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Today, we would like to focus on the Venerated Rāhula (vegan), the only son of Lord Shakyamuni Buddha. He was renowned for his eagerness and enthusiasm for spiritual knowledge. He joined the monastic order at a very young age and became fully enlightened at the age of eighteen. Many sutras detail the lessons that Lord Buddha personally taught him. Now, we would like to share two such sutras, the Rāhulovādasutta and the Ambalaṭṭhikarāhulovādasutta, which expound on the importance of training and advancing in spiritual practice as life is impermanent. Rāhulovādasutta Advice to Rāhula “At one time, the Buddha was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, as He was in private retreat, this thought came to His mind, ‘The qualities that ripen in freedom have ripened in Rāhula. Why don’t I lead him further to the ending of defilements?’ Then the Buddha robed up in the morning and, taking His bowl and robe, wandered for alms in Sāvatthī. After the meal, on His return from alms round, He addressed Venerable Rāhula, ‘Rāhula, get your sitting cloth. Let’s go to the Dark Forest for the day’s meditation.’ ‘Yes, sir,’ replied Rāhula. Taking his sitting cloth, he followed behind the Buddha. Now, at that time, many thousands of deities followed the Buddha, thinking, ‘Today the Buddha will lead Rāhula further to the ending of defilements!’ Then, the Buddha plunged deep into the Dark Forest and sat at the root of a tree on the seat spread out. Rāhula bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side. The Buddha said to him: […] ‘Anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises conditioned by mind contact: is that permanent or impermanent?’ ‘Impermanent, sir.’ ‘But if it’s impermanent, is it suffering or happiness?’ ‘Suffering, sir.’ ‘But if it’s impermanent, suffering, and perishable, is it fit to be regarded thus: “This is mine, I am this, this is myself’?”’ ‘No, sir.’ ‘Seeing this, a learned noble disciple grows disillusioned with the eye, sights, eye-consciousness, and eye contact. And they become disillusioned with anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises conditioned by eye contact. They grow disillusioned with the ear … nose … tongue … body … They grow disillusioned with the mind, ideas, mind consciousness, and mind contact. And they grow disillusioned with anything included in feeling, perception, choices, and consciousness that arises conditioned by mind contact. Being disillusioned, desire fades away. When desire fades away, they’re freed. When they’re freed, they know they’re freed. They understand: “Rebirth is ended, the spiritual journey has been completed, what had to be done has been done, there is nothing further for this place.”’ That is what the Buddha said. Satisfied, Venerable Rāhula approved what the Buddha said. And while this discourse was being spoken, Rāhula’s mind was freed from defilements by not grasping. And the stainless, immaculate vision of the Dhamma arose in those thousands of deities: ‘Everything that has a beginning has an end.’” Advice to Rāhula at Ambalaṭṭhika “So I have heard. At one time, the Buddha was staying near Rājagaha, in the Bamboo Grove, the squirrels’ feeding ground. Now, at that time, Venerable Rāhula was staying at Ambalaṭṭhikā. Then in the late afternoon, the Buddha came out of retreat and went to Ambalaṭṭhika to see Venerable Rāhula. Rāhula saw the Buddha coming off in the distance. He spread out a seat and placed water for washing the feet. The Buddha sat on the seat spread out and washed his feet. Rāhula bowed to the Buddha and sat down to one side. Then the Buddha, leaving a little water in the pot, addressed Rāhula, ‘Rāhula, do you see this little bit of water left in the pot?’ ‘Yes, sir.’ ‘That’s how little of the ascetic’s nature is left in those who are not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie.’ […]”
