Episode 45 – Sariputra and Maudgalyayana
>>”Two pure spiritual practitioners, one with spiritual powers and one with wisdom, accompanied each other and shared the resolve to seek absolute truth and the Enlightened One. With precepts, Samadhi and wisdom they realized reality.”
>>Sariputra was also called Sariputta. This meant Son-of-Body. His mother had lovely physical form, and he came from that body. So, he was called Son-of-Body.
>> “All things arise due to conditions and then cease because of conditions. My teacher, the great Sramana, always teaches such.”
>> “Of those practicing my teachings, one has infinite wisdom and has resolved all doubts. Sariputra is foremost in wisdom. Among my disciples, Great Maudgalyayana is foremost in spiritual powers.”
When our spirit is tranquil, we feel like we are in a pure land. Wisdom and spiritual powers seem remote to us average Buddhist practitioners. Actually, to have spiritual powers, we simply need a focused and tranquil mind. If we are tranquil in spirit, naturally we can comprehend everything.
So, out of the 12,000 bhiksus and Arhats at the Lotus Dharma-assembly, those whom the people knew and recognized show us that everyone has a specialty and strength. “They had eliminated all Leaks and had no further afflictions. Having attained benefits for themselves, all their bonds of existence were gone.” We should always remember these simple phrases. During the Buddha’s lifetime, those who followed Him into monastic life sought to reach this state. We should eradicate all afflictions in our minds so we can be free and at ease.
Now let us examine how,
>>Two pure spiritual practitioners, one with spiritual powers and one with wisdom, accompanied each other and shared the resolve to seek absolute truth and the Enlightened One. With precepts, Samadhi and wisdom they realized reality.”
This is introducing the two great Arhats, Maudgalyayana and Sariputra.
The name “Sariputra” meant Son-of-Sari. Sari was a kind of bird with very bright eyes. Sariputra’s mother was very beautiful, especially her eyes. Therefore, people called Sariputra’s mother Sari. Since the mother was named Sari, her son was called Son-of-Sari. Besides Son-of-Sari, he had another name, Son-of-Body, because his mother had a beautiful figure. So, this name was also given due to his mother. This was Sariputra.
Sariputra was also called Sariputta. This meant Son-of-Body. His mother had lovely physical form, and he came from that body. So, he was called Son-of-Body.
Sariputra lived in Rajagrha. Every year, all scholars in the country gathered with the king, prince and ministers to have a discourse. They set up three stages for the discourse, one for the king and the prince, one for the ministers, one for the religious scholars. In total there were three stages and three seats.
Sariputra was only eight years old at the time. He was very curious about the set up when he walked by, so he asked, “What are these stages and these three seats for?” People told him, “One for the king and prince, one for ministers, and then one for our local scholars to hold their discourse to discuss intellectual matters.” After he heard that, despite being only eight, Sariputra strutted over to the seat for the masters of discourse, sat and prepared himself for others to ask him questions.
Some scholars thought, “This child is so young. If I beat him in debate, I will gain no glory. If I tell him to get down, people will think that I have no manners.” One of them told his students, “Go up there [to debate him]. You have been listening to my discussions with other people, my discussions with other people. He is only a child, so go and debate him.” So, his students went up, one at a time to pose difficult questions to this child. Sariputra refuted them one by one with logical answers. So, even the smartest students were defeated by. Sariputra, Son-of-Body, one by one.
Eventually, no one else dared to go up. Everything he said made sense, so these masters of discourse dared not go against him. Because of this incident, citizens all over the country rejoiced. They felt that Rajagrha had produced an exceptional and outstanding youth, a very wise person. By the time Sariputra was 16, he had read extensively. He had read all the books of every collection in the entire country. He understood all of them.
People came to consult him, especially regarding national affairs. When someone did not believe he was wise and decide to debate him, no matter how much that person prepared, he could not out-debate him. He was unmatched. He was truly very wise. Aside from Rajagrha, his renown spread to the five regions of India. Nearly all of India knew about this eminent young master of discourse in Rajagrha.
As this was happening, he felt that the world was full of troubling things. So, he was determined to further investigate the truths of life. Therefore, he focused on spiritual practice. At that time Brahmanism was thriving, so he chose a religious teacher. This religious teacher was named. Saran Brahmacarin and was an ascetic practitioner. He formally acknowledged him as his teacher. This teacher practiced special mystical arts, and not long after following him, Sariputra was able to learn all of them.
In the end, as his teacher Saran was approaching the end of his life, Saran suddenly laughed very loudly. Why was he laughing while facing death? The laugh was loud and clear. So, Sariputra asked his teacher, “Teacher, you keep saying that your life is about to end. Why are you still laughing happily?” Although Saran Brahmacarin was laughing, he now sighed with regret and said, “I think life is truly laughable. Sentient beings are so confused and deluded. I find that laughable. I realized that people are deluded by human affections. Their minds are entangled and bound by human affections, so their minds have lost the ability to see and are in complete darkness. Because of human affections, sentient beings have confused their clear minds.”
Sariputra then asked, “Teacher, you say that human affections will mesmerize the mind; what makes you say this?” He replied, “I saw that when King Suvarnabhumi passed away, his wife could not let go of him because of human affections. As he was being cremated, she could not let go and threw herself into the fire to die with him.”
Sariputra then asked, “Teacher, you have not gone anywhere in a while. How do you know that?” He replied, “I can see things without leaving this place.” Sariputra thought it was inconceivable. How could such a thing happen? But that was what his teacher said. After these final words, his teacher shook his head and sighed. That was his last breath. He had passed away.
Sometime after Sariputra settled his teacher’s affairs, a merchant came from Suvarnabhumi to do business. He asked, “You are from Suvarnabhumi, how is your king?” He replied, “He passed away not long ago. How about his wife?” The merchant said, “His wife loved him so deeply that she could not let him go. So, as the king was being cremated, she was so utterly heartbroken that she jumped into the fire.” When Sariputra heard this, he was very shocked. “My teacher really had spiritual powers, but why did he not teach it to me?” He became very depressed and dispirited. He thought, “I should seek another teacher.”
With that thought, he immediately began searching for famous teachers. As he traveled and learned, [he met] the Great Maudgalyayana. Their interests were compatible, so they joyfully became friends. They shared the dream of finding a famous teacher so they could advance their understanding of worldly matters. So, the two promised each other, “If you meet the right teacher, you will tell me. If I meet one, I will tell you. We can have the same teacher and focus on our spiritual practice.”
And then one day, Sariputra met another spiritual practitioner. As soon as they met, Sariputra felt that this person’s every move was captivating and so dignified. So, Sariputra could not help but approach this spiritual practitioner. He respectfully asked him, “Who is your teacher? What teachings did he give you? You look different from ordinary people and other spiritual practitioners. I can sense that you have realized many profound truths.” This practitioner was Asvajit. Bhiksu Asvajit was the Buddha’s disciple. After he heard Sariputra’s remarks, Asvajit respectfully said,
“All things arise due to conditions and then cease because of conditions. My teacher, the great Sramana, always teaches such.”
“Who is your teacher?” He answered, “People call him the Great Enlightened One, Sakyamuni Buddha. He was the prince of Kapilavastu, and He has attained Buddhahood through spiritual practice. Right now He is at Rajagrha.” Hearing this, Sariputra was filled with a joy he had never experienced before; he felt peaceful and at ease. Sariputra found Maudgalyayana right away and said, “I found him. I have found a great teacher.” Then he repeated his conversation with. Bhiksu Asvajit. Indeed, the Buddha’s teachings were profound and subtle. Causes and conditions apply to all things, down to the subtlest details. So, they told each other, “We should quickly visit this. Great Enlightened One.” They rushed to see Him.
When they arrived and witnessed the dignified appearance of the Buddha, they did not even need to hear any of His Dharma. They also saw the orderly manner of the Sangha. Thus, they resolved to follow the Buddha and become monastics. They also led their disciples to do the same. Within seven days of becoming a monastic, [Sariputra] thoroughly understood His teachings. Sariputra, the “foremost in wisdom,” was able to thoroughly understand the Buddha-Dharma within seven days. After 15 days, he attained the state that is beyond the stage of learning. That is the stage where he completely understands the Buddha’s teachings. Wisdom enters the ears and abides in the mind, and he does not allow it to leak away.
So, in the Agama Sutra, the Buddha said,
“Of those practicing my teachings, one has infinite wisdom and has resolved all doubts. Sariputra is foremost in wisdom. Among my disciples, Great Maudgalyayana is foremost in spiritual powers.”
Everyone, wisdom and spiritual powers should be connected. Only people with wisdom can eliminate all afflictions. Only people with wisdom can have a pure mind that is free from afflictions. “[They] had eliminated all Leaks and had no further afflictions.” By finding an enlightened teacher, all their Leaks and afflictions were eliminated, and all their bonds were undone. “With precepts, Samadhi and wisdom, they realized reality.” This was the spiritual journey of the two venerable ones, Sariputra and Maudgalyayana.
Everyone, please be mindful. In the past, when the Buddha was alive, practicing and learning the Buddha-Dharma was about eradicating afflictions from the mind. It is the same for us in learning the Buddha’s teachings now. We were once equal to the Buddha; we must learn to achieve His enlightened nature. So, there cannot be Leaks. Once our Leaks are eliminated, we can be at ease with the Dharma. So everyone, please always be mindful.