Part 1 - Buddha’s journey to Bālakalonaka

Bālakalokanaka was the feudal village of the wealthy Upāli. (According to the Sinhalese manuscript, it was also called Balakalonakāra.) The Buddha went to that village without telling either His Chief Disciple or any Great Disciple, nor even the Venerable Ānanda. Like a bull elephant that leaves his herd, He went there all by Himself, taking His bowl and robe.

For there would be no living being whom the Buddha was to enlighten during the coming tenth vassa. His lone departure from Kosambī city was a device to admonish the contentious and quarrelsome monks, He set off to Pālileyyaka forest and (on His way) as He wanted to gladden and bolster up Bhagu Thera who was then staying in solitude in a forest-dwelling with Bālakalonaka village as the resort for alms.

Five Hundred Monks wished to accompany The Buddha

When the Buddha thus went alone, five hundred monks said to the Venerable Ānanda: “Venerable Ānanda, the Buddha has set out by Himself. Let us follow Him!” Ānanda then replied: “Brethren, when the Exalted One packs up His beddings, takes His bowl and robe and sets out alone without any attendant monk and without asking the Sangha for leave, then it is His wish to go unaccompanied. A disciple should act in accordance with the will of his teacher. Therefore, these days you should not follow the Master.” Thus the Venerable Ānanda did not let them go, nor did he himself follow the Master, knowing the Buddha’s wish.

When Venerable Bhagu saw from afar the Buddha coming alone to Bālakalonaka village. he prepared the seat, kept the water ready for the Buddha to wash His feet, and the board to wash His feet on and the potsherd to rub them with. He welcomed the Buddha and took His bowl and robe. Sitting on the seat prepared by the Venerable, the Buddha washed His feet and asked him, who was seated in a reverent posture at a suitable place: “Are you fit and well, monk? Do you have enough food? Do you get alms without hardship?” “Venerable Sir, I am all right. I have enough food. I get alms without hardship.” The Buddha then gave a talk on the benefit of living in solitude and then He proceeded to the eastern bamboo grove.