t curtain\t and\t listened\t to\t the\t sermon. At\t the\t end\t of\t the\t discourse\t he\t became\t sot\u0101panna\t and acknowledged\t his\t boundless\t gratitude\t to\t his\t daughter-in- law\tfor\thaving\tinitiated\thim\tinto\tthe\ttrue\tpath\tof\tdeliverance and\t emotionally\t remarked\t that\t he\t would\t hereafter\t regard Vis\u0101kh\u0101\tas\this\tmother. Later\ton\twhen\tshe\tbore\ta\tson\tshe\tcalled\thim\tMig\u0101ra. On\t the\t following\t day\t the\t Buddha\t visited\t her\t house,\t and on\t that\t occasion\t her\t mother-in-law\t heard\t the\t Dhamma\t and 171","became\ta\tsot\u0101panna\t(Stream-winner). By\t her\t tact,\t wisdom,\t and\t patience\t she\t gradually succeeded\tin\tconverting\ther\thusband's\thousehold\tto\ta\thappy Buddhist\thome. Daily\tVis\u0101kh\u0101\tused\tto\tgive\talms\tto\tthe\tSangha\tat\ther\town house.\tBoth\tin\tthe\tforenoon\tand\tafternoon\tshe\tused\tto\tvisit the\t monastery\t to\t minister\t to\t the\t needs\t of\t the\t Sangha\t and hear\t sermons\t from\t the\t Buddha.\t Suppiy\u0101,\t another\t devout Buddhist\tlady,\tusually\taccompanied\ther\tduring\ther\tvisits. Vis\u0101kh\u0101\t was\t so\t generous\t and\t so\t serviceable\t to\t the Sangha\tthat\tonce\tshe\tapproached\tthe\tBuddha\tand\tasked\tfor the\tfollowing\teight\tboons: 1.\t To\tgive\trobes\tto\tthe\tSangha\tduring\tthe\trainy\tseason\tas long\tas\tshe\tlived. 2.\t To\tprovide\talms\tfor\tthe\tbhikkhus\tcoming\tto\tS\u0101vatth\u012b. 3.\t To\tprovide\talms\tfor\tthose\tgoing\tout\tof\tS\u0101vatth\u012b. 4.\t To\tgive\tfood\tfor\tsick\tbhikkhus. 5.\t To\tgive\tfood\tfor\tthose\twho\tattend\ton\tthe\tsick. 6.\t To\tgive\tmedicine\tfor\tthe\tsick\tbhikkhus. 7.\t To\tgive\trice-gruel\tfor\tbhikkhus. 8.\t To\tgive\tbathing\tgarments\tfor\tnuns. The\tBuddha\tgranted\tthese\tboons\tto\ther. One\tday\tVis\u0101kh\u0101\thappened\tto\tvisit\tthe\tmonastery,\tdecked in\t her\t best\t garment,\t presented\t to\t her\t by\t her\t father\t as\t a dowry.\t But\t as\t she\t thought\t it\t was\t unseemly\t to\t see\t the 172","Buddha\tso\tgaily\tdecked,\tshe\tmade\ta\tbundle\tof\tit,\tgave\tit\tto the\t slave-girl\t and\t went\t to\t the\t Buddha,\t dressed\t in\t another garment\tgiven\tto\ther\tby\ther\tfather-in-law.\tAfter\tthe\tsermon she\t left\t the\t monastery\t accompanied\t by\t the\t slave-girl\t who forgot\t to\t take\t the\t bundle\t which\t was\t placed\t in\t her\t custody. Venerable\t \u00c1nanda\t saw\t it\t and,\t as\t instructed\t by\t the\t Buddha, kept\tit\tin\ta\tsafe\tplace\tto\tbe\treturned\tto\tthe\towner.\tVis\u0101kh\u0101, on\t hearing\t that\t the\t bundle\t was\t inadvertently\t left\t by\t the maid,\t asked\t her\t to\t bring\t it\t back\t unless\t Venerable\t \u00c1nanda had\t touched\t it.\t When\t what\t had\t happened\t was\t reported\t to Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\tshe\twent\tto\tthe\tBuddha\tand\texpressed\ther\tdesire\tto do\t something\t beneficial\t with\t the\t money\t that\t would\t be realised\t by\t selling\t the\t garment.\t The\t Buddha\t advised\t her\t to erect\ta\tmonastery\tat\tthe\teast\tgate\tfor\tthe\tuse\tof\tthe\tSangha. As\t no\t one\t had\t the\t means\t to\t buy\t the\t costly\t garment,\t she herself\t bought\t it\t back\t and\t erected\t a\t monastery\t at\t a\t great cost\t and\t named\t it\t Pubb\u0101r\u0101ma.\t As\t invited\t by\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\t the Buddha\t and\t his\t disciples\t spent\t the\t Vass\u0101na\t period\t in\t this new\tspacious\tmonastery.\tGreat\twas\tVis\u0101kh\u0101's\tjoy\twhen\tthe Buddha\tspent\tsix\trainy\tseasons\tthere. Books\t state\t that\t the\t kind\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\t instead\t of\t chastising the\tslave-girl\tfor\ther\tapparent\tnegligence,\ttransferred\tto\ther a\t share\t of\t the\t merit\t acquired\t by\t erecting\t the\t monastery, because\t the\t slave-girl\t had\t given\t the\t occasion\t for\t this\t good deed. On\tvarious\toccasions\tseveral\tdiscourses\twere\tdelivered\tto Vis\u0101kh\u0101\tby\tthe\tBuddha.\tIn\tone\tdiscourse\tthe\tBuddha\tspoke on\t the\t observance\t of\t the\t eight\t precepts\t by\t laymen\t on uposatha\tdays,\t157\twhich\tobservance\tprevails\tin\talmost\tall Buddhist\tcountries\tin\tAsia\tup\tto\tthis\tday. 173","Dealing\twith\tthe\teight\tqualities\tthat\tmake\ta\twoman\tseek birth\tin\thappy\tstates,\tthe\tBuddha\tsaid: \\\"Active,\talert\tto\tcherish\thim\talways, Not\tto\tthat\tman\twho\tbrings\ther\tevery\tjoy She\toffers\tslight,\tnor\twill\ta\tgood\twife\tmove To\twrath\ther\thusband\tby\tsome\tspiteful\tword; And\tshe\treveres\tall\twhom\ther\tlord\tdoth\thonour For\tshe\tis\twise.\tDeft,\tnimble,\tup\tbetimes, She\tminds\this\twealth\tamid\this\tfolk\tat\twork And\tsweetly\torders\tall.\tA\twife\tlike\tthis, Who\twith\ther\thusband's\twish\tand\twill\tcomplies Is\tborn\tagain\twhere\tlovely\tdevas\tdwell.\t158 In\t another\t discourse\t the\t Buddha\t referring\t to\t the\t eight qualities\tin\ta\twoman\tthat\ttend\tto\tweal\tand\thappiness\tin\tthis world\tand\tin\tthe\tnext\tspoke\tas\tfollows: \\\"Herein,\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\t a\t woman\t is\t capable\t at\t her\t work,\t she manages\tthe\tservants,\tin\ther\tways\tshe\tis\tlovely\tto\ther\tlord, she\tguards\this\twealth. \\\"Herein,\t Vis\u0101kh\u0101,\t a\t woman\t is\t accomplished\t in\t trustful confidence\t (saddh\u0101),\t virtue\t (s\u012bla),\t charity\t (c\u0101ga)\t and wisdom\t(pa\u00f1\u00f1\u0101).\\\"\t159 Being\ta\tlady\tof\tmany\tparts,\tshe\tplayed\tan\timportant\trole in\tvarious\tactivities\tconnected\twith\tthe\ts\u0101sana.\t160\tAt\ttimes she\twas\tdeputed\tby\tthe\tBuddha\tto\tsettle\tdisputes\tthat\tarose amongst\t bhikkhu\u1e47\u012bs.\t Some\t Vinaya\t rules\t were\t also\t laid down\tfor\tbhikkhus\towing\tto\ther\tintervention. Owing\tto\ther\tmagnanimity\tshe\twas\tregarded\tas\tthe\tchief benefactress\tof\tthe\ts\u0101sana\tand\tthe\tgreatest\tfemale\tsupporter 174","of\tthe\tBuddha. By\t her\t dignified\t conduct,\t graceful\t deportment,\t refined manners,\t courteous\t speech,\t obedience\t and\t reverence\t to elders,\t compassion\t to\t those\t who\t were\t less\t fortunate,\t kind hospitality,\tand\treligious\tzeal,\tshe\twon\tthe\thearts\tof\tall\twho knew\ther. Books\tstate\tthat\tshe\thad\tthe\tgood\tfortune\tto\tbe\tthe\thappy mother\t of\t ten\t fortunate\t sons\t and\t ten\t fortunate\t daughters. She\tdied\tat\tthe\tripe\tage\tof\tone\thundred\tand\ttwenty. J\u012bvaka\tthe\tFosterling\t161 J\u012bvaka\twas\tthe\tcelebrated\tphysician\tof\tthe\tBuddha. Immediately\tafter\this\tbirth\the\twas\tplaced\tin\ta\tcasket\tand was\tcast\taway\tby\this\tmother,\ta\tcourtesan,\ton\ta\tdust\theap\tby the\troad\tside. Prince\t Abhaya,\t a\t son\t of\t King\t Bimbis\u0101ra,\t who\t happened to\t pass\t that\t way,\t saw\t the\t helpless\t infant\t surrounded\t by crows,\t and\t discovering\t that\t he\t was\t alive,\t caused\t him\t to\t be given\tto\tthe\tcare\tof\tthe\tnurses. As\t he\t was\t found\t alive\t he\t was\t named\t J\u012bvaka.\t Being adopted\tby\ta\tprince,\the\twas\tcalled\tKom\u0101rabhacca. Growing\t up,\t he\t became\t a\t skilful\t physician\t and\t surgeon. Books\t state\t that\t he\t made\t two\t successful\t operations\t on\t a millionaire\twho\twas\tsuffering\tfrom\ta\tsevere\theadache. He\tused\tto\tattend\ton\tthe\tBuddha\tthree\ttimes\ta\tday. When\t the\t Buddha's\t foot\t was\t wounded\t by\t a\t splinter 175","caused\tby\tthe\thurling\tof\ta\trock\tby\tDevadatta,\tit\twas\tJ\u012bvaka who\tattended\ton\thim\tand\thealed\thim.\t162 Realising\tthe\tmanifold\tadvantages\tof\thaving\ta\tmonastery close\t to\t his\t residence,\t he\t erected\t one\t in\t his\t mango\t park. After\t the\t consecration\t ceremony\t of\t this\t monastery,\t he became\ta\tstream-winner\t(sot\u0101panna). J\u012bvaka\tSutta,\t163\twhich\tdeals\twith\tthe\tquestion\tof\teating flesh,\twas\tdelivered\tby\tthe\tBuddha\tto\tJ\u012bvaka. It\t was\t J\u012bvaka\t who\t induced\t King\t Aj\u0101tasattu\t to\t visit\t the Buddha\tafter\this\tparricide. At\t his\t request\t the\t Buddha\t enjoined\t upon\t his\t disciples\t to take\tphysical\texercise\tsuch\tas\tsweeping\tetc. 176","XI. The\tBuddha's\tRoyal\tPatrons \\\"A\ttreacherous\tbog\tit\tis,\tthis\tpatronage Of\t bows\t and\t gifts\t and\t treats\t from\t wealthy folk. 'Tis\tlike\ta\tfine\tdart,\tbedded\tin\tthe\tflesh. For\terring\thuman\thard\tto\textricate.\\\" \u2014Mah\u0101kassapa\tThera\tG\u0101th\u0101\t(1053) King\tBimbis\u0101ra K ing\t Bimbis\u0101ra,\t who\t ruled\t in\t Magadha\t with\t its capital\t at\t R\u0101jagaha,\t was\t the\t Buddha's\t first\t royal patron.\tAscending\tthe\tthrone\tat\tthe\tage\tof\tfifteen, he\treigned\tfor\tfifty-two\tyears. When\t Prince\t Siddhattha\t renounced\t the\t world\t and\t was seeking\talms\tin\tthe\tstreets\tof\tR\u0101jagaha\tas\ta\thumble\tascetic, the\tking\tsaw\thim\tfrom\this\tpalace\tand\twas\thighly\timpressed by\t his\t majestic\t appearance\t and\t dignified\t deportment. Immediately\t he\t sent\t messengers\t to\t ascertain\t who\t he\t was. On\t learning\t that\t he\t was\t resting\t after\t his\t meal\t under\t the P\u0101ndavapabbata,\tthe\tking,\taccompanied\tby\this\tretinue,\twent up\tto\tthe\troyal\tascetic\tand\tinquired\tabout\this\tbirthplace\tand ancestry. 177","The\tAscetic\tGotama\treplied: \\\"Just\tstraight,\tO\tKing,\tupon\tthe\tHimalaya,\tthere\tis,\tin\tthe district\t of\t Kosala\t of\t ancient\t families,\t a\t country\t endowed with\twealth\tand\tenergy.\tI\tam\tsprung\tfrom\tthat\tfamily\twhich by\tclan\tbelongs\tto\tthe\tSolar\tdynasty,\tby\tbirth\tto\tthe\tS\u0101kyas. I\tcrave\tnot\tfor\tpleasures\tof\tthe\tsenses.\tRealising\tthe\tevil\tof sensual\t pleasures\t and\t seeing\t renunciation\t as\t safe,\t I proceeded\t to\t seek\t the\t highest,\t for\t in\t that\t my\t mind rejoices.\t164 Thereupon\tthe\tking\tinvited\thim\tto\tvisit\this\tkingdom\tafter his\tenlightenment. The\tBuddha\tmeets\tKing\tBimbis\u0101ra In\t accordance\t with\t the\t promise\t the\t Buddha\t made\t to\t King Bimbis\u0101ra\t before\t his\t enlightenment,\t he,\t with\t his\t large retinue\t of\t arahant\t disciples,\t went\t from\t Gay\u0101\t to\t R\u0101jagaha, the\tcapital\tof\tthe\tdistrict\tof\tMagadha.\tHere\the\tstayed\tat\tthe Suppatittha\tshrine\tin\ta\tpalm\tgrove. This\t happy\t news\t of\t the\t Buddha's\t arrival\t in\t the\t kingdom and\t his\t high\t reputation\t as\t an\t unparalleled\t religious\t teacher soon\t spread\t in\t the\t city.\t The\t King,\t hearing\t of\t his\t arrival, came\t with\t a\t large\t number\t of\t his\t subjects\t to\t welcome\t the Buddha.\t He\t approached\t the\t Buddha,\t respectfully\t saluted him\t and\t sat\t at\t one\t side.\t Of\t his\t subjects\t some\t respectfully saluted\t him,\t some\t looked\t towards\t him\t with\t expression\t of friendly\t greetings,\t some\t saluted\t him\t with\t clasped\t hands, some\tintroduced\tthemselves,\twhile\tothers\tin\tperfect\tsilence took\t their\t seats.\t As\t both\t the\t Buddha\t Gotama\t and\t the Venerable\t Kassapa\t were\t held\t in\t high\t esteem\t by\t the 178","multitude\t they\t were\t not\t certain\t whether\t the\t Buddha\t was leading\t the\t holy\t life\t under\t or\t the\t latter\t under\t the\t former. The\t Buddha\t read\t their\t thoughts\t and\t questioned\t Venerable Kassapa\t as\t to\t why\t he\t had\t given\t up\t his\t fire-sacrifice. Understanding\t the\t motive\t of\t the\t Buddha's\t question,\t he explained\t that\t he\t abandoned\t fire-sacrifice\t because\t he preferred\t the\t passionless\t and\t peaceful\t state\t of\t Nibb\u0101na\t to worthless\t sensual\t pleasures.\t After\t this\t he\t fell\t at\t the\t feet\t of the\t Buddha\t and\t acknowledging\t his\t superiority\t said:\t \\\"My teacher,\t Lord,\t is\t the\t Exalted\t One:\t I\t am\t the\t disciple.\t My teacher,\tLord,\tis\tthe\tExalted\tOne:\tI\tam\tthe\tdisciple.\\\" The\t devout\t people\t were\t delighted\t to\t hear\t of\t the conversion.\t The\t Buddha\t thereupon\t preached\t the\t Mah\u0101 N\u0101rada\tKassapa\tJ\u0101taka\t165\tto\tshow\thow\tin\ta\tprevious\tbirth when\t he\t was\t born\t as\t N\u0101rada,\t still\t subject\t to\t passion,\t he converted\tKassapa\tin\ta\tsimilar\tway. Hearing\tthe\tDhamma\texpounded\tby\tthe\tBuddha,\tthe\t\\\"eye of\t truth\\\"\t 166\t arose\t in\t them\t all.\t King\t Bimbis\u0101ra\t attained sot\u0101patti,\t and\t seeking\t refuge\t in\t the\t Buddha,\t the\t Dhamma, and\t the\t Sangha,\t invited\t the\t Buddha\t and\t his\t disciples\t to\t his palace\tfor\tthe\tmeal\ton\tthe\tfollowing\tday.\tAfter\tthe\tmeal\tthe king\t wished\t to\t know\t where\t the\t Buddha\t would\t reside.\t The Buddha\treplied\tthat\ta\tsecluded\tplace,\tneither\ttoo\tfar\tnor\ttoo close\tto\tthe\tcity,\taccessible\tto\tthose\twho\tdesire\tto\tvisit\thim, pleasant,\tnot\tcrowded\tduring\tthe\tday,\tnot\ttoo\tnoisy\tat\tnight, with\t as\t few\t sounds\t as\t possible,\t airy\t and\t fit\t for\t the\t privacy of\tmen,\twould\tbe\tsuitable. The\t king\t thought\t that\t his\t Bamboo\t Grove\t would\t meet\t all such\t requirements.\t Therefore\t in\t return\t for\t the transcendental\t gift\t the\t Buddha\t had\t bestowed\t upon\t him,\t he 179","gifted\t for\t the\t use\t of\t the\t Buddha\t and\t the\t Sangha\t the\t park with\t this\t ideally\t secluded\t bamboo\t grove,\t also\t known\t as 'The\t Sanctuary\t of\t the\t Squirrels.'\t It\t would\t appear\t that\t this park\thad\tno\tbuilding\tfor\tthe\tuse\tof\tbhikkhus\tbut\twas\tfilled with\t many\t shady\t trees\t and\t secluded\t spots.\t However,\t this was\tthe\tfirst\tgift\tof\ta\tplace\tof\tresidence\tfor\tthe\tBuddha\tand his\t disciples.\t The\t Buddha\t spent\t three\t successive\t rainy seasons\t and\t three\t other\t rainy\t seasons\t in\t this\t quiet Ve\u1e37uvan\u0101r\u0101ma.\t167 After\this\tconversion\tthe\tking\tled\tthe\tlife\tof\tan\texemplary monarch\t observing\t uposatha\t regularly\t on\t six\t days\t of\t the month. Kosala\tDevi,\tdaughter\tof\tKing\tMah\u0101\tKosala,\tand\tsister\tof King\tPasenadi\tKosala,\twas\this\tchief\tloyal\tqueen.\tAj\u0101tasattu was\ther\tson.\tKhem\u0101\twho,\tthrough\tthe\tingenuity\tof\tthe\tking, became\t a\t follower\t of\t the\t Buddha\t and\t who\t later\t rose\t to\t the position\tof\tthe\tfirst\tfemale\tdisciple\tof\tthe\torder\tof\tnuns,\twas another\tqueen. Though\the\twas\ta\tpious\tmonarch,\tyet,\tdue\tto\this\tpast\tevil kamma,\the\thad\ta\tvery\tsad\tand\tpathetic\tend. Prince\t Aj\u0101tasattu,\t successor\t to\t the\t throne,\t instigated\t by wicked\t Devadatta\t Thera,\t attempted\t to\t kill\t him\t and\t usurp the\t throne.\t The\t unfortunate\t prince\t was\t caught\t red-handed, and\t the\t compassionate\t father,\t instead\t of\t punishing\t him\t for his\tbrutal\tact,\trewarded\thim\twith\tthe\tcoveted\tcrown. The\t ungrateful\t son\t showed\t his\t gratitude\t to\t his\t father\t by casting\t him\t into\t prison\t in\t order\t to\t starve\t him\t to\t death.\t His mother\t alone\t had\t free\t access\t to\t the\t king\t daily.\t The\t loyal queen\tcarried\tfood\tconcealed\tin\ther\twaist-pouch.\tTo\tthis\tthe 180","prince\t objected.\t Then\t she\t carried\t food\t concealed\t in\t her hair-knot.\t The\t prince\t resented\t this\t too.\t Later\t she\t bathed herself\t in\t scented\t water\t and\t besmeared\t her\t body\t with\t a mixture\t of\t honey,\t butter,\t ghee,\t and\t molasses.\t The\t king licked\t her\t body\t and\t sustained\t himself.\t The\t over-vigilant prince\t detected\t this\t and\t ordered\t his\t mother\t not\t to\t visit\t his father. King\t Bimbis\u0101ra\t was\t without\t any\t means\t of\t sustenance, but\the\tpaced\tup\tand\tdown\tenjoying\tspiritual\thappiness\tas\the was\t a\t sot\u0101panna.\t Ultimately\t the\t wicked\t son\t decided\t to\t put an\t end\t to\t the\t life\t of\t his\t noble\t father.\t Ruthlessly\t he\t ordered his\tbarber\tto\tcut\topen\this\tsoles\tand\tput\tsalt\tand\toil\tthereon and\tmake\thim\twalk\ton\tburning\tcharcoal. The\t King,\t who\t saw\t the\t barber\t approaching,\t thought\t that the\t son,\t realising\t his\t folly,\t was\t sending\t the\t barber\t to\t shave his\t grown\t beard\t and\t hair\t and\t release\t him\t from\t prison. Contrary\tto\this\texpectations,\the\thad\tto\tmeet\tan\tuntimely\tsad end.\tThe\tbarber\tmercilessly\texecuted\tthe\tinhuman\torders\tof the\t barbarous\t prince.\t The\t good\t King\t died\t in\t great\t agony. On\t that\t very\t day\t a\t son\t was\t born\t unto\t Aj\u0101tasattu.\t Letters conveying\tthe\tnews\tof\tbirth\tand\tdeath\treached\tthe\tpalace\tat the\tsame\ttime. The\t letter\t conveying\t the\t happy\t news\t was\t first\t read.\t Lo, the\t love\t he\t cherished\t towards\t his\t first-born\t son\t was indescribable!\t His\t body\t was\t thrilled\t with\t joy\t and\t the paternal\tlove\tpenetrated\tup\tto\tthe\tvery\tmarrow\tof\this\tbones. Immediately\t he\t rushed\t to\t his\t beloved\t mother\t and questioned:\t \\\"Mother\t dear,\t did\t my\t father\t love\t me\t when\t I was\ta\tchild?\\\" 181","\\\"What\t say\t you,\t son!\t When\t you\t were\t conceived\t in\t my womb,\t I\t developed\t a\t craving\t to\t sip\t some\t blood\t from\t the right\thand\tof\tyour\tfather.\tThis\tI\tdare\tnot\tsay.\tConsequently\tI grew\t pale\t and\t thin.\t I\t was\t finally\t persuaded\t to\t disclose\t my inhuman\tdesire.\tJoyfully\tyour\tfather\tfulfilled\tmy\twish,\tand\tI drank\t that\t abhorrent\t potion.\t The\t soothsayers\t predicted\t that you\t would\t be\t an\t enemy\t of\t your\t father.\t Accordingly\t you were\tnamed\tAj\u0101tasattu\t(\\\"unborn\tenemy.\\\") I\t attempted\t to\t effect\t a\t miscarriage,\t but\t your\t father prevented\t it.\t After\t you\t were\t born,\t again\t I\t wanted\t to\t kill you.\t Again\t your\t father\t interfered.\t On\t one\t occasion\t you were\t suffering\t from\t a\t boil\t in\t your\t finger,\t and\t nobody\t was able\t to\t lull\t you\t into\t sleep.\t But\t your\t father,\t who\t was administering\tjustice\tin\this\troyal\tcourt,\ttook\tyou\tinto\this\tlap and\t caressing\t you\t sucked\t the\t boil.\t Lo,\t inside\t the\t mouth\t it burst\t open.\t O,\t my\t dear\t son,\t that\t pus\t and\t blood!\t Yes,\t your affectionate\tfather\tswallowed\tit\tout\tof\tlove\tfor\tyou.\\\" Instantly\t he\t cried,\t \\\"Run\t and\t release,\t release\t my\t beloved father\tquickly!\\\" His\tfather\thad\tclosed\this\teyes\tfor\tever. The\tother\tletter\twas\tthen\tplaced\tin\this\thand. Aj\u0101tasattu\t shed\t hot\t tears.\t He\t realised\t what\t paternal\t love was\tonly\tafter\the\tbecame\ta\tfather\thimself. King\tBimbis\u0101ra\tdied\tand\twas\timmediately\tafter\tborn\tas\ta deva\tnamed\tJanavasabha\tin\tthe\tC\u0101tummah\u0101r\u0101jika\theaven. Later,\t Aj\u0101tasattu\t met\t the\t Buddha\t and\t became\t one\t of\t his distinguished\t lay\t followers\t and\t took\t a\t leading\t part\t in\t the holding\tof\tthe\tfirst\tconvocation. 182","King\tPasenadi\tKosala King\t Pasenadi\t Kosala,\t the\t son\t of\t King\t Mah\u0101\t Kosala,\t who reigned\t in\t the\t kingdom\t of\t Kosala\t with\t its\t capital\t at S\u0101vatth\u012b,\twas\tanother\troyal\tpatron\tof\tthe\tBuddha.\tHe\twas\ta contemporary\t of\t the\t Buddha,\t and\t owing\t to\t his\t proficiency in\tvarious\tarts,\the\thad\tthe\tgood\tfortune\tto\tbe\tmade\tking\tby his\tfather\twhile\the\twas\talive. His\t conversion\t must\t probably\t have\t taken\t place\t during the\tvery\tearly\tpart\tof\tthe\tBuddha's\tministry.\tIn\tthe\tSa\u1e43yutta Nik\u0101ya\tit\tis\tstated\tthat\tonce\the\tapproached\tthe\tBuddha\tand questioning\thim\tabout\this\tperfect\tenlightenment\treferred\tto him\tas\tbeing\tyoung\tin\tyears\tand\tyoung\tin\tordination.\t168 The\t Buddha\t replied\u2014\\\"There\t are\t four\t objects,\t O Mah\u0101r\u0101ja,\tthat\tshould\tnot\tbe\tdisregarded\tor\tdespised.\tThey are\t a\t Khattiya\t (a\t warrior\t prince),\t a\t snake,\t fire,\t and\t a bhikkhu\t(mendicant\tmonk).\t169 Then\the\tdelivered\tan\tinteresting\tsermon\ton\tthis\tsubject\tto the\t king.\t At\t the\t close\t of\t the\t sermon\t the\t king\t expressed\t his great\t pleasure\t and\t instantly\t became\t a\t follower\t of\t the Buddha.\t Since\t then\t till\t his\t death\t he\t was\t deeply\t attached\t to the\t Buddha.\t It\t is\t said\t that\t on\t one\t occasion\t the\t king prostrated\t himself\t before\t the\t Buddha\t and\t stroked\t his\t feet covering\tthem\twith\tkisses.\t170 His\t chief\t queen,\t Mallik\u0101\t a\t very\t devout\t and\t wise\t lady, well\tversed\tin\tthe\tDhamma,\twas\tgreatly\tresponsible\tfor\this religious\tenthusiasm.\tLike\ta\ttrue\tfriend,\tshe\thad\tto\tact\tas\this religious\tguide\ton\tseveral\toccasions. One\tday\tthe\tking\tdreamt\tsixteen\tunusual\tdreams\tand\twas 183","greatly\t perturbed\t in\t mind,\t not\t knowing\t their\t true significance.\t His\t brahmin\t advisers\t interpreted\t them\t to\t be dreams\t portending\t evil\t and\t instructed\t him\t to\t make\t an elaborate\t animal\t sacrifice\t to\t ward\t off\t the\t dangers\t resulting therefrom.\t As\t advised\t he\t made\t all\t necessary\t arrangements for\tthis\tinhuman\tsacrifice\twhich\twould\thave\tresulted\tin\tthe loss\t of\t thousands\t of\t helpless\t creatures.\t Queen\t Mallik\u0101, hearing\t of\t this\t barbarous\t act\t about\t to\t be\t perpetrated, persuaded\t the\t king\t to\t get\t the\t dreams\t interpreted\t by\t the Buddha\t whose\t understanding\t infinitely\t surpassed\t that\t of those\t worldly\t brahmins.\t The\t king\t approached\t the\t Buddha and\t mentioned\t the\t object\t of\t his\t visit.\t Relating\t the\t sixteen dreams\t 171\t he\t wished\t to\t know\t their\t significance,\t and\t the Buddha\texplained\ttheir\tsignificance\tfully\tto\thim. Unlike\t King\t Bimbis\u0101ra,\t King\t Kosala\t had\t the\t good fortune\t to\t hear\t several\t edifying\t and\t instructive\t discourses from\t the\t Buddha.\t In\t the\t Sa\u1e43yutta\t Nik\u0101ya\t there\t appears\t a special\tsection\tcalled\tthe\tKosala\tSa\u1e43yutta\t172\tin\twhich\tare recorded\t most\t of\t the\t discourses\t and\t talks\t given\t by\t the Buddha\tto\tthe\tking. Once\t while\t the\t king\t was\t seated\t in\t the\t company\t of\t the Buddha,\t he\t saw\t some\t ascetics\t with\t hairy\t bodies\t and\t long nails\t passing\t by,\t and\t rising\t from\t his\t seat\t respectfully saluted\t them\t calling\t out\t his\t name\t to\t them:\t \\\"I\t am\t the\t king, your\t reverences,\t the\t Kosala,\t Pasenadi.\\\"\t When\t they\t had gone\t he\t came\t back\t to\t the\t Buddha\t and\t wished\t to\t know whether\t they\t were\t arahants\t or\t those\t who\t were\t striving\t for arahantship.\t The\t Buddha\t explained\t that\t it\t was\t difficult\t for ordinary\t laymen\t enjoying\t material\t pleasures\t to\t judge whether\t others\t are\t arahants\t or\t not\t and\t made\t the\t following 184","interesting\tobservations: \\\"It\tis\tby\tassociation\t(sa\u1e43v\u0101sena)\tthat\tone's\tconduct\t(s\u012bla) is\t to\t be\t understood,\t and\t that,\t too,\t after\t a\t long\t time\t and\t not in\t a\t short\t time,\t by\t one\t who\t is\t watchful\t and\t not\t by\t a heedless\t person,\t by\t an\t intelligent\t person\t and\t not\t by\t an unintelligent\t one.\t It\t is\t by\t conversation\t (serivih\u0101rena)\t that one's\t purity\t (soceyya\u1e43)\t is\t to\t be\t understood.\t It\t is\t in\t time\t of trouble\t that\t one's\t fortitude\t is\t to\t be\t understood.\t It\t is\t by discussion\t that\t one's\t wisdom\t is\t to\t be\t understood,\t and\t that, too,\tafter\ta\tlong\ttime\tand\tnot\tin\ta\tshort\ttime,\tby\tone\twho\tis watchful\t and\t not\t by\t a\t heedless\t person,\t by\t an\t intelligent person\tand\tnot\tby\tan\tunintelligent\tone.\\\" Summing\tup\tthe\tabove,\tthe\tBuddha\tuttered\tthe\tfollowing verses: Not\tby\this\toutward\tguise\tis\tman\twell\tknown. In\tfleeting\tglance\tlet\tnone\tplace\tconfidence. In\tgarb\tof\tdecent\twell-conducted\tfolk The\tunrestrained\tlive\tin\tthe\tworld\tat\tlarge. As\ta\tclay\tearring\tmade\tto\tcounterfeit, Or\tbronze\thalf\tpenny\tcoated\tover\twith\tgold, Some\tfare\tat\tlarge\thidden\tbeneath\tdisguise, Without,\tcomely\tand\tfair;\twithin,\timpure.\t173 King\tKosala,\tas\truler\tof\ta\tgreat\tkingdom,\tcould\tnot\tpossibly have\tavoided\twarfare,\tespecially\twith\tkings\tof\tneighbouring countries.\t Once\t he\t was\t compelled\t to\t fight\t with\t his\t own nephew,\t King\t Aj\u0101tasattu,\t and\t was\t defeated.\t Hearing\t it,\t the Buddha\tremarked: \\\"Victory\tbreeds\thatred. 185","The\tdefeated\tlive\tin\tpain. Happily\t the\t peaceful\t live,\t giving\t up\t victory\t and defeat.\\\"\t174 On\t another\t occasion\t King\t Kosala\t was\t victorious\t and\t he confiscated\tthe\twhole\tarmy\tof\tKing\tAj\u0101tasattu,\tsaving\tonly him.\t When\t the\t Buddha\t heard\t about\t this\t new\t victory,\t he uttered\t the\t following\t verse,\t the\t truth\t of\t which\t applies\t with equal\tforce\tto\tthis\tmodern\twar-weary\tworld\tas\twell: \\\"A\tman\tmay\tspoil\tanother,\tjust\tso\tfar As\tit\tmay\tserve\this\tends,\tbut\twhen\the's\tspoiled By\tothers\the,\tdespoiled,\tspoils\tyet\tagain. So\tlong\tas\tevil's\tfruit\tis\tnot\tmatured, The\tfool\tdoth\tfancy\t'now's\tthe\thour,\tthe\tchance!' But\twhen\tthe\tdeed\tbears\tfruit,\the\tfareth\till. The\tslayer\tgets\ta\tslayer\tin\this\tturn; The\tconqueror\tgets\tone\twho\tconquers\thim; Th'abuser\twins\tabuse,\tth'annoyer,\tfret. Thus\tby\tthe\tevolution\tof\tthe\tdeed, A\tman\twho\tspoils\tis\tspoiled\tin\this\tturn.\\\"\t175 What\t the\t Buddha\t has\t said\t to\t King\t Kosala\t about\t women\t is equally\t interesting\t and\t extremely\t encouraging\t to womankind.\t Once\t while\t the\t king\t was\t engaged\t in\t a\t pious conversation\t with\t the\t Buddha,\t a\t messenger\t came\t and whispered\tinto\this\tear\tthat\tQueen\tMallik\u0101\thad\tgiven\tbirth\tto a\t daughter.\t The\t king\t was\t not\t pleased\t at\t this\t unwelcome news.\t In\t ancient\t India,\t as\t it\t is\t to\t a\t great\t extent\t today,\t a daughter\t is\t not\t considered\t a\t happy\t addition\t to\t a\t family\t for several\t selfish\t reasons\t as,\t for\t instance,\t the\t problem\t of providing\t a\t dowry.\t The\t Buddha,\t unlike\t any\t other\t religious 186","teacher,\t paid\t a\t glowing\t tribute\t to\t women\t and\t mentioned four\t chief\t characteristics\t that\t adorn\t a\t woman\t in\t the following\twords: \\\"Some\twomen\tare\tindeed\tbetter\t(than\tmen). Bring\ther\tup,\tO\tLord\tof\tmen. There\tare\twomen\twho\tare\twise,\tvirtuous, who\t regard\t mother-in-law\t as\t a\t goddess,\t and\t who\t are chaste. To\tsuch\ta\tnoble\twife\tmay\tbe\tborn\ta\tvaliant\tson, a\tlord\tof\trealms,\twho\twould\trule\ta\tkingdom.\\\"\t176 Some\twomen\tare\teven\tbetter\tthan\tmen.\t\\\"Itthi\thi\tpi\tekacciy\u0101 seyy\u0101\\\"\t were\t the\t actual\t words\t used\t by\t the\t Buddha.\t No religious\t teacher\t has\t made\t such\t a\t bold\t and\t noble\t utterance especially\t in\t India,\t where\t women\t are\t not\t held\t in\t high esteem. Deeply\t grieved\t over\t the\t death\t of\t his\t old\t grandmother, aged\t one\t hundred\t and\t twenty\t years,\t King\t Kosala approached\t the\t Buddha\t and\t said\t that\t he\t would\t have\t given everything\t within\t his\t means\t to\t save\t his\t grandmother\t who had\t been\t as\t a\t mother\t to\t him.\t The\t Buddha\t consoled\t him, saying: \\\"All\t beings\t are\t mortal;\t they\t end\t with\t death,\t they\t have death\t in\t prospect.\t All\t the\t vessels\t wrought\t by\t the\t potter, whether\t they\t are\t baked\t or\t unbaked,\t are\t breakable;\t they finish\tbroken,\tthey\thave\tbreakage\tin\tprospect.\\\"\t177 The\t king\t was\t so\t desirous\t of\t hearing\t the\t Dhamma\t that even\tif\taffairs\tof\tstate\tdemanded\this\tpresence\tin\tother\tparts of\t the\t kingdom,\t he\t would\t avail\t himself\t of\t every\t possible 187","opportunity\t to\t visit\t the\t Buddha\t and\t engage\t in\t a\t pious conversation.\t The\t Dhammacetiya\t and\t Kannakatthala Suttas\t178\twere\tpreached\ton\tsuch\toccasions. King\t Kosala's\t chief\t consort,\t the\t daughter\t of\t a\t garland- maker,\t predeceased\t him.\t A\t sister\t of\t King\t Bimbis\u0101ra\t was one\t of\t his\t wives.\t One\t of\t his\t sisters\t was\t married\t to\t King Bimbis\u0101ra\tand\tAj\u0101tasattu\twas\ther\tson. King\t Kosala\t had\t a\t son\t named\t Vi\u1e0d\u016b\u1e0dabha\t who\t revolted against\t him\t in\t his\t old\t age.\t This\t son's\t mother\t was\t the daughter\t of\t Mah\u0101n\u0101ma\t the\t S\u0101kya,\t who\t was\t related\t to\t the Buddha,\tand\this\tgrandmother\twas\ta\tslave-girl.\tThis\tfact\tthe king\tdid\tnot\tknow\twhen\the\ttook\ther\tas\tone\tof\this\tconsorts. Hearing\t a\t derogatory\t remark\t made\t by\t S\u0101kyas\t about\t his ignoble\t lineage,\t Vi\u1e0d\u016b\u1e0dabha\t took\t vengeance\t by\t attempting to\t destroy\t the\t S\u0101kya\t race.\t Unfortunately\t it\t was\t due\t to Vi\u1e0d\u016b\u1e0dabha\tthat\tthe\tking\thad\tto\tdie\ta\tpathetic\tdeath\tin\ta\thall outside\tthe\tcity\twith\tonly\ta\tservant\tas\this\tcompanion.\tKing Kosala\tpredeceased\tthe\tBuddha. 188","XII. The\tBuddha's\tMinistry \\\"Freed\t am\t I\t from\t all\t bonds,\t whether\t divine or\thuman. You,\t too,\t O\t bhikkhus,\t are\t freed\t from\t all bonds.\\\" \u2014Vinaya,\tMah\u0101vagga\tI.10 T he\t Buddha's\t beneficent\t and\t successful\t ministry lasted\t forty-five\t years.\t From\t his\t 35th\t year,\t the year\tof\this\tenlightenment,\ttill\this\tdeath\tin\this\t80th year,\t he\t served\t humanity\t both\t by\t example\t and\t by\t precept. Throughout\t the\t year\t he\t wandered\t from\t place\t to\t place,\t at times\t alone,\t sometimes\t accompanied\t by\t his\t disciples, expounding\t the\t Dhamma\t to\t the\t people\t and\t liberating\t them from\t the\t bonds\t of\t sa\u1e43s\u0101ra.\t During\t the\t rainy\t season (vass\u0101na)\tfrom\tJuly\tto\tNovember,\towing\tto\tincessant\trains, he\t lived\t in\t retirement\t as\t was\t customary\t with\t all\t ascetics\t in India\tin\this\ttime. In\tancient\ttimes,\tas\ttoday,\tthree\tregular\tseasons\tprevailed in\t India,\t namely\t vass\u0101na\t (rainy),\t hemanta\t (swinter),\t and gimh\u0101na\t(hot).\tThe\tvass\u0101na\tor\trainy\tseason\tstarts\tin\t\u00c1s\u0101lha and\textends\tup\tto\tAssayuga,\tthat\tis,\tapproximately\tfrom\tthe middle\tof\tJuly\tto\tthe\tmiddle\tof\tNovember. 189","During\t the\t vass\u0101na\t period,\t due\t to\t torrential\t rains,\t rivers and\t streams\t usually\t get\t flooded,\t roads\t get\t inundated, communications\t get\t interrupted\t and\t people\t as\t a\t rule\t are confined\t to\t their\t homes\t and\t villages\t and\t live\t on\t what provisions\t they\t have\t collected\t during\t the\t previous\t seasons. During\t this\t time\t the\t ascetics\t find\t it\t difficult\t to\t engage\t in their\t preaching\t tours,\t wandering\t from\t place\t to\t place.\t An infinite\t variety\t of\t vegetable\t and\t animal\t life\t also\t appears\t to such\t an\t extent\t that\t people\t could\t not\t move\t about\t without unconsciously\t destroying\t them.\t Accordingly\t all\t ascetics including\tthe\tdisciples\tof\tthe\tBuddha,\tused\tto\tsuspend\ttheir itinerant\t activities\t and\t live\t in\t retirement\t in\t solitary\t places. As\ta\trule\tthe\tBuddha\tand\this\tdisciples\twere\tinvited\tto\tspend their\t rainy\t seasons\t either\t in\t a\t monastery\t or\t in\t a\t secluded park.\t Sometimes,\t however,\t they\t used\t to\t retire\t to\t forests. During\tthese\trainy\tseasons\tpeople\tflocked\tto\tthe\tBuddha\tto hear\t the\t Dhamma\t and\t thus\t availed\t themselves\t of\t his presence\tin\ttheir\tvicinity\tto\ttheir\tbest\tadvantage. The\tFirst\tTwenty\tYears FIRST\tYEAR\tAT\tBENARES After\t expounding\t the\t Dhammacakka\t Sutta\t to\t his\t first\t five disciples\t on\t the\t \u00c1s\u0101lha\t full\t moon\t day,\t he\t spent\t the\t first rainy\t season\t in\t the\t Deer\t Park\t at\t Isipatana,\t near\t Benares. Here\t there\t was\t no\t special\t building\t where\t he\t could\t reside. Yasa's\tconversion\ttook\tplace\tduring\tthis\tretreat. SECOND,\tTHIRD,\tAND\tFOURTH\tYEARS\tAT\tR\u0100JAGAHA R\u0101jagaha\twas\tthe\tcapital\tof\tthe\tkingdom\tof\tMagadha\twhere 190","ruled\tKing\tBimbis\u0101ra.\tWhen\tthe\tBuddha\tvisited\tthe\tking,\tin accordance\t with\t a\t promise\t made\t by\t him\t before\t his enlightenment,\t he\t offered\t his\t Bamboo\t Grove\t (veluvana)\t to the\t Buddha\t and\t his\t disciples.\t This\t was\t an\t ideal\t solitary place\tfor\tmonks\tas\tit\twas\tneither\ttoo\tfar\tnor\ttoo\tnear\tto\tthe city.\t Three\t rainy\t seasons\t were\t spent\t by\t the\t Buddha\t in\t this quiet\tgrove. FIFTH\tYEAR\tAT\tVES\u0100LI During\tthis\tyear\twhile\the\twas\tresiding\tin\tthe\tPinnacle\tHall at\t Mah\u0101vana\t near\t Ves\u0101li,\t he\t heard\t of\t the\t impending\t death of\t King\t Suddhodana\t and,\t repairing\t to\t the\t king's\t death chamber,\t preached\t the\t Dhamma\t to\t him.\t Immediately\t the king\t attained\t arahantship.\t For\t seven\t days\t thereafter\t he experienced\tthe\tbliss\tof\temancipation\tthen\tpassed\taway. It\t was\t in\t this\t year\t that\t the\t bhikkhu\u1e47\u012b\t order\t was\t founded at\tthe\trequest\tof\tMah\u0101\tPaj\u0101pati\tGotam\u012b.\tAfter\tthe\tcremation of\t the\t king,\t when\t the\t Buddha\t was\t temporarily\t residing\t at Nigrodh\u0101r\u0101ma,\t Mah\u0101\t Paj\u0101pati\t Gotam\u012b\t approached\t the Buddha\t and\t begged\t permission\t for\t women\t to\t enter\t the order.\t But\t the\t Buddha\t refused\t and\t returned\t to\t the\t Pinnacle Hall\t at\t R\u0101jagaha.\t Mah\u0101\t Paj\u0101pati\t Gotam\u012b\t was\t so\t intent\t on renouncing\tthe\tworld\tthat\tshe,\taccompanied\tby\tmany\tS\u0101kya and\tKoliya\tladies,\twalked\tall\tthe\tway\tfrom\tKapilavatthu\tto R\u0101jagaha\t and,\t through\t the\t intervention\t of\t Venerable \u00c1nanda,\tsucceeded\tin\tentering\tthe\torder.\t179 SIXTH\tYEAR\tAT\tMANKULA\tHILL\tIN\tKOSAMBI,\tNEAR ALLAHABAD Just\t as\t he\t performed\t the\t \\\"twin\t wonder\\\"\t (yamaka 191","p\u0101ih\u0101riya)\t 180\t to\t overcome\t the\t pride\t of\t his\t relatives\t at Kapilavatthu,\teven\tso\tdid\the\tperform\tit\tfor\tthe\tsecond\ttime at\tMankula\tHill\tto\tconvert\this\talien\tfollowers. SEVENTH\tYEAR\tAT\tT\u0100VATI\u1e42SA\tHEAVEN A\tfew\tdays\tafter\tthe\tbirth\tof\tPrince\tSiddhattha\tQueen\tMah\u0101 M\u0101y\u0101\t died\t and\t was\t born\t as\t a\t deva\t (god)\t in\t the\t Tusita Heaven.\tIn\tthis\tseventh\tyear,\tduring\tthe\tthree\trainy\tmonths, the\t Buddha\t preached\t the\t Abhidhamma\t 181\t to\t the\t devas\t of the\t T\u0101vati\u1e43sa\t Heaven\t where\t the\t mother-Deva\t repaired\t to hear\thim.\tDaily\the\tcame\tto\tearth\tand\tgave\ta\tsummary\tof\this sermon\t to\t the\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta\t who\t in\t turn\t expounded the\t same\t doctrine\t in\t detail\t to\t his\t disciples.\t What\t is embodied\tin\tthe\tpresent\tAbhidhamma\tPi\u1e6daka\tis\tsupposed\tto be\tthis\tdetailed\texposition\tof\tthe\tDhamma\tby\thim. It\tis\tstated\tthat,\ton\thearing\tthese\tdiscourses,\tthe\tdeva\twho was\this\tmother\tattained\tthe\tfirst\tstage\tof\tsainthood. EIGHTH\tYEAR\tAT\tBHESAKAL\u0100\tFOREST,\tNEAR\tSU\u1e42SUM\u0100RA ROCK,\tIN\tTHE\tBHAGGA\tDISTRICT NINTH\tYEAR\tAT\tKOSAMBI It\t was\t in\t this\t year\t that\t M\u0101gandiy\u0101\t harboured\t a\t grudge against\tthe\tBuddha\tand\tsought\tan\topportunity\tto\tdishonour him. M\u0101gandiy\u0101\t was\t a\t beautiful\t maiden.\t Her\t parents\t would not\t give\t her\t in\t marriage\t as\t the\t prospective\t suitors,\t in\t their opinion,\t were\t not\t worthy\t of\t their\t daughter.\t One\t day\t as\t the Buddha\twas\tsurveying\tthe\tworld,\the\tperceived\tthe\tspiritual development\tof\tthe\tparents.\tOut\tof\tcompassion\tfor\tthem\the 192","visited\tthe\tplace\twhere\tthe\tfather\tof\tthe\tgirl\twas\ttending\tthe sacred\t fire.\t The\t brahmin,\t fascinated\t by\t the\t Buddha's physical\t beauty,\t thought\t that\t he\t was\t the\t best\t person\t to whom\the\tcould\tgive\this\tdaughter\tin\tmarriage\tand\trequesting him\tto\tstay\tthere\tuntil\this\tarrival,\thurried\thome\tto\tbring\this daughter.\t The\t Buddha\t in\t the\t meantime\t stamped\t his footprint\t on\t that\t spot\t and\t moved\t to\t a\t different\t place.\t The brahmin\t and\t his\t wife,\t accompanied\t by\t their\t daughter\t who was\t dressed\t in\t her\t best\t garments,\t came\t to\t that\t spot\t and observed\t the\t footprint.\t The\t wife\t who\t was\t conversant\t with signs\t said\t that\t it\t was\t not\t the\t footprint\t of\t an\t ordinary\t man but\t of\t a\t pure\t person\t who\t had\t eradicated\t all\t passions.\t The Brahmin\t ridiculed\t the\t idea,\t and,\t noticing\t the\t Buddha\t at\t a distance\t offered\t his\t daughter\t unto\t him.\t The\t Buddha describing\thow\the\tovercame\this\tpassions\tsaid: \\\"Having\tseen\tTa\u1e47h\u0101,\tArati,\tand\tRag\u0101,\t182 I\thad\tno\tpleasure\tfor\tthe\tpleasures\tof\tlove. What\tis\tthis\tbody,\tfilled\twith\turine\tand\tdung? I\tshould\tnot\tbe\twilling\tto\ttouch\tit,\teven\twith\tmy\tfoot.\\\" 183 Hearing\t his\t Dhamma,\t the\t brahmin\t and\t his\t wife\t attained an\u0101g\u0101mi,\tthe\tthird\tstage\tof\tsainthood.\tBut\tproud\tM\u0101gandiya felt\t insulted\t and\t she\t thought\t to\t herself,\t \\\"If\t this\t man\t has\t no need\t of\t me,\t it\t is\t perfectly\t proper\t for\t him\t to\t say\t so,\t but\t he declares\t me\t to\t be\t full\t of\t urine\t and\t dung.\t Very\t well,\t by virtue\t of\t birth,\t lineage,\t social\t position,\t wealth,\t and\t the charm\t of\t youth\t that\t I\t possess\t I\t shall\t obtain\t a\t husband\t who is\tmy\tequal,\tand\tthen\tI\tshall\tknow\twhat\tought\tto\tbe\tdone\tto the\tmonk\tGotama.\\\" 193","Enraged\t by\t the\t words\t of\t the\t Buddha,\t she\t conceived\t a hatred\ttowards\thim.\tLater\tshe\twas\tgiven\tas\ta\tconsort\tto\tthe king\t of\t Udena.\t Taking\t advantage\t of\t her\t position\t as\t one\t of the\troyal\tconsorts,\tshe\tbribed\tpeople\tand\tinstigated\tthem\tto revile\t and\t drive\t the\t Buddha\t out\t of\t the\t city.\t When\t the Buddha\t entered\t the\t city,\t they\t shouted\t at\t him,\t saying:\t \\\"You are\t a\t thief,\t a\t simpleton,\t a\t fool,\t a\t camel,\t an\t ox,\t an\t ass,\t a denizen\t of\t hell,\t a\t beast.\t You\t have\t no\t hope\t of\t salvation.\t A state\tof\tpunishment\tis\tall\tthat\tyou\tcan\tlook\tforward\tto.\\\" Venerable\t \u00c1nanda,\t unable\t to\t bear\t this\t filthy\t abuse, approached\t the\t Buddha\t and\t said,\t \\\"Lord,\t these\t citizens\t are reviling\tand\tabusing\tus.\tLet\tus\tgo\telsewhere.\\\" \\\"Where\tshall\twe\tgo,\t\u00c1nanda?\\\"\tasked\tthe\tBuddha. \\\"To\tsome\tother\tcity,\tLord,\\\"\tsaid\t\u00c1nanda. \\\"If\tmen\trevile\tus\tthere,\twhere\tshall\twe\tgo\tthen?\\\"\tinquired the\tBuddha. \\\"To\tstill\tanother\tcity,\tLord,\\\"\tsaid\t\u00c1nanda. \\\"\u00c1nanda,\t one\t should\t not\t speak\t thus.\t Where\t a\t difficulty arises,\t right\t there\t should\t it\t be\t settled.\t Only\t under\t those circumstances\tis\tit\tpermissible\tto\tgo\telsewhere.\tBut\twho\tare reviling\tyou,\t\u00c1nanda?\\\"\tquestioned\tthe\tBuddha. \\\"Lord,\t everyone\t is\t reviling\t us,\t slaves\t and\t all,\\\"\t replied \u00c1nanda.\t Admonishing\t Venerable\t \u00c1nanda\t to\t practise patience,\tthe\tBuddha\tsaid: i.\t \\\"As\t an\t elephant\t in\t the\t battle-field\t withstands\t the arrows\t shot\t from\t a\t bow,\t even\t so\t will\t I\t endure\t abuse. Verily,\tmost\tpeople\tare\tundisciplined.\\\" 194","ii.\t \\\"They\t lead\t the\t trained\t horses\t or\t elephants\t to\t an assembly.\t The\t king\t mounts\t the\t trained\t animal.\t The best\t among\t men\t are\t the\t disciplined\t who\t endure abuse.\\\" iii.\t \\\"Excellent\t are\t trained\t mules,\t so\t are\t thorough-bred horses\t of\t Sindh\t and\t noble\t tusked\t elephants;\t but\t the man\twho\tis\tdisciplined\tsurpasses\tthem\tall.\\\"\t184 Again\t he\t addressed\t Venerable\t \u00c1nanda\t and\t said,\t \\\"Be\t not disturbed.\t These\t men\t will\t revile\t you\t only\t for\t seven\t days, and,\t on\t the\t eighth\t day\t they\t will\t become\t silent.\t A\t difficulty encountered\t by\t the\t Buddhas\t lasts\t no\t longer\t than\t seven days.\\\"\t185 TENTH\tYEAR\tAT\tP\u0100RILEYYAKA\tFOREST While\tthe\tBuddha\twas\tresiding\tat\tKosambi,\ta\tdispute\tarose between\t two\t parties\t of\t bhikkhus\u2014one\t versed\t in\t the Dhamma,\t the\t other\t in\t the\t Vinaya\u2014with\t respect\t to\t the transgression\t of\t a\t minor\t rule\t of\t etiquette\t in\t the\t lavatory. Their\t respective\t supporters\t also\t were\t divided\t into\t two sections. Even\tthe\tBuddha\tcould\tnot\tsettle\tthe\tdifferences\tof\tthese quarrelsome\t monks.\t They\t were\t adamant\t and\t would\t not listen\t to\t his\t advice.\t The\t Buddha\t thought:\t \\\"Under\t present conditions\tthe\tjostling\tcrowd\tin\twhich\tI\tlive\tmakes\tmy\tlife one\t of\t discomfort.\t Moreover\t these\t monks\t pay\t no\t attention to\t what\t I\t say.\t Suppose\t I\t were\t to\t retire\t from\t the\t haunts\t of men\t and\t live\t a\t life\t of\t solitude.\\\"\t In\t pursuance\t of\t this thought,\t without\t even\t informing\t the\t Sangha,\t alone\t he retired\t to\t the\t P\u0101rileyyaka\t Forest\t and\t spent\t the\t rainy\t season 195","at\tthe\tfoot\tof\ta\tbeautiful\tSal\ttree. It\t was\t on\t this\t occasion,\t according\t to\t the\t story,\t that\t an elephant\tand\ta\tmonkey\tministered\tto\this\tneeds.\t186 ELEVENTH\tYEAR\tAT\tEKAN\u0100L\u0100,\tBRAHMIN\tVILLAGE The\tfollowing\tKas\u012bbh\u0101radv\u0101j\u0101\tSutta\t187\twas\tdelivered\there: On\tone\toccasion\tthe\tBuddha\twas\tresiding\tat\tEkan\u0101l\u0101\tin Dakkhi\u1e47agiri,\tthe\tbrahmin\tvillage\tin\tMagadha.\tAt\tthat time\t about\t five-hundred\t ploughs\t belonging\t to Kas\u012bbh\u0101radv\u0101ja\t brahmin\t were\t harnessed\t for\t the sowing.\t Thereupon\t the\t Exalted\t One,\t in\t the\t forenoon, dressed\t himself\t and\t taking\t bowl\t and\t robe\t went\t to\t the working\t place\t of\t the\t brahmin.\t At\t that\t time\t the distribution\t of\t food\t by\t the\t brahmin\t was\t taking\t place. The\t Buddha\t went\t to\t the\t place\t where\t food\t was\t being distributed\t and\t stood\t aside.\t The\t brahmin Kas\u012bbh\u0101radv\u0101ja\t saw\t the\t Buddha\t waiting\t for\t alms. Seeing\t him,\t he\t spoke\t thus:\t \\\"I,\t O\t ascetic,\t plough\t and sow;\tand\thaving\tploughed\tand\tsown,\tI\teat.\tYou\talso,\tO ascetic,\t should\t plough\t and\t sow;\t and\t having\t ploughed and\tsown,\tyou\tshould\teat.\\\" \\\"I,\t too,\t O\t brahmin,\t plough\t and\t sow;\t having ploughed\tand\tsown,\tI\teat,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tBuddha. \\\"But\t we\t see\t not\t the\t Venerable\t Gotama's\t yoke,\t or plough,\t or\t ploughshare,\t or\t goad,\t or\t oxen,\t albeit\t the Venerable\t Gotama\t says,\t \\\"I\t too\t plough\t and\t sow;\t and having\t ploughed\t and\t sown,\t I\t eat,\\\"\t remarked\t the brahmin. 196","Then\tthe\tbrahmin\tBh\u0101radv\u0101ja\taddressed\tthe\tExalted One\tthus: \\\"A\tfarmer\tyou\tclaim\tto\tbe,\tbut\twe\tsee\tnone\tof\tyour tillage.\t Being\t questioned\t about\t ploughing,\t please answer\tus\tso\tthat\twe\tmay\tknow\tyour\tploughing.\\\" The\tBuddha\tanswered: \\\"Confidence\t(saddh\u0101)\tis\tthe\tseed,\tdiscipline\t(tapo)\tis the\t rain,\t wisdom\t (pa\u00f1\u00f1\u0101)\t my\t yoke\t and\t plough, modesty\t(hiri)\tthe\tpole\tof\tmy\tplough,\tmind\t(mano)\tthe rein,\tand\tmindfulness\t(sati)\tmy\tploughshare\tand\tgoad. \\\"I\t am\t controlled\t in\t body,\t controlled\t in\t speech, temperate\tin\tfood.\tWith\ttruthfulness\tI\tcut\taway\tweeds. Absorption\t in\t the\t Highest\t (arahantship)\t is\t the\t release of\tthe\toxen. \\\"Perseverance\t (viriya)\t is\t my\t beast\t of\t burden\t that carries\t me\t towards\t the\t bond-free\t state\t (\u0101na).\t Without turning\tit\tgoes,\tand\thaving\tgone\tit\tdoes\tnot\tgrieve. \\\"Thus\t is\t the\t tilling\t done:\t it\t bears\t the\t fruit\t of deathlessness.\t Having\t done\t this\t tilling,\t one\t is\t freed from\tall\tsorrow.\\\" Thereupon\t the\t brahmin\t Kas\u012bbh\u0101radv\u0101ja,\t filling\t a\t large bronze\t bowl\t with\t milk-rice,\t offered\t it\t to\t the\t Exalted\t One, saying\t \\\"May\t the\t Venerable\t Gotama\t eat\t the\t milk-rice!\t The Venerable\t Gotama\t is\t a\t farmer,\t since\t the\t Venerable\t Gotama tills\ta\tcrop\tthat\tbears\tthe\tfruit\tof\tdeathlessness.\\\" The\tExalted\tOne,\thowever,\trefused\tto\taccept\tthis\tsaying: \\\"What\tis\tobtained\tby\treciting\tverses\tis\tnot\tfit\tto\tbe\teaten 197","by\t me.\t This,\t O\t brahmin,\t is\t not\t the\t rule\t of\t seers.\t The Enlightened\treject\tsuch\tfood.\tWhile\tthis\tprinciple\tlasts,\tthis is\tthe\tlivelihood. \\\"Serve\t the\t unique,\t cankerless,\t great\t sage\t of\t holy\t calm with\t other\t kind\t of\t food\t and\t drink,\t for\t he\t is\t like\t a\t field\t to him\tthat\tdesires\tto\tsow\tgood\tdeeds.\\\" TWELFTH\tYEAR\tAT\tVERA\u00d1J\u0100 A\tbrahmin\tof\tVera\u00f1j\u0101,\thearing\tthat\tthe\tBuddha\twas\tresiding at\tVera\u00f1j\u0101\tnear\tNaleru's\tNimba\ttree\twith\ta\tlarge\tcompany\tof his\t disciples,\t approached\t him\t and\t raised\t several\t questions with\t regard\t to\t his\t conduct.\t The\t brahmin\t was\t so\t pleased with\t his\t answers\t that\t he\t became\t a\t follower\t of\t the\t Buddha and\t invited\t him\t and\t his\t disciples\t to\t spend\t the\t rainy\t season at\t Vera\u00f1j\u0101.\t The\t Buddha\t signified\t his\t assent\t as\t usual\t by\t his silence. Unfortunately\tat\tthis\tparticular\ttime\tthere\twas\ta\tfamine\tat Vera\u00f1j\u0101\tand\tthe\tBuddha\tand\this\tdisciples\twere\tcompelled\tto live\ton\tfood\tintended\tfor\thorses.\tA\thorse-dealer\tvery\tkindly provided\t them\t with\t coarse\t food\t available,\t and\t the\t Buddha partook\tof\tsuch\tfood\twith\tperfect\tequanimity. One\t day,\t during\t this\t period,\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta,\t arising from\t his\t solitary\t meditation,\t approached\t the\t Buddha\t and respectfully\t questioned\t him\t thus:\t \\\"Which\t Buddha's dispensation\tendured\tlong\tand\twhich\tdid\tnot?\\\" The\tBuddha\treplied\tthat\tthe\tdispensations\tof\tthe\tBuddhas Vipassi,\tSikh\u012b,\tand\tVessabh\u016b\tdid\tnot\tendure\tlong.\tWhile\tthe dispensations\t of\t the\t Buddhas\t Kakusandha,\t Ko\u1e47\u0101gamana, and\tKassapa\tendured\tlong.\t188 198","The\tBuddha\tattributed\tthis\tto\tthe\tfact\tthat\tsome\tBuddhas made\tno\tgreat\teffort\tin\tpreaching\tthe\tDhamma\tin\tdetail\tand promulgated\t no\t rules\t and\t regulations\t for\t the\t discipline\t of the\tdisciples,\twhile\tother\tBuddhas\tdid\tso. Thereupon\t Venerable\t S\u0101riputta\t respectfully\t implored\t the Buddha\t to\t promulgate\t the\t fundamental\t precepts (p\u0101timokkha)\t for\t the\t future\t discipline\t of\t the\t Sangha\t so\t that the\tholy\tlife\tmay\tendure\tlong. \\\"Be\t patient,\t S\u0101riputta,\t be\t patient,\\\"\t said\t the\t Buddha\t and added: \\\"The\t Tath\u0101gata\t alone\t is\t aware\t of\t the\t time\t for\t it.\t Until certain\t defiling\t conditions\t arise\t in\t the\t Sangha\t the Tath\u0101gata\t does\t not\t promulgate\t means\t of\t discipline\t for the\t disciples\t and\t does\t not\t lay\t down\t the\t fundamental precepts\t (p\u0101timokkha).\t When\t such\t defiling\t conditions arise\t in\t the\t Sangha,\t only\t then\t the\t Tath\u0101gata promulgates\t means\t of\t discipline\t and\t lays\t down\t the fundamental\t precepts\t for\t the\t disciples\t in\t order\t to eradicate\tsuch\tdefilements. \\\"When,\t S\u0101riputta,\t the\t Sangha\t attains\t long\t standing (ratta\u00f1\u00f1\u016b-mahatta\u1e43),\t full\t development\t (vepulla- mahatta\u1e43),\t great\t increase\t in\t gains\t (l\u0101bhagga- mahatta\u1e43;)\t and\t greatness\t in\t erudition\t (bahussuta- mahatta\u1e43),\t defiling\t conditions\t arise\t in\t the\t Sangha. Then\t does\t the\t Tath\u0101gata\t promulgate\t means\t of discipline\tand\tthe\tfundamental\tprecepts\tto\tprevent\tsuch defilements. \\\"S\u0101riputta,\t the\t order\t of\t disciples\t is\t free\t from troubles,\t devoid\t of\t evil\t tendencies,\t free\t from\t stain, 199","pure,\t and\t well\t established\t in\t virtue.\t The\t last\t of\t my five-hundred\t disciples\t is\t a\t sot\u0101panna\t (stream-winner) not\t liable\t to\t fall,\t steadfast\t and\t destined\t for enlightenment.\\\"\t189 (The\t rainy\t season\t at\t Vera\u00f1j\u0101\t forms\t the\t subject\t of\t the Introduction\tto\tthe\tP\u0101r\u0101jik\u0101\tBook\tof\tthe\tVinaya\tPi\u1e6daka.) At\t the\t end\t of\t this\t rainy\t season\t the\t Buddha\t went\t on\t a preaching\t tour\t to\t Soreyya,\t Sa\u1e47kassa,\t Ka\u1e47\u1e47akujja,\t Pay\u0101ga, and\t then,\t crossing\t the\t river,\t stayed\t some\t time\t in\t Benares and\t returned\t thence\t to\t Ves\u0101li\t to\t reside\t at\t the\t Pinnacle\t Hall in\tMah\u0101vana. THIRTEENTH\tYEAR\tWAS\tSPENT\tAT\tC\u0100LIYA\tROCK FOURTEENTH\tYEAR\tAT\tJETAVANA\tMONASTERY,\tS\u0100VATTH\u012a The\tVenerable\tR\u0101hula\treceived\this\thigher\tordination\tat\tthis time\ton\tthe\tcompletion\tof\this\ttwentieth\tyear. FIFTEENTH\tYEAR\tAT\tKAPILAVATTHU The\t pathetic\t death\t of\t King\t Suppabuddha\t who\t was\t angry with\t the\t Buddha\t for\t leaving\t his\t daughter,\t Princess Yasodhar\u0101,\t occurred\t in\t this\t year.\t It\t may\t be\t mentioned\t that the\tBuddha\tspent\tonly\tone\trainy\tseason\tin\this\tbirthplace. SIXTEENTH\tYEAR\tAT\tTHE\tCITY\tOF\t\u00c1\u1e36AVI The\t conversion\t of\t \u00c1\u1e37avaka\t the\t demon,\t 190\t who\t feasted\t on human\tflesh,\ttook\tplace\tin\tthis\tyear. \u00c1\u1e37avaka,\t a\t ferocious\t demon,\t was\t enraged\t to\t see\t the Buddha\t in\t his\t mansion.\t He\t came\t up\t to\t him\t and\t asked\t him to\tdepart.\t\\\"Very\twell,\tfriend,\\\"\tsaid\tthe\tBuddha\tand\twent\tout. 200"]
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