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Two Other Disciples of The Buddha: Upali and Ananda

Upali 

Upali, which means grasping tightly, assisted with the compilation of the Vinaya, during the first council. He was already in his seventies. He was an untouchable, from the lowest class in the Indian society.  He was physically weak and  his parents made him a barber. Upali was popular, and soon he became the barber for the Sakya  princes.

When the Buddha returned to Kapilavastu to visit his father, Upali was about 20.  When Upali was told to cut the Buddha’s hair, he was nervous and  he brought his mother along. As he was cutting the hair, Upali's mother asked the Buddha, "How is Upali's skill?" 

The Buddha replied, "the body is too crooked." Upali immediately straightened his body, and attained the first level of mindfulness. 

 After a while, Upali's mother asked again, and the Buddha replied, "Now the body is too straight."  Upali relieved his tension and attained the second level of mindfulness. 

Later on, Upali's mother asked again, and the Buddha replied, "the in breath is too brisk."  Upali quickly concentrated his breath on the in breath, and attained the third level of mindfulness. 

Again, Upali's mother asked and the Buddha replied, "the out breath is too brisk."  Upali now conquered all his stray thoughts and attained the fourth level of mindfulness. 

The Buddha quickly added, "Someone should quickly take the knife away from Upali, he is already in the fourth level of mindfulness, help him so that he will not fall on the floor!"

He was outstanding in up keeping the precepts, and never breaking any of them.  The Buddha often asked him to settle disputes among the Sangha, because of his impartialness and strictness. Upali talked to the Buddha regarding many precept doubts and monastic way of life, thus giving rise to many suttas.

 

 

Ananda

Ananda was most energetic and had a highly developed memory. At the age of 120, he knew his end would come within  seven days. He went  from Rajagaha to Vaishali, the route previously taken by the Buddha. King Ajatasattu, brought his troops and went after him, hoping of asking him to stay. At the same time the people of Vaishali knew that Ananda was coming to their country. They rushed to the bank of the Ganges waiting for him. As Ananda’s boat was on the middle of the river on the seventh day, the crowds on the opposite sides asked him to land on their side. Ananda levitated  and entered Parinibbana to avoid a possible conflict, setting his body on fire. The ashes, dropped  on both sides of the river. Each side received half of his ashes. Both parties  returned and erected stupas for remembrance and reverence.

A poem was  written to describe Ananda:

"Face like a full Autumn moon, Eyes that of a pure lotus flower, the teachings of the Buddha is as vast as the ocean, which flows into the heart of Ananda." 

Ananda, the youngest among the seven Sakya princes to follow the Buddha, was the younger brother of Devadatta. He helped persuade the Buddha into allowing the setting of the order of nuns, soon after he was ordained.  Buddha was 53 when Ananda was in his twenties.  Because of Buddha's elderly age, Sariputra and Mogallana invited Ananda to attend to the Buddha.  That was why Ananda was always with Buddha, and he served Him for 25 years.

There were people who were tired of Buddhism, and thus avoided Buddha and his disciples. But they were attracted by Ananda's pleasantness and hence gained faith in Buddhism. 

Ananda was recognized by all to be the store-house of the Buddha’s teachings and therefore considered indispensable. Venerable Mahakassapa gave him encouragement so that he might become an Arahant in time for the meeting of the first council on the following morning.

Understanding his responsibility, Ananda exerted his efforts throughout the night and attained enlightenment while lying down.  He was not successful with walking and sitting meditation. When he was tired he leaned down to rest, relaxed his body and attained enlightenment.  He was practising very hard because the Council was waiting for him as only Arahants were allowed to sit in the Council.  In the first Council he recited the sutras for compilation, assisting to settle the questions of the doctrines, and fix the text of the scriptures.  After Mahakasyapa passed on the authority to him, he became the chief monk.  At age 120, he entered final Nirvana at the River Granges which ran between two cities to avoid a war.

Ananda once told Buddha that he had seven dreams.  In the first dream, he dreamt that the entire ocean was burning.  The flames were so great that they rises all the way to the sky!

The Buddha said: "Ananda, the noble ones do not interpret dreams, but your dreams were indeed strange.  The ocean of fire signified that in the future Sangha, many are evil, few are good, after receiving offerings, they would fight and argue, just as if this clear and clean water becomes a flame.  What is your second dream?"

"Buddha, I dreamt that the sun is gone, the world is in darkness, there were no stars in the sky."

"Ananda, Buddha is going into final Nirvana soon, many of the great disciples will go into final Nirvana as well, this signifies that the eyes of wisdom will soon fade.  What is your third dream?"

"Buddha, I dreamt that monks do not wear robes, they fall into pits and the laymen step on their heads."

"Ananda, this suggests that the future monks give public speeches but not follow what they preach.  They are jealous of each other, do not respect the law of cause and effect, ultimately they fell, the laymen rises and look down on the Sangha.  They go into monasteries and frame monks, and damage the temples.  What is your 4th dream?"

"Buddha, I dreamt that the monks robes are incomplete and they kneel on thorns."

"Ananda, this says that future monks do not wear the holy robes, do not follow precepts, like the worldly pleasures, have wives, this is a big misfortune of the Dhamma.  What is your 5th dream?"

"Buddha, I dreamt that in a thick forest, many pigs were digging the roots of the Bodhi tree."

"Ananda, this says that the future monks only cares about making a living, they sell Buddha statues and sutras as occupations.  What is your 6th dream?"

"Buddha, I dreamt that the big elephants neglects the small elephants, and the king of the beasts the lion died.  Holy flowers fall on the lion's head, but the animals are scared and keep their distance.  Soon the corpse develops worms which feed on the lion's meat."

"Big elephants neglecting the small elephants, this means in the future Sangha the elders are selfish and would not groom the young.  The worms feeding on the lion's meat, this means no other religions can damage Buddhism, but it is our own Buddhists who will destroy my teachings.  What is your 7th dream?"

"I dreamt that my head supports Mount Meru, but I do not feel the weight."

Buddha was relieved and said, "Ananda, this means that Buddha will attain final Nirvana in three months' time, all great monks and people will need your help to compile the sutras."

Even Buddhism is impermanent.  By recognizing the signs, we can cater for it, avoid blind faith, and practice mindfully.  This would extend the lifespan of Buddhism.

All the monks elected Ananda to ask Buddha regarding questions on preservation of Buddhism, because when Buddha is near final Nirvana, he publicly praised Ananda for his attentiveness and remembering all his teachings. 

1) After Buddha's final Nirvana, who shall be our teacher?
2) After Buddha's final Nirvana, where do we focus our minds on?
3) After Buddha's final Nirvana, how do we subdue the evil people?
4) After Buddha's final Nirvana, when we compile the sutras, how can we instill faith in our followers?"

"Ananda, you and everyone should remember.  Regard the precepts as your teacher, focus your minds on the four places of mind dwelling; when you meet evil people, respect and do not react to their provocations; when you compile the sutras, put the first phrase as 'Thus I have heard'.  As long as you follow the Dhamma, the Buddha will be with you."
 

 

People who disliked Ananda blamed him for not asking the Buddha which of the lesser precepts could be abolished after the Buddha was gone.  They also blamed him when he accidently stepped on the Buddha’s robe, while sewing it and he saw no fault. The next blame: He did not ask the Buddha to carry on living until the end of His life span.  The 4th blame : He allowed the body of the Buddha to be saluted by women first, resulting the body being smeared with tears because he did not want to detain those women for too long. The final blame was: He pleaded for the admission of women into the order.

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