Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha, Part E

 

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Chapter 28: Sariputra and Maudgalyayana

Sariputra and Maudgalyayana were very close friends. Both were monks who lived in Rajagriha. One day Sariputra witnessed Asvajit collecting alms and noticed how pure and radiant he was. Sariputra waiting for Asvajit to finish and then he approached. When asked what teaching he follows, Asvajit responded with, “The Perfiect One teaches the cause, the Perfect One teaches the ends.” After hearing this Saripurta left to find Maudgalyayana. When Saripurta approached his friend, Maudgalyayana recognized that Sariputra’s demeanor had changed to peace and clarity. They both left their teacher to follow the teachings of Buddha.

Chapter 29: The Buddha Pacifies the Malcontents of Rajagriha

Many people in Rajagriha began converting to a life of austerity to follow the Buddha’s teachings at the Bamboo Grove. Others began taking note and complaining about the number of people leaving their lives to follow Buddha. Upon hearing the complaints, Buddha’s disciples reported the discontent to the Buddha. His response was for his disciples to continue peacefully preaching the truth. The Buddha predicted that the malcontents would eventually reverse their claims because what he preached was truth. Eventually the people changed their minds.

Chapter 30: Suddhodana sends messages to his son

King Suddhodana found himself longing to see his son. He sent nine messengers, one after the other to communicate to his son that he wished to see him. Each time, each messenger found Buddha’s teachings too attractive to return to the king and the message was lost. Eventually King Suddohana sends Siddhartha’s best friend, Udayin, to give Buddha the message. Udayin decides to become a monk like the messengers before him, however, he still remembers to relay the Kings message. Udayin and Buddha decide to travel to see king Suddhodana.

Chapter 31: The story of the crane and the fish

When Buddha was preparing to leave, King Vimbrasa and his son visited Buddha to express to him that they were sad that he would leave the Bamboo Grove. Buddha, sensing that Prince Ajatasatru did not feel the same about his teachings as Vimbrasa, told the story of the crane and the fish. In the story, the crane sought to deceive the fish into letting him eat them by tempting them with a pool of water that was better than theirs. A crayfish, being wiser than the fish, saw through the crane’s plot and foiled it. The Buddha used the story to communicate to the prince that his heart was not as pure as the king’s.

Chapter 32: The Story of Visvantara

Buddha visits his father. His father provides food for him alng his journey. On his journey, he becomes ware of the drought in a nearby kingdom. Buddha suggests how to help.

Bibliography:

Andre Ferdinand Herold, The Life of Buddha, http://sacred-texts.com/bud/lob/lob03.htm#page_3