Chapter 5 - Yasa The Second Convert Into The Order

At that lime there was a young man named Yasa living in Benares who was the only son of a wealthy merchant. He was surrounded by different kinds of sense pleasures and beautiful ladies, but he was greatly distressed and shocked realising the true nature of impermanence, suffering and impersonality of life. And so having made a resolution to become an ascetic, he set out early towards Sarnath where the Buddha was residing. On that day the Buddha, as usual was pacing up and dawn in an open space. Seeing Yasa approaching him, the Buddha returned from his walk and sat down on a prepared seat. Not far from him stood Yasa complaining, "O distressed am I! Oppressed am I!"

Thereupon the Buddha said, "Here Yasa, there is no distress and no oppression in this Noble life. Come here Yasa and take a seat. I shall expound the Dhamma to you." Then on hearing, having filled with joy, Yasa approached the Buddha, respectfully saluted him and sat on one side. The Buddha expounded the doctrine to him, and he attained the transcendental stage of wisdom of the first Path and Fruition of the Stream-winner (Sotapanna).

When Yasa's mother Sujata noticed the absence of her son, she reported the matter to her husband. The millionaire went out to look for his son. Following the Isipatana where the Buddha was residing. The Buddha saw him coming from afar, and by his pychic powers willed that he should not be able to see his son, knowing that he would also be converted into the Dhamma.

The millionaire approached the Buddha and respectfully enquired whether he saw his son. The Master said, 'Well then sit down here for a while, you would be able to see your son before long'. Being pleased with the happy news, the rich man sat down and then the Buddha delivered the Dhamma as h had done to Yasa.

On hearing the discourse, the rich man became a devout lay disciple who took refuge in the Buddha, the Dhamma and the Order (Sangha). He was the first lay disciple who sought refuge in the three-formula (Tavacika). While the Buddha was delivering the Dhamma to the rich man, Yasa attained Arahatship. Then the Buddha conferred on Yasa the Higher Ordination with the words "Ehi Bhikkhu", "come, O Bhikkhu". Thus there the number of Arahantas increased to six.