the story of Sanjaya(the wandering ascetic at Rajagaha)

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kao1306
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Joined: Sat Sep 13, 2014 11:56 am

the story of Sanjaya(the wandering ascetic at Rajagaha)

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Commentary On Dhammapada Stories-the story of Sanjaya(the wandering ascetic at Rajagaha)

Sanjaya, the wandering ascetic at Rajagaha, was a great, invaluable and democratic teacher in indian history.
@DhammapadaStories
Upatissa and Kolita remembered their former teacher and so went to Sanjaya and said to him, "We have found one who could point out the Path to Deathlesseness; the Buddha has appeared in the world; the Dhamma has appeared; the Sangha has appeared... Come, let us go to the Teacher." They had hoped that their former teacher would go along with them to the Buddha and by listening to the discourses he, too, would come to realize Magga and Phala. But Sanjaya refused.
So Upatissa and Kolita, with two hundred and fifty followers, went to the Buddha, at Veluvana. There, they were initiated and admitted into the Order as bhikkhus. Upatissa as son of Rupasari became known as Thera Sariputta; Kolita as son of Moggali became known as Thera Maha Moggallana. On the seventh day after the initiation Maha Moggallana attained Arahatship. Thera Sariputta achieved the same a fortnight after initiation. On that day, the Buddha made them his two Chief Disciples (Agga-Savaka).
The two Chief Disciples then related to the Buddha how they went to the Giragga festival, the meeting with Thera Assaji and their attainment of Sotapatti Fruition. They also told the Buddha about their former teacher Sanjaya, who refused to accompany them. Sanjaya had said, "Having been a teacher to so many pupils, for me to become his pupil would be like a jar turning into a drinking cup. Besides, only few people are wise and the majority are foolish; let the wise go to the wise Gotama, the foolish would still come to me. Go your way, my pupils."

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Aemilius
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Re: the story of Sanjaya(the wandering ascetic at Rajagaha)

Post by Aemilius »

The Sarvastivadin sutra named Catusparisad says that Sanjaya-Vairatiputra had passed away when Sariputra and Mahamaudgalayayana went to see him after their conversion to Buddhism. So according to Sarvastivada what you say has never happened.

Sanjaya-Vairatiputra was the leader of one of the Six Heterodox schools, as they are called in Buddhist tradition.
See an earlier discussion here: http://www.dharmawheel.net/viewtopic.ph ... 66&start=0
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
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