Dwelling Of The Unblemished Is Alluring
The Story of Venerable Revata
Chapter 7: The Arahats • Verse 9
The Story of Venerable Revata
Chapter 7: The Arahats • Verse 9
Inspiring, indeed, is that place where Arahants dwell, be it a village, a forest, a vale, or a hill.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Revata of the Acacia (khadira) Forest.
Revata was the youngest brother of the Chief Disciple Sariputta, and the only one of Sariputta's brothers and sisters who had not left home for the homeless life. His parents were very anxious to see him married.
When Revata was only seven years old, his parents arranged his marriage to a young girl. At the wedding reception he met an old woman a hundred and twenty years old, and realized that all beings are subject to ageing and decay.
He ran away from the house and went straight to a monastery where thirty monks lived. Sariputta had asked them earlier to make his brother a novice if he ever came to them, so they ordained him and sent word to Sariputta.
Revata took a meditation subject from those monks and went to an acacia forest thirty leagues from the monastery. At the end of the rainy season, he attained Arahatship.
Sariputta asked the Buddha's permission to visit his brother, but the Buddha said that he would go himself. So the Buddha set out with Venerable Sariputta, Venerable Sivali, and many other monks to visit the novice Revata.
The journey was long, the road rough, and the region uninhabited, but the devas provided for all the needs of the Buddha and the monks. At every league a monastery and food were ready for them, and they travelled one league a day.
Learning of the Buddha's visit, Revata prepared to welcome him. By his supernormal power he created a special monastery for the Buddha and five hundred monasteries for the other monks, and saw that they were comfortable throughout their stay.
On the return journey they travelled at the same pace, and at the end of the month reached the Pubbarama Monastery at the eastern end of Savatthi. From there they went to the house of Visakha, who offered them alms-food.
After the meal, Visakha asked the Buddha whether Revata's dwelling in the acacia forest was a pleasant place, and in reply the Buddha spoke this verse.
The Story of Venerable Revata
Chapter 7: The Arahats • Verse 9
Inspiring, indeed, is that place where Arahants dwell, be it a village, a forest, a vale, or a hill.
While residing at the Jetavana Monastery, the Buddha spoke this verse with reference to Venerable Revata of the Acacia (khadira) Forest.
Revata was the youngest brother of the Chief Disciple Sariputta, and the only one of Sariputta's brothers and sisters who had not left home for the homeless life. His parents were very anxious to see him married.
When Revata was only seven years old, his parents arranged his marriage to a young girl. At the wedding reception he met an old woman a hundred and twenty years old, and realized that all beings are subject to ageing and decay.
He ran away from the house and went straight to a monastery where thirty monks lived. Sariputta had asked them earlier to make his brother a novice if he ever came to them, so they ordained him and sent word to Sariputta.
Revata took a meditation subject from those monks and went to an acacia forest thirty leagues from the monastery. At the end of the rainy season, he attained Arahatship.
Sariputta asked the Buddha's permission to visit his brother, but the Buddha said that he would go himself. So the Buddha set out with Venerable Sariputta, Venerable Sivali, and many other monks to visit the novice Revata.
The journey was long, the road rough, and the region uninhabited, but the devas provided for all the needs of the Buddha and the monks. At every league a monastery and food were ready for them, and they travelled one league a day.
Learning of the Buddha's visit, Revata prepared to welcome him. By his supernormal power he created a special monastery for the Buddha and five hundred monasteries for the other monks, and saw that they were comfortable throughout their stay.
On the return journey they travelled at the same pace, and at the end of the month reached the Pubbarama Monastery at the eastern end of Savatthi. From there they went to the house of Visakha, who offered them alms-food.
After the meal, Visakha asked the Buddha whether Revata's dwelling in the acacia forest was a pleasant place, and in reply the Buddha spoke this verse.