Part 4 - Helping Bhikkhu Nanda To Attain Arahatship

While the Buddha was residing at the Jetavana monastery, after accepting it, (his younger brother) Bhikkhu Nanda being unhappy as a member of the Order, told his associates: “Friends, I am not happy living the life of a bhikkhu in this sāsana, practising the three training rules reluctantly. I am unable to continue on observing these noble precepts. I intend to give up the practice and return to a layman’s life.”

When the Buddha heard the news, He sent for Bhikkhu Nanda and asked: “Have you told your many bhikkhu companions: ‘Friends, I am not happy living the life of a bhikkhu in this sāsana, practising the three training rules reluctantly. I am unable to continue on observing these precepts. I intend to give up the practice and return to a layman’s life.’ ” Whereupon, Bhikkhu Nanda admitted: “It is true, my Lord.”

The Buddha then asked him again: “Dear younger brother Nanda, why have you been observing the three noble precepts against your will? Why can you not continue to observe these training rules? Why do you want to give up the life of a bhikkhu and revert to that of a layman?”

“Most Exalted elder brother, when I left the royal palace carrying your alms-bowl on my shoulder, my sister and betrothed, the Sakyan Princess Janapada Kalyani came dashing to the window with her hair half-dressed, and asked of me: “O your Highness, please come back quickly.” I keep thinking of these words of my betrothed ever since I left the palace, and that is the reason why I have to practise the three training rules against my will and pleasure, and I am no longer capable of observing the precepts. I shall now give up the life of a bhikkhu and revert to a layman’s life.” Nanda gave this simple and honest answer.

The Buddha then went to Tāvatiṃsa realm of the devas by His supernormal powers, taking along Bhikkhu Nanda, as though lifting him by the arms. On the way, He showed Bhikkhu Nanda an aged female monkey sitting on a burnt stump of a tree, with her ears, nose, tail and other parts of the body, big and small, burnt and tattered. On arrival at Tāvatiṃsa, He drew Bhikkhu Nanda’s notice to five hundred celestial maids whose feet were as tender-red as pigeons' feet, who had come to wait upon Sakka and who were standing and worshipping Him.

“Dear younger brother, Nanda, what do you think of the question that I am about to ask?

Who looks prettier and lovelier when your sister, your fiancee, the Sakyan Princess Janapada Kalyani is judged in comparison with the five hundred celestial maids whose feet are as tender-red as pigeons’’ feet?” asked the Buddha.

(The beautiful delicate feet, with the colour of the pigeons' feet, of these maids was the result of their offering of emollient oil for the feet of bhikkhus who were disciples of the Buddha Kassapa.)

(A question might arise here as to why the Buddha had aroused the sensual passion of Bhikkhu Nanda by showing him the celestial maids when his mind was already affected with lust.)

The answer is: “The Buddha had done so with the object of easily removing the defilements from Bhikkhu Nanda’s mind.” To explain further: A wise and experienced physician, in an attempt to cure a patient suffering from a disease caused by excessive phlegm bile and wind, usually gives doses of oily medicine to enhance the existing symptoms; that is followed by an emetic to remove the phlegm with ease and speed, through the mouth or by purging with doses of purgative. In the same way, the greatest of all the physicians, who has no equal to match His skill, in admonishing worthy beings, had shown the fair celestial maids to Bhikkhu Nanda, who was affected by kilesa, in order to (let his mental defiling grow and reach the climax preparatory to eradicating it by means of ariya-magga which serves as an emetic to throw out the kilesa, as a purgative to purge the kilesa.)

Whereupon, Bhikkhu Nanda gave this reply:

“Most Exalted elder brother, the old female monkey which you have shown me on the way with her ears, nose, tail and tattered through being burnt, can in no way be considered as lovely and pretty. And likewise, my sister (fiancee) Sakyan Princess Janapada Kalyani, too, when compared to the five hundred fair maids of the celestial world, can no longer be regarded as a model of beauty; indeed the five hundred celestial maids are far more pretty and lovely then the princess.”

Then the Buddha gave him this assurance:

“Dear younger brother, Nanda, take delight in the practice of the three training rules; take delight in the holy practice of the precepts which are my instructions. (If you actually take delight in the noble practice), I assure you of acquiring the five hundred celestial maids whose dainty feet are as tender-red as pigeons’’ feet.”

When the Buddha gave such an assurance, Bhikkhu Nanda responded:

“Most Exalted elder brother, if you assure me of the five hundred fair maids whose feet are as tender-red as pigeons’ feet, I shall undertake to observe the three noble training rules of the sāsana with delight at your feet.”

(It might be asked here why the Buddha had assured Nanda of the five hundred fair maids for the gratification of sensual pleasure, which is a mode of ignoble living (Abrahmacariyavasa) while He wanted Nanda to observe the three noble practices.

The answer is: Bhikkhu Nanda’s carnal attachment to Princess Janapada Kalyani was intense; and the Buddha had therefore diverted his attention to the fair celestial maids as a measure of temporary relief before He could relieve him totally of the prime trouble by means of ariya-magga;hence the use of abrahmacariyavasa ploy.)

Then the Buddha, together with Bhikkhu Nanda, vanished from Tāvatiṃsa and appeared in the Jetavana Monastery instantaneously. When Bhikkhu Nanda took leave of Him and had gone to his chamber to spend the time, the Buddha explained all that had transpired to the bhikkhus who had assembled to listen to His Teaching.

Having informed the assembled bhikkhus of what had happened, the Buddha gave the following instructions to them: “Go ye now, bhikkhus, to rebuke Bhikkhu Nanda, by calling: ‘O you big servant (one who wants something for his service). You are a great buyer (who buys something at a fixed price in exchange).’ ”

In giving these instructions the Buddha was making use of a practical method employed in the world. A skilful person extracts an old nail, left firmly fixed to a post or a plank, by hitting it with another nail but smaller to cause it to vibrate before it could be loosened by hand and removed. In the same way, Bhikkhu Nanda’s intense attachment, deeply rooted in the person of Princess Janapada Kalyani, was first given a loosening jolt and then removed by the temporary diversion to the more attractive celestial maids. Then, in order to do away with the new object of sense-pleasure and put Bhikkhu Nanda back on the path of noble practice, the Buddha gave the above instructions to the assembled bhikkhus.

In obedience to the Buddha’s instructions, these bhikkhus went about spreading news that the son of step-mother Mahā Pajāpati Gotamī and the younger brother of the Buddha, Bhikkhu Nanda had been observing the noble precepts out of desire for the five hundred celestial maids, and that the Buddha had also assured him his acquiring the five hundred celestial maids whose feet are as tender-red as pigeons’ feet.

On hearing this, Bhikkhu Nanda’s friends went and heaped reproaches on him.

“It is being said by the people: ‘Bhikkhu Nanda is a big servant; Bhikkhu Nanda is a great buyer. He has been observing the precepts because he desires the five hundred fair maids of the world of devas; and the Buddha has also assured him of getting the five hundred maids whose feet are as tender-red as pigeons' feet.’ ”

Being called ‘big servant’, ‘great buyer’, by his bhikkhu associates, Bhikkhu Nanda was filled with unbearable shame and disgust. He retired to a secluded place and strove with mindful and earnest diligence in the observance of the bhikkhu training rules with his mind inclined towards Nibbāna and soon drained off all āsavas, he attained full-fledged arahatship. He became recognised as one of the eighty asiti mahā sāvakas.

Whereupon an arahat-Brahmā approached the Buddha at night and standing at a suitable place, joyfully informed Him of the Bhikkhu Nanda’s attainment of arahatship. Immediately after hearing the tidings, the Buddha, on contemplating: “How fares he?” became aware of Bhikkhu Nanda’s attainment of arahatship through His Omniscience.