Research and Report Writing

Thursday, August 23, 2012

The Brief Story of Sãriputta

Dear all,

Now, I would like you to know a story of a disciple of the Buddha, his name is Sariputta (Pali)/Sariputtra (Sanskrit). He is very important in Buddhism because of a disciple of the Buddha and being the first (right) chief disciple of the Buddha: foremost in wisdom. I think everybody knows Sariputta and Moggullana, both are foremost disciple of the Buddha. For this post, I would like to suggest the brief story of Sariputta : “Buddhism : The Religion of Wisdom” written by Dhammarakkhit as follows:

One day Assaji, a disciple of the Buddha entered into the town of Rajagaha in his begging round with mind well-composed and sense-organs well controlled . His manner, full of grace and dignity, impressed Sariputta then known as Upatissa, a distinguished son of wealthy family.

On Sariputta’s asking Assaji as to who was his teacher, he replied that his teacher was the omniscient Gotama Buddha.

When Sariputta enquired about the doctrine of the teacher, he replied that he just learned the doctrine and had not yet comprehended it properly. All that he could do was to recite the stanzas which contained the Buddha’s teachings.

He then recited the stanzas as follows :

“The Buddha had explained are produced by cause of all things which are produced by causes. He also exposed the cessation of those cause. These are the short summarized teachings of the Buddha”

Sariputta, who was already spiritually advanced, realised the truth. He at once got convinced that there was no any permanent self and that all worldly objects are only products of causes and conditions and that the attachment to the worldly objects which caused sufferings must be eradicated in order to attain the eternal happiness. Upatissa, after having been ordained, got the name of Sariputta because he was a son of Brahman named “Sari”.