The last four conditions were related to Ananda’s desire to help in the promotion of the Dharma. These conditions were: that if he was invited to a meal, he could transfer the invitation to the Buddha; that if people came from outlying areas to see the Buddha, he would have the privilege of introducing them; that if he had any doubts about the Dharma, he should be able to talk to the Buddha about them at any time and that if the Buddha gave a discourse in his absence, he would later repeat it in his presence. The Buddha smilingly accepted these conditions. Ananda was a man after the heart of the Blessed One; he was his most beloved disciple, profound in comprehension and gentle in spirit. He remained always near the Buddha until the death parted them.
17. KASSAPA
As soon as he had 60 disciples, the Buddha sent them away to teach people everywhere. He left the Deer Park and turned southwards towards the Magadha country.
Along the way, on the banks of a river, there lived three brothers whose names were Uruvela Kassapa, Nadi Kassapa and Gaya Kassapa. Each lived with 500, 300 and 200 followers respectively. These were brahmin hermits with matted hair, worshiping the fire and keeping a fire-dragon. They were renowned throughout all India, and their names were honored as some of the wisest men.
The Blessed One paid a visit to Uruvela Kassapa and said, “Let me stay a night in the room where you keep your sacred fire.”
Kassapa, seeing the Blessed One in his majesty and beauty, thought, “This is a great monk and a noble teacher. Should he stay overnight in the room where the sacred fire is kept, the fire-dragon will bite him and he will die.” Kassapa then warned the Buddha, saying, “I do not object to your staying overnight in the room where the sacred fire is kept, but the dragon lives there; he will harm you.”
Still, the Buddha insisted and Kassapa admitted him to the room where the sacred fire was kept. And the Blessed One sat down with body erect, surrounding himself with mindfulness. In the night the dragon came, belching forth in rage his fiery poison, and filling the air with burning vapor, but could do the Buddha no harm, and the fire consumed itself while the Blessed One remained composed. In the end, the venomous serpent became so wroth that he died in his anger.
In the morning the Blessed One showed the dead body of the dragon to Kassapa, saying, “His fire has been conquered by my fire.” And Kassapa thought, “He is a great monk and possesses high powers, but he is not holy like me.”
There was in those days a festival and Kassapa thought, “The people will come from all parts of the country and will see the great Buddha. When he speaks to them, they will believe him and abandon me.” And he grew envious. When the day of the festival arrived, the Blessed One retired and did not come to Kassapa.
Kassapa went to the Buddha on the next morning and said, “Why did you not come?”
The Buddha replied, “Did not you think, Kassapa, that it would be better if I stayed away from the festival?”
Kassapa was astonished and thought, “Great is this monk; he can read my most secret thoughts, but he is not holy like me.”
Then the Blessed One addressed Kassapa and said, “You see the truth, but do not accept it because of the envy that dwells in your heart. Is envy wholesome? Envy is the last remnant of self that has remained in your mind.”
And Kassapa gave up his resistance. His envy disappeared, and, bowing down, he said, “O Master, let me receive the ordination from the Blessed One.”
Then Kassapa went to his followers saying, “I am anxious to lead a religious life under the direction of the great Buddha, who is the Enlightened One. Do what you think is best.”
Kassapa’s followers replied, “We have conceived a profound affection for the great Buddha, and if you are joining his Sangha, we will do likewise.” And all of them took refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. This is how the following of Buddha grew by another thousand devotees.
18. SARIPUTTA AND MOGGALLANA
At that time Sariputta and Moggallana, two brahmin priests, led a very religious life. They had promised each other that the one who first attains enlightenment shall tell the other one.
Once Sariputta saw monk Assaji begging for alms who was modestly keeping his eyes to the ground and was dignified in manners. Sariputta exclaimed, “Truly this monk has entered the right path; I will ask him in whose name he has retired from the world and what doctrine he professes.”
Being addressed by Sariputta, Assaji replied, “I am a follower of the Buddha, the Blessed One, but being a novice I can tell you the substance only of the doctrine.”
Sariputta exclaimed, “Tell me! It is the substance I want.”
Then Assaji recited this stanza:
Nothing we seek to touch or see
Can represent Eternity.
They spoil and die: then let us find
Eternal Truth within the mind.
Having heard this stanza, Sariputta said, “Now I see clearly, whatsoever is subject to origination is also subject to cessation. If this be the doctrine, I have reached the state to enter the path of liberation which before has remained hidden from me.”
Then Sariputta went to Moggallana and told him about the Buddha’s teachings, and both decided to go to the Blessed One.
When the Buddha saw Sariputta and Moggallana coming from afar, he said to his disciples, “These two monks are highly auspicious.” The two friends had taken refuge in the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha and became loyal and virtuous disciples.
19. ANATHAPINDIKA
One of the Buddha’s most devout followers was a wealthy merchant named Sudatta. He was famous for his donations to the hungry and homeless and became known as Anathapindika (friend of the poor).
Anathapindika lived in Sravastti and one day he traveled to Rajagraha to visit his brother-in-law. The household was so busy with preparations for a feast that Anathapindika failed to get his usual warm welcome.
“What is the big occasion?” Anathapindika asked his brother-in-law, “Are you preparing for a great wedding or perhaps a visit from the king?”
“No,” his brother-in-law responded. “The Buddha and his monks are coming for a meal tomorrow.”
Just hearing the word “Buddha” filled Anathapindika with such joy that he could hardly contain himself and said, “You mean that a fully enlightened being has arisen in the world? How wonderful! Take me to meet him”.
Anathapindika wanted to go straight away but he was persuaded that it was too late and that it would be better to do so the next morning. That night Anathapindika was so excited that he could hardly sleep. Eventually, thinking that the sun would be rising soon, Anathapindika set off to meet the Buddha, but as he entered the outskirts of the city and it was still dark, he became frightened and decided to turn back. Suddenly, a friendly spirit appeared illuminating the whole area and urged him to continue. “Walk on! To move forward is better for you than to turn back.” Encouraged by these words, Anathapindika continued and soon came across the Buddha walking up and down in the early morning light. The Buddha saw Anathapindika hesitating to come closer and he beckoned him. “Come forward, Sudatta.” Astonished