The Lotus Sutra

Chapter 1, Introduction, Page 2

"... with a great assembly of Bhiksus, twelve thousand all together, all of them arhats. Having extinguished their afflictions, they were without emotional distress. For their own benefit they had extinguished all attachments to existence and attained mastery of the mind.

Their names included Ajnata Kaundinya, Maha Kasyapa, Uruvilva Kasyapa, Gaya Kasyapa, Nadi Kasyapa, Sariputra, Great Maudgalyayana, Maha Katyayana, Aniruddha, Kapphina, Gavampati, Revata, Pilindavatsa, Vakkula, Maha Kausthila, Nanda, Sundara Nanda, Purna the son of Maitrayani, Subhuti, Ananda and Rahula. All of these great arhats were well known to everyone.

There were another two thousand people who were either trainees or adepts.

There was also the Bhiksuni Maha Prajapati with her six thousand followers, and the Bhiksuni Yasodara, the mother of Rahula, with her followers."

F. Establishment of the Audience

1. The Bhiksus (Monks)

The Bhiksus (Monks) were also called Sravakas and were the direct spiritual disciples of the Buddha. Sravaka literally means 'one who has heard the voice', that is one who directly heard the words from the Buddha's mouth. The word Bhiksu literally means beggar. Buddhist monks traditionally left home, took a vow of poverty and carried a bowl for alms to support themselves and the order. Although in our society today homeless beggars would be deemed unworthy of respect as well as a public nuisance, in ancient India spiritual seekers who begged for a living were deemed to be pursuing a noble cause. Those who were successful in collecting alms were considered worthy of high respect and were called 'worthies' (Arhats). The spiritual practice of begging, still practiced in some countries in Asia, might be better compared to the fund raising practices of western societies today.

Those listed in the Sutra's introduction were among Sakyamuni's closest disciples. They included:

A. Ajnata Kaundinya - Ajnata Kaundinya was a Brahman who became a follower of Udraka Ramaputra, a well known Brahmin ascetic and teacher of fire-worshipping rituals. Ajnata Kaundinya was one of the ascetics from whom Sakyamuni sought wisdom before He attained enlightenment. He was the leader of the five spiritual seekers that were Sakyamuni’s first disciples and the first to hear and understand the Four Truths. Ajnata Kaundinya was therefore the first member of the Sangha. His name means Fire Vessel (Kaundinya) of the Unborn Wisdom (Ajnata). Brahmans from ancient times worshipped fire as the consumer of all things, the all-purifying destroyer of all that is born or produced, including all kinds of thoughts, desires and emotional distress (See the article on Soma for more on this). Ajnata Kaundinya was said to personify asceticism and the wisdom of that which is without birth.

B. Maha-Kasyapa - ('The Great Kasyapa') His family name was Kasyapa, and there were a number of Kasyapas found in the Sutras - it was a prominent Brahman family from Magadha. His given name was Pippala ('fig tree'). He was called the Great (Maha) Kasyapa because he was held in very highest esteem of all of his clan. Like Sakyamuni, he left great wealth to seek the path of enlightenment. He was said to personify the disciplines of the Dhuta or Dhutanga practice, as he was foremost in their observance. The Dhuta (literally meaning ‘shaking off’) were the disciplines (austerities) that were designed to help one shake off desires and emotions (klesas) and strengthen one’s spiritual capacities. The Dhuta included such disciplines as begging, dwelling in an aranya (forest hermitage), controlled fasting, vows of poverty (living the simple life of a monk), dwelling in charnel grounds, always sitting in meditation without lying down, etc. After the passing of Sariputra and Maha-Maudgalyayana, Maha-Kasyapa became one of the Chief Disciples (S. Agra-Sravakas) and perhaps Sakyamuni’s closest disciple. After Sakyamuni entered into Nirvana, Kasyapa became the first leader or patriarch (S. Arya Sthavira) of the order and chaired the First Council of the Sangha held during the first rainy season after the Buddha's death. He supervised the compilation of the Buddha's sermons and the organization of the canon and the order.

C. Three Kasyapa Brothers; Known as the 'matted hair ascetics', they were ascetic followrs of Udraka Ramaputra with many followers. Like Ajnata Kaundinya, they were fire-worshippers who were among the first converts and followers of Sakyamuni.
Uruvilva Kasyapa was named after the Uruvilva ('Papaya') Forest near Gaya in which he lived, a popular spot for spiritual seekers. He was the oldest of the three brothers and the leader of 500 disciple who all followed the Buddha after his conversion. He was known for his resourcefulness in providing provisions for the Sangha.
Nadi Kasyapa was named after the Neranjara River (Nadi means river) where he lived. He brought 250 disciples to the Buddha upon his conversion. He was known for his stillness of mind.
Gaya Kasyapa was named for the town of Gaya where he lived. He brought 200 disciples to the Buddha upon his conversion. He was known for his emancipation of mind.

D. Sariputra, was said to have been born at Nalanda-Grama, later the site of the Nalanda Monastery, the great center of Buddhist learning. He was the son of Tisya and his wife Sari, both prominent and esteemed for their education. His grandfather Matara was a well known philosopher. Sariputra became very learned from an early age, and came to be widely known for his great knowledge and erudition. His name means ‘Son of Sari’ - his highly regarded mother's name was Sari, named after a kind of talking bird (the mynah). Before meeting the Buddha, he was a follower of the philosopher Sanjaya. Sariputra became one of the Chief Disciples (Agra Sravakas), responsible for helping explain the Dharma to others. He is said to have predeceased the Buddha.

E. Maha-Maudgalyayana was named Kolita (Maudgalyayana was his family name - the name means 'Of Beans', and it is likely his family traded in beans). He was a close friend of Sariputra from his youth and also a follower of Sanjaya. Early in their spiritual quest, Sariputra and Maha-Maudgalyayana promised each other that the first to find the spiritual truth would teach it to the other. Sariputra found the Buddha first and brought Maha-Maudgalyayana into the Sangha. Like Sariputra, Maha-Maudgalyayana became a Chief Disciple and is also said to have predeceased the Buddha. Also well educated, he was known for his spiritual powers, particularly the six powers of spiritual penetration, which are:
     a. The Divine Eye (that sees what others cannot see)
     b. The Divine Ear (that hears what others cannot hear)
     c. The ability to penetrate the minds of others
     d. The ability to see past lives
     e. The ability to be or to go anywhere at will (spiritual feet)
     f. The ability to penetrate all afflictions

F. Maha-Katyayana ('Son of Kati', a family name) was from Ujjayini, the capital of Avanti in Western India. He was a businessman, and was said to have been converted to Buddhism while on a business trip from his home. He was known for his keen grasp of principles, his ability to understand arguments from all viewpoints, and skill in explaining the Dharmas to others. He eventually returned to Avanti and propagated Buddhism in Western India.

G. Aniruddha means 'Unrestrained' or 'Irrepressible', a reference to this disciple's unceasing charity to others. He was also called 'Never Poor' for the same reason. He was known for his detachment from material things, and was said to possess the Divine Eye

H. Gavampati means 'The Bull', or 'Lord of Cows'. This disciple was called 'The Bull' and 'Cow Cud' because of the loud way he ate. He was known for dwelling in the six heavens of the desire realm

I. Revata ('Citron Tree’) was the name of a Brahmin hermit known for dwelling in the heavenly realms of meditations (the four dhyana heavens of form), thus creating a 'false unity' for himself.

J. Pilinda-Vatsa (‘Calf or Creature of Habits’) was known for having a bad temper for which he needed to do penance. He was known as one of the 'common herd' disciples (other included Nanda, Upananda, Asvaka, Punarvasu, Chanda and Kalodayin). Because of these disciples the Buddha needed to devise many of the laws of the Vinaya (the disciplinary rules). Pilinda-Vatsa was also said to be known for always dwelling in meditation outside under trees and enduring the elements

K. Bakula ('Tanjong Tree', a fragrant tree from India) was known for long life, freedom from sickness and misfortune and upholding the precept of not taking life (Ahimsa)

L. Maha-Kausthila was the brother of Sari (Sariputra’s mother). Like Sariputra, he studied philosophy and was known for his eloquence and ability to answer difficult questions

M. Nanda ('Joy') was King Bimbisara’s cow-herder before meeting the Buddha. Although he was one of the 'common herd' disciples, he was most handsome and was known for his steadfastness and purity of faith.

N. Sundara Nanda, younger half-brother of Sakyamuni (son of Suddhodana and Mahaprajapati). His name was Nanda, but was often called Sundara Nanda to distinguish him from others of the same name. He was married to the beautiful Sundari, whom he worshipped. In renouncing the home life, he came to personify emancipation from carnal desire.

O. Purna-Maitrayani-Putra ('Purna, Son of Maitrayani') was from Suparaka, a seaport in western India just north of present day Bombay. Like Maha-Katyayana, he was a businessman who came to central India and was converted by the Buddha. He returned to western India and was very successful in propagating Buddhism there. He was known for his skill in communicating the Dharma to others

P. Subhuti ('Doing Well' or 'Well Done') was known for his understanding of the meaning of emptiness. He was the main interlocutor in The Sutra on the Perfection of the Great Wisdom (S. Maha Prajna Paramita Sutra).

Q. Ananda ('Bliss') was paternal cousin to Sakyamuni and the brother of Devadatta. He was said to have been born after Sakyamuni left home on his spiritual quest (some even said that he was born on the very day Sakyamuni attained enlightenment). In any case he was considerably younger than Sakyamuni. He was known for his perfect memory. He was also Sakyamuni’s closest personal attendant, said to always know what the Buddha wanted before being asked. After the Buddha’s extinction, Ananda was said to have recited all the Sutra from memory. Later he became the third leader or Patriarch (S. Arya Sthavira) of the order.

R. Rahula (‘The Grasping’) was the son of Sakyamuni. He was possibly born during an eclipse and named after Rahu ('The Grasper'), the demon associated with eclipses ('The Demon that Grasps the Sun and Moon'). Others opined that he named his son Rahula because he saw him as a fetter holding him to the home-life that he yearned to escape. Rahula joined the Sangha at the same time as Sundara Nanda when Sakyamuni returned to Kapilavastu, his homeland. Rahula was said to have studied under Sariputra. Rahula personified the fact that even the Buddha’s son was not exempt from the cause and effect of the six realms of good & evil and the five aggregates of self.

S. Maha-Prajapati, the aunt and foster mother of Sakyamuni (Sakyamuni's mother Mahamaya died, giving Him birth). Maha-Prajapati pleaded with Sakyamuni to allow her to join the Sangha. The Buddha only relented upon the repeated requests of Ananda. She became the first female disciple, the first abbess, and the founder of the order of Bhiksunis (nuns).

T. Yasodhara, Sakyamuni’s wife, the mother of Rahula. She joined the order after her son. In some accounts, before leaving home Sakyamuni was said to have had two other wives or consorts named Gopika and Mrigadava. However other accounts said that Yasodhara was known as Gopi or Gopika and made no mention of other wives or consorts.

Next....the Bodhisattvas in the audience
 

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