Story Of The Buddha & Buddhism ( Part 25 - 28 )

Part 25

Yasodhara reverencing the Buddha by placing her head upon his feet

The day after his arrival at Kapilavatthu the Buddha went on His alms round. King Suddhodana came and conducted Him to the place and served Him with food. After the meal, there was great excitement in the palace and all but Princess Yasodhara came to pay their reverence to the Buddha. Yasodhara thought, "Certainly if there is any virtue in me, the Noble Lord Himself will come to my presence. The will I reverence Him as much as I like".

The Buddha saw that if He did not visit her, Yasodhara would break her heart with grief. So He handed His bowl to the King, and accompanied by His two chief disciples, entered the chamber of Yasodhara and sat on the prepared seat, saying, "Let the King's daughter reverence as she likes". Swiftly she came, clasped His ankles, and placing her head on His feet, reverenced Him as she like.


Part 26

Rahula following the Buddha and asking for inheritance

While the Buddha was having his meal at his father's palace, Princes Yasodhara dressed up Rahula properly with ornaments and pointing to the Buddha said, "Behold, son that great ascetic of majestic appearance in the midst of twenty thousand monks. He is your father. The vases of god belonging to Him have disappeared since the day he retired from home to homelessness. Go by ask for your inheritance so that you may become a Universal presence and said, "O, father, your shadow is cool and pleasant. I wish to become a Universal Monarch. Please give me my inheritance". He asked for his inheritance, uttering much else that was becoming. He followed the Buddha when he went back to the monastery asking for inheritance. But the Blessed One made him owner of an inheritance transcending this world, by ordaining him as a samanera (novice) of the Holy Order


Part 27

Ordination of six princes of the Sakya Clan

After the attainment of Supreme Buddhaship by the Great Being, Nanda and many other princes of the Sakya clan became monks under the discipline of the Blessed One. It therefore appeared to those households of the same clan, with two or three sons in each family, that they would be failing in their duty if none came forth to be ordained. The two brothers Mahanama and Anuruddha discussed this subject, and Anuruddha agreed to be ordained. Bhaddiya, who was then a ruling monarch, happened to be an intimate friend of Anuruddha. Anuruddha therfore went to King Bhaddiya and persuaded him to become a monk along with him, and Bhaddiya agreed. Accordingly, seven of them including Anada, Bhagu, Kimila, Devadatta and Upali, the barber, came to the Buddha. There they made their request that Upali be admited first, in order that their Sakya pride might be humbled through having their former attendant as their senior. They were then ordained accordingly


Part 28

The Buddha welcoming the person who had retired from the world and was to become the venerable Mahakassapa

Pippali was destined to become Venerable Mahakassapa who would protect the dispensation of the Dhamma after His death. He was in charge of 14 villages of workmen and a section of the fighting forces. He belonged to a very rich family worth several crores of money, and together with his wife retired from home-life to lead a religious life. There was a mighty earth-quake at the place where Pippai parted with his wife on retirement from the world. The Buddha surveyed with His Buddha-eye and saw the causes of the earth-quake.

Immediately thereafter the Buddha went to the giant banyan tree about 3 gavutas away (about six miles) to welcome Pippali. He then sat at the foot of the tree causing the six resplendent rays of light to issue forth from His body. Pippali, who later came to known as Mahakassapa, saw the Blessed One and, coming to this decision: "He indeed is my master", placed his head upon the feet of the Blessed One and said, "Lord, I am your disciple". The Buddha often honoured him before the assembly of monks by treating him as a member of the Holy Order of a standing equal to Him.