| |
|
RĀHULA |
 |
|||
 Chinese representation of Rahula. |
Rāhula was the Buddha's only child (A.I,24). He may have been given this name because he was born during or around the time of a lunar eclipse (rāhu). It was just after his birth that the Buddha finally decided to renounce the world, become a monk and embark on his quest for truth. About seven or perhaps eight years later the Buddha returned to Kapilavatthu, met Rāhula for the first time since leaving, had him ordained as a novice monk by Sāriputta and took him away with him. This caused considerable distress to both the Buddha's former wife, Yasodharā, and also to his father Suddhodana. Probably the Buddha felt he would be able to give his son a more spiritually-based education than he would get if he stayed at home. Rāhula grew up to be a well-disciplined monk and eventually became enlightened. He commented: 'They call me “Rāhula the Lucky” for two reasons, because I am the Buddha's son and because I am at one with the Truth' (Th.295). Other than a few scraps of information, the Tipiṭaka gives little information about Rāhula. Three discourses by the Buddha in the Majjhima Nikāya are addressed to his son (M.I,414; 421;III,277). | Search BuddhismAtoZ.com
|
||