Conversion of Yasa and 54 friends

Conversion 

Monks reading and checking things that have been destroyed

At Benares, there was a millionaire’s son named Yasa who had abundant material wealth. One night, he fell asleep during a musical performance by his female dancers and musicians. He woke up in the early hours of the morning to the sight of his sleeping performers in unbecoming postures. The entire scene before him was one that resembled that in a cemetery. He left home feeling distressed and oppressed and walked in the direction of Isipatana, where Buddha was residing. When Yasa moaned his distress upon seeing the Buddha, He assured Yasa that there was neither distress nor oppression there.

First, the Buddha spoke on generosity (dana), morality (sila), heavenly states (sagga), dangers of sensual pleasures (kamadinava), blessings of renunciation (nekkhammanivamsa). When Yasa’s mind was calm and pliable, Buddha taught the Four Noble Truths. Yasa attained the first stage of sainthood.

Meanwhile, Yasa was noticed to be missing from home. While searching for Yasa, his father met the Buddha instead. Buddha preached to Yasa’s father who became his first lay disciple. Yasa became fully enlightened on listening to the Dhamma talk given to his father. He then requested for ordination and higher ordination, which he received from the Buddha by the pronoucement of “Come, O Bhikkhu” (Ehi, Bhikkhu)

Monks teaching the dhamma of Truth

Yasa’s father gained first stage of sainthood after the Dhamma talk.  He became the first layman in the world to have taken refuge in the Triple Gem consisting of Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha. Overjoyed to learn of his son’s spiritual attainment, he invited the Buddha and Sangha for a meal on the following day. After the meal, the Buddha preached a sermon to the family. Yasa’s mother and former wife gained the first stage of sainthood and were the Buddha’s first female lay followers.

4 of Yasa’s close friends; Vimala, Subahu, Punnaji and Gavampati also became monks. After listening to the Dhamma, they also became arahants. Later, another fifty of Yasa’s friends joined the order and attained arahantship shortly afterwards. Together with the initial 5 ascetics, Yasa, his 54 friends and Buddha made up 61 arahants within 2 months of Buddha’s enlightenment.

 The first messengers of Truth

 At this stage, Buddha summoned his 60 disciples and exhorted them to spread the dhamma as they are all freed of human or divine shackles:  

“Caratha bhikkhave carikam bahujanahitaya bahujanasukhaya lokanukampaya atthaya hitaya sukhaya devamanussanam. Ma ekena dve agamittha. Desetha bhikkhave dhammam adikalyanam majjhekalyanam pariyosanakalyanam sattham savyanjanam kevalaparipunnam parisuddham brahmacariyam pakasetha.”

                        “Go forth, O monks, for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many,

                        out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit and happiness of gods and                          men. Two should not take the same path. Teach the dhamma which is excellent in

the beginning, excellent in the middle and excellent in the end, both in spirit and letter. Proclaim the holy life, perfect and pure.

                                                                        Vinaya Pitaka (Mahavagga)

 There were be beings with little dust in their eyes, and would understand the Dhamma.