The Life Stories of the Monks – 1837
monks, Ven. Bhaddiya became an Arahat in that Rains Retreat (
Vassa
). Ven.
Anuruddha gained the psychic power of the divine eye (
dibba-cakkhu
); Ven.
Devadatta developed the eight mundane attainments; Ven. Ānanda was
established in Stream-entry (
Sotāpatti-phala
); Ven. Bhagu and Ven. Kimila
became Arahats later. The resolutions made in the past by these monks will be
described in their respective sections.
As for Ven. Anuruddha, after becoming a monk he acquired in his first Rains
Retreat (
Vassa
) the eight attainments
[1225]
and developed the psychic power
and higher divine eye by which he was able to see 1,000 universes.
One day, he went to Ven. Sāriputta and said: “Friend Sāriputta,
1. I can see 1,000 universes by means of the particularly pure divine eye,
which surpasses the eyesight of human beings.
2. I put forth effort unflinchingly. Not being unmindful, I possess
mindfulness. There is no anxiety in my person and I am calm. My mind
is one-pointed and well-concentrated.
3. Even then, my mind is not unattached to craving (
taṇhā
) and wrong
views (
diṭṭhi
) and not liberated yet from the pollutants (
āsava
).
Then Ven. Sāriputta taught Ven. Anuruddha concerning meditation:
1. “Friend Anuruddha, the very fact that you are conscious and thinking:
‘I can see 1,000 universes by means of the particularly pure divine-like
eye, which surpasses the clear eyesight of human beings,’ reveals that
you have conceit (
māna
).
2. Friend Anuruddha, the very fact that you are conscious and thinking: ‘I
put forth effort unflinchingly. Not being unmindful, I possess
mindfulness. There is no anxiety in my person and I am calm. My mind
is one-pointed and well concentrated,’ reveals that you have mental
restlessness (
uddhacca
).
3. Friend Anuruddha, the very fact that you are conscious and thinking:
‘Even then, my mind is not unattached to craving and wrong views and
not liberated yet from the pollutants (
āsava
),’
reveals that you have
doubt and worry (
saṁsaya-kukkucca
).