R?HULA

R?hula was the son of Siddh?rtha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be. On hearing the news of R?hula's birth, according to paracanonical literature, Siddh?rtha Gautama immediately decided to renounce the world and go forth into homelessness, considering the birth of a son an obstruction in his search for truth. The name R?hula literally means "little R?hu"; R?hu is the demon formerly believed to obstruct the sun and the moon and thus cause eclipses. When the Buddha visited his hometown for the first time after his realization of buddhahood, his former wife sent R?hula to his father to ask him for his inheritance. Not receiving any response, R?hula followed the Buddha, repeating his request, until eventually the Buddha had his son ordained by his chief disciple ??riputra.

As a monk, R?hula proved extremely conscientious, well-behaved, and eager to put into practice what he was taught. The P?li canon contains a number of important discourses addressed to R?hula, and it was while listening to the Buddha's C?la-R?hulav?dasutta (Shorter Discourse of Advice to R?hula) on not-self (an?tman) and disenchantment (nirvid?) that R?hula realized arhatship. The account of his winning ultimate freedom that is given in the Chinese version of the Ekottar?gama (Discourses Increasing by One) differs: Having received from the Buddha the decisive advice, R?hula practiced mindfulness of breathing, experienced dhy?na (trance state), and obtained the three kinds of abhijÑ? (higher knowledges), culminating in penetrating insight. Thus his mind was freed from all malign influences.

Tradition has it that R?hula died before his father. In his lifetime, he was esteemed foremost among the Buddha's disciples in his eagerness to train.

See also:Disciples of the Buddha

Bibliography

Huyên-Vi, Thich; Bhikkhu P?s?dika; and Boin-Webb, Sara. "Ekottar?gama (XV): Translated from the Chinese Version (Taish?, Vol. 2, 581b29 ff.)." Buddhist Studies Review 10, 2 (1993): 213–222.

Malalasekera, G. P. "R?hula Thera." In Dictionary of P?li Proper Names, Vol. 2. London: Indian Text Series, 1937–1938.

Bhikkhu P?s?dika