The five monks who had meditated at ‘Urubela’ with Gautam and deserted him when they found him eating kheer had gone to a forest situated near Sarnath to continue their penance. They meditated for a long time but achieved nothing.
Utterly frustrated they wandered around as aimless mendicants unable to decide their future course of action. One day they accidentally ran into Gautam Buddha and his gaze had the penetration power that could reach the core of the spiritual truth. His whole skin was fluorescent with spiritual insight and enlightenment was oozing out from inside. Strange magnetic waves were flowing from Gautam.
All the five fell at Gautam Buddha’s feet with no words said. The truth stood before them embodied as Gautam. They begged Gautam Buddha to lead them into the correct path.
Gautam Buddha’s peacefully smiled and raised his palm accepting to guide them. The five were his first disciples to get the benefit of Gautam’s Bodhisatva, for the first time articulated in words;
— Follow some principles if you want to lead a pious life.
— Control greed instinct. It is the root cause of all evils.
— All humans are equal. Don’t believe in the casteism and racialism.
— The harsh words are more hurtful than the body blows. Speak politely. Have a heart for all.
The words spoken by Gautam Buddha were simple, direct, logical and natural. His sermon was not a heap of high sounding words. That meant nothing. His simple truths made immediate impact. Within a few months Gautam Buddha had made hundreds of dedicated followers. As time went by Gautam Buddha was becoming more proficient in translating his spiritual wisdom in words easy to understand, clear and well defined. His thoughts were taking shape of a religion set in proper format.
Buddha’s teachings were spreading new light and awakening. He sent out sixty of his disciples to other lands to spread his message.
One of the reasons of the quick popularity of Buddhism was casteism and evil practices introduced by Brahmins in Hindu society. Most of the society was suffering under the weight of evils, horrendous customs, stupid blindfaiths and religious terror of upper castes sustained by Brahmins. For such tormented classes Buddhism provided an escape and a heaven.
Buddha spent four months of the year in delivering sermons to his disciples camped in one place. For the rest of the eight month of the year he toured lands propagating his thoughts and making followers and enrolling new disciples on the spot.
His faithful sects were known as ‘Sangha,’ the union. Anyone wishing to join his sangha had to say following sentences three times:
Buddham Sharnam Gachchhami,
Sangham Sharnam Gachchhami
Dharmam Sharnam Gachchhami.
The lines transtated literally mean:
I surrender to Buddha
I surrender to Union
I surrender to Religion.
Buddha preached against violence, casteism, racialism and Brahmanical dogma. He stood for mercy, love, compassion and the brotherhood of the mankind. He opposed rituals, evil practices, blind faiths and customs being perpetuated by the Hindu priests. In a way, we must say that Buddha not only was a spiritual messiah but the original reformist of Hindu society.
He set up monasteries called Buddha Viharas for the sangha members. It was achieved through the donations received from his followers and supporters. In addition to viharas, the Buddhists also set up free inns and temples as a social welfare measure.
The inmates of Buddha viharas had to abide by certain rules and regulations as enlisted below:
1. Violence strictly prohibited.
2. No indulgence in stealing.
3. One shall not tell a lie.
4. No drugs and intoxicants will be allowed.
5. Meals will be taken only at appointed hours. There will be no mooching.
6. Inmates shall sleep on hard floor. No bed or mattress shall be allowed.
7. Celibacy will be strictly practised.
8. No dancing, singing or instrumental music will be permitted.
9. Gold and silver shall not be used in any form.
10. Preening and self beautification shall not be allowed.
Buddha viharas were like doors of heaven opened to the lower castes of Hindu society who were a tormented, persecuted and grossly discriminated lot. Buddha’s teaching of equality of all humans was a whiff of fresh air for those who were getting suffocated in Hindu society’s caste system.
For his disciples Gautam Buddha had issued following instructions:
You will wear yellow robes and eat simple food.
You will live on alms you get everyday.
You will not have any possessions of your own.
You shall not believe in any caste or creed discrimination.
You will treat everyone as equal and with love and compassion.
You will not kill any creature.
You will not indulge in any wordly or carnal pleasures.
You will not follow any custom or ritual created by Brahmins.
Ananda
Ananda was born in Kapilvastu during almost the same time as Siddhartha was born. He grew up along side Prince Siddhartha in Kapilavastu but had never met the prince. They had grown up in different social zones though simultaneously.
When Siddhartha transformed into Gautam and became Gautam Buddha after gaining enlightenment Ananda got interested in his teachings. Buddha’s thoughts and teachings made deep impact on him.
Ananda renounced his home and family to join Buddha. He became a disciple and played a major part in shaping of various aspects of Sanghas and Buddhism. He became truly devoted to his spiritual guru and gained the position of Buddha’s foremost trusted disciple. Buddha gave great importance to Ananda’s views. Later, he played a leading role in spreading the message of Buddha in alien lands.
In the beginning many woman approached Buddha wishing to join sangha but they were not accepted because it was thought that the presence of women could prove distraction for other male monks. The proximity of opposite sexes could result in illicit and undesired liaisons.
Ananda objected to this thinking. He thought that it was clear case of discrimination on sex grounds. He said that a religion preaching equality of all human beings must not make distinction between men and women.
Buddha said, ‘‘Ananda! I am not practising discrimination. It is the danger that worries me, the danger of degeneration. Some basic instincts are too powerful to resist. It has bad influence. If we keep the monasteries as strictly male preserves our viharas will last for thousands of years. If we allow women they won’t even last five hundred years.’’
Ananda didn’t give up, ‘‘To me it looks a flawed vision. We claim that our path leads to Nirvana, the ultimate goal. But disallowing women into Sanghas we shall practically be denying Nirvana to half of the human race represented by women. Lord, what right have we got to deny half of the humanity that fundamental right? Will it be justice to deny Nirvana to them merely for our own little convenience? Will not our principle of equality suffer a serious blow? On this one issue Brahmins can make us laughing stock.’’
Buddha thought over it. He realised his mistake and nodded at Ananda.
He smiled, ‘‘Yes, Ananda, you are right. We must not use any discrimination. Let’s hope women would strictly adhere to the rules of the viharas.’’
Soon after, special viharas for the women came up and thousands of women became Buddhist nuns. Ananda’s faith in women and their devotion proved correct. The induction of women in Sanghas didn’t result in any unsavoury thing. Infact, their impeccable conduct earned greater respect for Buddhism. It came to be looked up as a faith that cleansed the human soul of worldly evils and desires.
Later, women monks (Nuns) earned the right to be on the governing bodies of sanghas and councils. The nuns even fought a social battle to get women the right to become entrepreneurs. Till then woman had no such right. The battle was fought with the guidance of Ananda.
No wonder that Ananda was extremely popular with ladies.
