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Chapter 1822: Chapter 1821: About the Buddha (2)

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Ah Nantuo - First in Hearing

Ah Nantuo, abbreviated as Nantuo, means ”Celebration” and ”Joy.” He is the younger brother of Devadatta and the son of King Sweet Rice, and also the cousin of Buddha. From a young age, he aspired to leave home for cultivation and once studied under Ten Power Kasyapa. At the age of fifty-five, he converted to Buddha. Because he was young and intelligent, and also Buddha’s cousin, he was elected by the disciples to be Buddha’s attendant (servant) after leaving home. He devotedly served Buddha, never leaving his side, until Buddha’s Nirvana, accompanying Buddha for twenty-five years in total. He excelled in memory, remembering all teachings spoken by Buddha without fail, thus earning the title ”First in Hearing” among Buddha’s disciples.

After Buddha’s Nirvana, Kasyapa Venerable gathered four hundred and ninety-nine Buddha’s disciples who had attained Arhat state to compile Buddhist Law, but Ah Nan was excluded for not attaining Holy Fruit. For this, he felt deeply ashamed and went forth with great diligence that night, finally achieving Arhat Fruit overnight, and joined the group compiling the Buddhist Law. During the compilation assembly, Ah Nan recited the entirety of the Sturas (Stura is Sanskrit, meaning Buddhist Sutra) including the ”Four Agama Sutras,” ”Parables Scripture,” ”Dhammapada Sutras,” making an indelible contribution to compiling Buddha’s teachings and their propagation to future generations.

Among Buddha’s disciples, Ah Nan not only had outstanding talents and profound Buddhist knowledge but also possessed extraordinary moral character. When he was appointed as Buddha’s attendant, to avoid suspicion, he proposed three requests, including ”he will never wear Buddha’s old or new clothes,” which were praised by Buddha. He was of gentle character, treating people with humility and sincerity. Among Buddha’s disciples, he had the best rapport, especially among female followers who enjoyed being close to him. He once sought Buddha’s approval for his aunt Lady Potthi to leave home. The origin of nuns in the Buddhist monks group is inseparable from Ah Nan’s appeals before Buddha.

After the assembly in the royal capital, Ah Nan traveled everywhere to spread the Buddhist Law. Twenty years later, he succeeded Great Kasyapa Venerable in leadership, becoming the leader of the monks group. He was sixty-six years old at that time. When he reached the age of one hundred and twenty, witnessing the deep-rooted self-attachment in human society and their disregard for the Buddhist Law, and with Buddha’s great disciples successively departing, he decided on Nirvana. It is said that as he was about to enter extinction, the tension heightened between the countries Magadha and Vesali on the banks of the Ganges River, eager to contest his relics. To quell the impending war, Ah Nan used his divine skill to enter extinction in mid-air above the Ganges River, divided his body into two halves, and offered them to both countries for worship, averting a war before it ignited. Even during his final Nirvana, Ah Nan considered the welfare of all beings, reflecting the compassionate spirit of Buddhism.

Rohula - First in Secret Practice

Rohula Venerable, also known as ”Rohula,” ”Luo Yun,” among other names, translates to ”Covering Obstruction,” ”Obscuring the Moon,” ”Holding the Moon,” and other names. He is Buddha’s biological son. His mother is named Yashodhara. At seven, he met Buddha with his mother, and at fifteen, under Sariputra, he left home, becoming the earliest novice in the Buddhist monks group. Newly ordained, Rohula was quite mischievous and liked to utter false words, but after Buddha’s strict teachings, wholesomeness sprouted, and he deeply regretted previous mistakes, thus holding the pure precepts strictly according to the teachings. He consistently maintained all the ”Three Thousand Activations” and ”Eighty Thousand Minor Conducts” prescribed for monks and never indulged or violated them, earning the title ”First in Secret Practice” among Buddha’s disciples. Besides strictly observing precepts, he also embodied the virtue of patience. It is recorded in the ”Mahaprajnaparamita Sutra” that once, upon returning from a pilgrimage, he found his lodging occupied by another monk, with his belongings thrown outside. According to Buddhist law at that time, monks were superior, and novices inferior, novices were not allowed to share a room with monks. Thus, he had to find another place. Outside, it was pouring rain, so he had to endure the stench and rainfall meditating in the toilet. Another time, while begging for food, he encountered ruffians and was beaten covered with bruises, yet he remained patient and unangered. At seven, he once sought inheritance from Buddha, who promised to leave him ”Seven Holy Treasures.” These treasures are: Faith, Diligence, Precepts, Shame, Hearing, Patience, Concentration, and Wisdom. Considering Rohula’s lifetime, he strictly observed precepts, practiced patience diligently, truly inheriting the legacy Buddha left for him, meeting Buddha’s expectations.

Mahakasyapa - First in Ascetic Practice

Mahakasyapa means ”Drinking Light.” He was born into a wealthy family in the royal capital of Country Magadha. From a young age, he was discontent with secular life and was forced by his father into marrying the wealthy lady Miaoxian from neighboring Vesali, yet Miaoxian shared the same aspirations with him, and they lived a separated life. Twelve years after marriage, both parents passed away, providing the opportunity for Kasyapa to leave home. He bid farewell to Miaoxian and went out searching for teachers and the Tao, visiting several renowned educators, yet none fulfilled his intentions. One day, he arrived at Bamboo Grove Monastery, where he heard Buddha teaching, and found it aligned with his heart, thus he followed Buddha to leave home. Before long, he also brought Miaoxian to the women’s monks group to cultivate the holy path together.

After adhering to Buddhism, despite becoming a member of the Buddhist monks group, but Kasyapa never resided there, believing the lifestyle within too comfortable and unsuitable for practicing worldly transcedent Method, always meditating and sitting alone in deep mountains, fields, near bones and graveyards. His cultivation style included ten methods: 1. Residing in deserted places; 2. Regularly begging for food; 3. Living in one place; 4. Eating one meal a day; 5. Begging regardless of wealth; 6. Strictly maintaining the three robes and bowl set; 7. Always contemplating under trees; 8. Always meditating in open spaces; 9. Wearing ragged clothes; 10. Residing near graveyards. This cultivation method of Kasyapa is called ”ascetic practice” in Buddhism. Ascetic implies ”shaking off,” meaning the intention to shake off troubles and stains. Kasyapa persistently practiced asceticism without slacking, making him ”First in Ascetic Practice” among Buddha’s disciples. Buddha greatly trusted him, praised him as the true holder of future Buddhist Law, and bestowed him with the robe and bowl.