EnglishA Story of YA. Anuruddha | Master of the Divine Eye
A while before reaching Parinibbana (Death), Buddha delivered his last words:
“So, bhikkhus, I exhort you: All compounded things are subject to vanish. Strive with earnestness.”
After that Buddha entered the first Jhana (States of Peacefulness in Meditation), then the second, third, and fourth. Then he entered the ‘Infinity of Space’, then ‘Infinity of Consciousness’, ‘Nothingness’, ‘Neither perception nor non-perception’ and then reach ‘Cessation of Perception and Feeling’.
That’s when YA (Yang Ariya) Ananda said to Anuruddha,
“Bhante, Bhagava has reached Parinibbana!” But YA Anuruddha answered, “Not yet, Avuso Ananda. Bhagava has not yet reached Parinibbana. He is now in ‘Cessation of Perception and Feeling’ stage”.
And then Buddha woke up from ‘Cessation of Perception and Feeling’ stage then entered the state he had passed in opposite order to return to the first Jhana. From the first Jhana, he re-entered the second, third, and fourth Jhana. Exiting the fourth Jhana, Buddha immediately end his live and reached Parinibbana.
When Buddha reached Parinibbana, YA Anuruddha spoke this stanza,
“No movement of the breath, but with steadfast heart,
Free from desires and tranquil — so the sage comes to his end.
By mortal pangs unshaken, His mind, like a flame extinguished, finds release”
YES Anuruddha was born as the cousin of Buddha, the son of Amitodana. He had a sibling named Mahanama and is the brother of another mother of Ananda. His face was handsome, straight eyebrows and a nice nose shape, an expert in martial arts and sports. Her parents were very fond of him and gave im a house for every season, one for summer, one for winter and one for the rainy season, like what Prince Siddhattha received from his parents. In every house built for Anuruddha there are a lot of waiters who are always ready to serve.
The arrival of the Buddha to Kapilavatthu make a lot of people interested in the teachings of Buddha and many of those people left the worldly life and became a monk. In Anuruddha family, no one had yet to become a monk. Therefore, Mahanama proposed one of them to become a monk, because if both of them were to become a monk then there would be no one to preserve the family lineage.
Anuruddha who was accustomed to live in luxury found it difficult to live as a monk, but Mahanama persuade him by showing him the hardship of life as a householder, and endless jobs in agriculture. Anuruddha asked permission from him mother to become a monk. Her mother who was very fond of him initially refused to give him permission. She finally gave her permission on a condition that his cousin, Bhaddiya, King Sakya who succeeded the deceased King Suddhodana, also followed him to become a monk. Her mother thought that it is impossible Bhaddiya will leave his job as king to become a monk.
Bhaddiya said that he wanted to accompany Anuruddha to became a monk as long as Anuruddha was willing to wait as long as seven years. At the urging of Anuruddha, the waiting period is shortened to six years, five years, four years, up to one year. Finally Bhaddiya pledged to do it in seven days after he handed over his duties to the child and his brother.
Anuruddha then also invited Ananda, Bhagu, Kimbila and Devadatta to become a monk. To avoid suspicion, they went into the garden as if they were going to work out by also bringing along with them a barber named Upali. Along the way, they ordered the escort home, and then take off the clothes and jewelry they used to be brought home by Upali. But Upali who fear the wrath of the Sakya if he brought home the goods, eventually followed them to become a monk. They met with Buddha in Anupiya on their way to Rajagaha. They appealed to Buddha for Upali to be ordained first so that they can reduce the sense of their pride, because with that then they have to respect Upali as a more senior monk.
Bhaddiya then reached three knowledge and become Arahat. Ananda attained Sotapanna stage. Devadatta obtain supernatural powers that can be achieved by ordinary people. Bhagu, Kimbila and Upali reached Arahat.
Anuruddha who was accustomed to live comfortably and wass served by many servants now have to wear a coarse cloak, going around for alms, sleeping in the open and undergo strict rules. With strong determination, he can get used to live life as a monk but was exhausted in carrying out the exercises.
One time when Anuruddha and other monks had gathered at the temple Jetavana listen to the sermon of the Buddha, he felt very drowsy and fell asleep. He awoke when Buddha called his name and greeted him with a few words. After the sermon finished, with shame Anuruddha expressed his regrets to Buddha and was determined to fall asleep no more while listening to the sermon of Buddha. Since then Anuddha never close his eyes even at night.
With his training, Anuruddha obtain divine eye, which is the ability to see the appearance and disappearance of the creatures in this universe. Then he reached the highest level of sanctity, which is Arahat. But the hard training thus causing disturbances in his eyes that he can no longer see. When he was asked by Buddha to sleep to recover his eyesight in accordance with the doctor’s advice, he replied,
“Bhante, with the determination to not sleep I can overcome all suffering. How can I let go of that determination?“
YES Anuruddha was present at the time when Buddha reached Parinibbana and also played the role in the Sangha Supreme Assembly held after the Buddha reached Parinibbana. He, with the other monks urged YA Ananda to train themselves in earnest in order to reach the level of Arahat in the General Assembly. YA Anuruddha reached Parinibbana in Veluva village of Vajjian in the shade of bamboo trees.
