Gateway to Insight
Chapter 15: The Going Forth of Yasa
(1) Atha kho bhagavā vassaṃ upagantvā. Then the Blessed One, having entered the rains retreat in the Deer Park at Isipatana, taught the Dhamma to the remaining monks. He bestowed the eye of Dhamma upon Vappa on the first day of the waning moon, upon Bhaddiya on the second day of the waning moon, upon Mahānāma on the third day of the waning moon, and upon Assaji on the fourth day of the waning moon. Then, the five monks requested the going forth and full ordination. The Blessed One granted them full ordination as “ehi bhikkhu” (come, monk) with the words, “Come, monks. Live the holy life for the complete ending of suffering.” Thus, ordination was accomplished for the group of five monks. The Blessed One remained in meditative attainment, waiting to purify the defilements of the group of five.
(2) Kāḷapakkhassa pañcamiyaṃ tesaṃ visesato. On the fifth day of the dark fortnight, the Blessed One, seeing with special clarity the potential for Arahantship in the five monks, gathered them together and delivered the Anattalakkhaṇa Sutta (Discourse on the Characteristic of Not-Self) with the words, “Rūpaṃ, bhikkhave, anattā” (“Form, monks, is not-self”). He pointed out that the five aggregates are of a nature that does not proceed according to one’s will. The group of five monks delighted in the Blessed One’s words. And the minds of the group of five monks were liberated from the cankers. Thus, five Arahants (six including the Lord Buddha) arose in the world.
(3) Tena kho pana samayena bārāṇasiyaṃ yaso nāma kulaputto. At that time in Bārāṇasī, there was a young man of good family named Yasa[1], the son of a wealthy merchant. He lived in three palaces, enjoying himself according to the seasons, attended by female musicians as was the custom. On one occasion, Yasa awoke before the others and saw everyone sleeping, displaying various unseemly postures. He became disgusted with household life, put on his golden slippers, descended from the palace, and walked into the Deer Park at Isipatana during the night. At that time, the Blessed One was walking in meditation in the pre-dawn hours. He saw Yasa and called out, “Come, worthy one, this place is free from affliction.” Yasa heard this, took off his slippers, and approached the Teacher, sitting down in a suitable place. The Blessed One gave him a gradual instruction. After the gradual discourse was finished, Yasa, the son of a noble family, attained the fruit of stream-entry.
(4) Atha kho yassa mātā. Then Yasa’s mother went up to the palace and, not seeing her son, went to inform her husband. The wealthy merchant, upon hearing this, sent men to search in the four directions. The householder then went to search in the Deer Park at Isipatana himself. He saw the golden slippers that his son had taken off and followed the tracks. The Lord Buddha, seeing the wealthy merchant approaching, performed a feat of psychic power so that he could not see his son Yasa. The wealthy merchant approached and asked about him. The Blessed One said, “Sit here, and you will see your son.” The wealthy merchant listened and did as he was told. The Blessed One then gave a gradual discourse. When it was finished, the wealthy merchant attained the fruit of stream-entry, declared himself a lay follower, and took refuge in the Triple Gem. That wealthy merchant was the first lay follower in the Buddha’s dispensation. The Lord Buddha then dispersed his psychic power, revealing Yasa, who was sitting near the Blessed One. The wealthy man saw him and said to his son, “My son, your mother is greatly distressed. Please give life back to your mother.”
(5) Atha yaso kulaputto. Then Yasa, the young man of good family, looked at the Blessed One. The Blessed One said to the householder, “O householder, both Yasa and you have clearly understood the Dhamma. It is not fitting for Yasa to return to the lower, worldly life.” The householder then replied, “Venerable Sir, it is not fitting for Yasa to return. Yasa has easily gained a great benefit. But tomorrow, may the Blessed One please accept a meal from me, along with Yasa.” The Blessed One accepted the invitation with silence. The householder, understanding this, paid homage, circumambulated him, and departed. Yasa then requested the going forth and full ordination. The All-Knowing One granted him the “ehi bhikkhu” ordination and full admission. At that time, there were seven Arahants: the Buddha, the five monks of the first sermon, and the elder Yasa.
(6) Atha kho bhagavā. Then, the Blessed One, having donned his three robes and taken his bowl in the forenoon, went to the householder’s home, accompanied by the elder Yasa. Upon arrival, he ascended and sat on the seat that the householder had prepared. Then, the mother and wife of the elder Yasa approached, paid homage to the Blessed One, and sat in a suitable place. The Great Compassionate One delivered a gradual discourse to those women. When the discourse concluded, the two women, the mother and wife of the elder Yasa, attained the fruit of stream-entry and declared themselves laywomen at that time. The people, including the grandfather of the elder Yasa, offered the elder Yasa and the Teacher excellent hard and soft foods with their own hands. After they had invited the Teacher, the Teacher gladdened those people with a Dhamma talk and then returned.
(7) Bārāṇasiyaṃ anuseṭṭhikulassa puttā. Four householders in Bārāṇasī, friends of the venerable Yasa, all sons of sub-merchant families in the city of Bārāṇasī—namely Vimala, Subāhu, Puṇṇaji, and Gavampati—heard that the venerable Yasa had gone forth to live the homeless life. They thought of going forth as well and so they went to the venerable Yasa. The venerable Yasa then led his four friends to the Teacher. They bowed and explained their purpose. The Blessed One instructed and advised them, giving a gradual discourse to the four young men. Those young men then requested the going forth and full ordination. The Blessed One granted the going forth and full ordination to those four young men.
After that, fifty more householders, who were also friends of the venerable Yasa, heard the news and invited each other. They went together to the dwelling of the venerable Yasa. The venerable Yasa led them to the Teacher. The Blessed One instructed and advised them, giving a gradual discourse. The fifty young men of good family also requested the going forth and full ordination. The Victor over Mara granted them the going forth and full ordination. All of those monks’ minds were liberated from the corruptions. At that time, there were sixty-one Arahants.
(8) Mutto’haṃ sabbapāsehi ye ca dibbā ye ca mānusā. Then the Teacher spoke these words: “Monks, I am freed from all snares, both celestial and human. Monks, you should wander forth on tour. Release the devas and humans from their snares. You should teach the Dhamma that is beautiful in the beginning, the middle, and the end. Teach it to the devas and humans. For there are beings with little dust of defilement in their eyes. If they do not hear it, they will surely be lost to the excellent sublime Dhamma. As for the Tathāgata, he will go to the region of Uruvelā. You all should go on tour to teach the holy life to all beings according to the way the Tathāgata has taught, but do not go two together on the same path.” The monks accepted the Buddha’s words, paid homage, took their leave, and departed. At that moment, Māra, the evil one, approached the Teacher and said, “Venerable Sir, the Blessed One has escaped from all of Māra’s snares, but he has not yet escaped from my grasp.” The Lord Buddha replied, “O Māra, the Tathāgata has no desire for forms, sounds, smells, tastes, or tactile objects. The Tathāgata is able to destroy the Māra of death.” Hearing this, Māra was filled with grief and dejection and turned back.
(End of the Chapter on the Going Forth of Yasa, Chapter 15)
[1] The son of Sujātā, who offered the milk-rice.
