RĀHULA

Rāhula was the son of Siddhārtha Gautama, the Buddha-to-be. On hearing the news of Rāhula's birth, according to paracanonical literature, Siddhārtha 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 Rāhula literally means "little Rāhu"; Rāhu 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 Rāhula to his father to ask him for his inheritance. Not receiving any response, Rāhula followed the Buddha, repeating his request, until eventually the Buddha had his son ordained by his chief disciple ŚĀriputra.

As a monk, Rāhula proved extremely conscientious, well-behaved, and eager to put into practice what he was taught. The Pāli canon contains a number of important discourses addressed to Rāhula, and it was while listening to the Buddha's Cūla-Rāhulavādasutta (Shorter Discourse of Advice to Rāhula) on not-self (anātman) and disenchantment (nirvidā) that Rāhula realized arhatship. The account of his winning ultimate freedom that is given in the Chinese version of the Ekottarāgama (Discourses Increasing by One) differs: Having received from the Buddha the decisive advice, Rāhula practiced mindfulness of breathing, experienced dhyĀna (trance state), and obtained the three kinds of abhijÑĀ (higher knowledges), culminating in penetrating insight. Thus his mind was freed from all malign influences.

Tradition has it that Rāhula 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 Pāsādika; and Boin-Webb, Sara. "Ekottarāgama (XV): Translated from the Chinese Version (Taishō, Vol. 2, 581b29 ff.)." Buddhist Studies Review 10, 2 (1993): 213–222.

Malalasekera, G. P. "Rāhula Thera." In Dictionary of Pāli Proper Names, Vol. 2. London: Indian Text Series, 1937–1938.

Bhikkhu PĀsĀdika