Chapter 45
disciples who were accomplished in the practice of the four ways of kind treatment to
others
2
. He emulated that man, and, making an extraordinary offering, he aspired to that
distinction. The Buddha prophesied that his aspiration would be fulfilled.
(b) His Last Existence as Prince ΀avaka
The future HatthakÈÄavaka was reborn in the good destinations for the entire one hundred
thousand world-cycles. During the time of Buddha Gotama he was reborn as Prince
ŒÄavaka, son of King ŒÄavaka, in the city of ŒÄavÊ.
(In this connection, the background events beginning with the sporting expedition of King
΀avaka, to the establishment in the Uposatha precepts of Prince ΀avaka, his attainment of
anÈgÈmÊ-phala
, and his following of five hundred lay disciples who were established in the
Uposatha
precept, have been described fully in Chapter 33. The reader is advised to refer
to the relevant pages therein.)
(c) HatthakÈÄavaka being named as The Foremost Lay Disciple
One day, HatthakÈÄavaka, the Uposatha-habituate, accompanied by five hundred lay
disciples, visited the Buddha. After making obeisance to Him, he sat in a suitable place.
When the Buddha saw the big following of very sedate manners that came with
HatthakÈÄavaka, He said: ‚ŒÄavaka you have a big following; what sort of kind treatment
do you extend to them?‛ And HatthakÈÄavaka replied: ‚Venerable Sir, (1) I practise charity
towards those persons who would be delighted by my act of charity. (2) I use pleasant
words to those who would be delighted by pleasant words. (3) I give necessary assistance
to those who are in need of such assistance and who would be delighted by my assistance.
(4) I treat those as my equals in respect of those who would be delighted by such treatment.
With reference to that conversation between the Buddha and HatthakÈÄavaka, on one
occasion, during the Buddha’s residence at the Jetavana monastery when He was conferring
titles to outstanding lay disciples, He declared:
‚
Bhikkhus
, among My lay disciples who kindly treat their followers in
four ways, HatthakÈÄavaka is the foremost.‛
5. MAHŒNŒMA The Sakyan Prince
(a) His Past Aspiration
The future MahÈnÈma was reborn into a worthy family in the city of HaÑsÈvatÊ, during
the time of Buddha Padumuttara. One day, while he was listening to a sermon by the
Buddha, he saw a lay disciple being named as the foremost lay disciple in offerings of the
most delicious and palatable alms-food, medicines and medicinal articles. He had a strong
wish to become such a distinguished lay disciple in future. After making an extraordinary
offering, he made known his aspiration to the Buddha who then prophesied that his
aspiration would be fulfilled.
(b) His Last Existence as Prince MahÈnÈma of The Sakyan Clan
One day, the Buddha, after staying in VeraÒjÈ for the
vassa
period, made a journey to
Kapilavatthu by travelling in stages. Upon arrival, He took up His abode at the
NirodhÈrÈma monastery in Kapilavatthu, together with His many
bhikkhus
.
When MahÈnÈma, the Sakyan Prince (Elder brother of the Venerable AnuruddhÈ), learnt
of the arrival of the Buddha, he visited Him, made his obeisance, and sat in a suitable
place. Then he said to the Buddha: ‚Venerable Sir, I have been told that the Sangha had had
a hard time in gathering alms-food in VeraÒjÈ. May I be allowed the privilege of offering
daily alms-food to the Sangha for a period of four months, so that I may provide the
2. Four ways of kind treatment to others:
Sa~gaha-Vatthu: Liberality, kindly speech, beneficial actions, impartiality (A. IV, 32: VIII 24).