- The ten principal disciples
The ten principal disciples were the main disciples of
Shakyamuni Buddha . Depending on the scripture, the disciples included in this group vary.Vimalakirti Sutra includes;#Śāriputra
#:Sariputra (Sanskrit ), or Sāriputta (Pāli ), is a top master of Wisdom. InHeart Sutra , Shakyamuni Buddha preaches to him.
#Maudgalyayana
#:Maudgalyayana: Moggallāna(Pali ), also known as Mahamaudgalyayana or Mahamoggallāna. He is a top master of supernatural powers. Maudgalyayana and Śāriputra were oncd disciples of Sañjaya Belaṭṭhaputta, the skeptic, but they became disciples of the Buddha. In Chinese Buddism, the Mass that Maudgalyayana held to save his mother who had gone to theHungry Ghost realm (one of theSix realms ) is the foundation ofullambana (Ghost Festival ).
#Mahākāśyapa
#:Mahaakassapa (Pāli) or Mahakasyapa (Sanskrit). He was a top master of ascetic training. After the death of Shakyamuni Buddha, he assumes the leadership of thesangha , compiled the Buddha's sayings (suttas ) with 500 other disciples (FirstBuddhist councils ), and became the first man who preached the Buddah’s teachings directly.
#Subhuti
#:Subhuti (Sanskrit) understood the potency of emptiness. He appears in several Sutras of Mahāyāna Buddhism which teachŚūnyatā (Emptiness or Voidness). It is strange but he appears as the master ofSun Wukong inJourney to the West .
#Purna Maitrayani-putra
#:Purna Maitrayani-putra or PuurNamaitraayaniiputra (Sanskrit). He was also called Purna for short. He was the greatest teacher of the Law out of all the disciples. He was the top master of preaching.
#Katyayana
#:Also known as Mahaakaccaana (Pāli). He understood Shakyamuni Buddha’s lecture the best. Although he had only five master in the rural areas, he was permitted to learnVinaya by the Buddah.
#Aniruddha
#:Aniruddha(Sanskrit) was a top master ofclairvoyance . Aniruddha was a cousin of Shakyamuni Buddha. He andAnanda became monks at the same time. He once slept in front of the Buddha, so he was rebuked by the Buddha sharply. He swore an oath that he would never sleep again. Although he lost his sight as a result, he got another pair of eyes that could see the truth.
#Upali
#:Upali (Sanskrit) was a top master ofVinaya . He was born in theShudra class and worked as a barber. Buddha had denied the class system, he ranked his disciples according to the order in which they joined. So Upali was ranked ahead of the ex-princes. In theFirst Buddhist council , the Vinaya was compiled based on his memory.
#Rāhula
#:Rāhula(Sanskrit) was a scrupulous, strict and shrewd person. He was a son of the Buddha. When the Buddha went to his hometown, he became the first Sāmanera (novice monk).
#Ananda
#:Ananda(Sanskrit) listened to the Buddha’s teachings the most among the disciples. He was a cousin of the Buddha. Ananda means great delight. After he became a monk, he took care of the Buddha for 25 years, until the Buddha died. In the First Buddhist council, the Vinaya was compiled based on his memory. He lived to 120 years old.
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