The Great Arahant Rattapala

The Great Arahant
Rattapala
With the guidance and direction of

Most Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnanananda
art by Sumathipala & Jothipala
The Great Arahant Rattapala

Most Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnnnanda
art by Sumathipala & Jothipala
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery - Toronto

Copyright 2011 by Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery - Toronto
Published by
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

11175 Kennedy Road, Markham, Ontario, L6C 1P2, Canada
Tel: (905) 927 7117
email: info@mahamevna.ca
website: www.mahamevna.ca
Dedication
To Most Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnnnanda
who opened the path to the Noble Dhamma in
Gautama Supreme Buddha's dispensation.
Special Thanks
May all noble friends of Mahamevnawa Monastery Toronto,
who dedicated their time for this English Translation and
Painting, have the fortune to realize the Four Noble Truths in
this Gautama Supreme Buddhas dispensation
Other publications by Sumathipala & Jothipala
The Great Arahant Angulimala

The Great Arahant Bahiya Darucheeriya
The Great Arahant Pindola Baradwaja
The Great Arahnt Uruvela Kassyapa
The Great Arahant Bhikkhuni Patachara
The Great Arahant Bhikkhuni Isidasi
The Great Arahant Bhikkhuni Baddra Kundala Kesi
The Great Arahant Bhikkhuni Ambapalee
Sumana the Novice Monk
Kisa Gothami
Chaththa Manawaka
Masuru Kosiya
07
Those days, the Blessed One

was travelling from village to
village teaching the Dhamma in
the Kuru country with a large
number of monks and arrived at
a town named Tullakottita. Then
Brahmin householders of that
town came to hear of this:
The recluse Gotama, a son of the Sakyans, who

renounced the household life to go into
homelessness, seems to be travelling in the Kuru
country.
A noble fame has spread about the Blessed One

in this way:
Yes! And he is apparently visiting the

Tullakottita village too.
Due to these reasons, the Blessed One is fully

Enlightened and has understood the Four Noble
Truths without anyones help.
08
He is perfect in true knowledge and conduct. He
found and followed the Noble Eightfold path. He is
the knower of all worlds and the incomparable
tamer of humans and gods.
In this world with its god, Maras and its Brahmas,

recluses and Brahmins, its princes and its people
With an excellent beginning, middle and end, with

a clear way of teaching, he teaches about a holy
life that is perfect and pure.

He is the teacher of humans and gods. He
taught the Dhamma to others and he is the
only person to be blessed enough to hold
these qualities. This is what they say.
he teaches a doctrine which he himself has realized

with direct knowledge.
Oh, it would be truly wonderful to

see such arahants!
Lets go and see

the Blessed One.
Yes, it would definitely

benefit us.
The son of the Head Nobleman of Town Tullakottita,

a young prince named Rattapala was sitting in this
crowd.
pure, and clean as a polished shell is not easy

to do in this household life.
09
Then the Brahmin householders of Tullakottita

came to the Blessed One.
If the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma in a

certain way, then following that Dhamma
which is perfect
So it is best for me to shave off my hair and beard

and put on the ochre robes and become a monk in
the Supreme Buddhas dispensation.
10
The Brahmin householders of Tullakottita were

delighted by the Blessed Ones Dhamma Talk. Then,
they rose from their seats, paid homage to the Blessed
One and left.
Oh, even though everyone is leaving,

I dont feel like leaving the Blessed
One.
Venerable Sir, if the Blessed One teaches the Dhamma

in a certain way, then following that Dhamma which is
perfect
Yes, let me learn more Dhamma

from the Blessed One and
remember it well!
pure, and clean as a polished shell is not easy to

do in this household life.
Venerable Sir, hence I

would like to become a
monk and receive higher
ordination under the
Blessed One.
11
Rattapala, did you get permission from your

parents to renounce the household life and
become a monk in the
Supreme Buddhas
dispensation?
No, Venerable Sir. I did not get permission to

renounce the household life and become
ordained in the Supreme Buddhas dispensation.
Rattapala, the Tathagatas do not ordain those without

their parents permission.
Yes, Venerable Sir. The, I will get my parents

permission to renounce the household life and
become a monk in the Supreme Buddhas
dispensation.
Then, Rattapala paid homage to the Blessed One

and went to see his parents.
12
Mother and Father, in order to realize the Dhamma as taught by

the Blessed One, a person must lead the holy life, pure as a
polished shell. But it is not easy to do this in the household life.
Please give me
permission!
Son Rattapala, youre our

only child.
Enjoy these sensual pleasures, do

meritorious deeds and take pleasure in
the household life.
Hence, I wish to shave off my hair and

beard and put on ochre robes and
renounce the household life to become
a monk in the Supreme Buddhas
dispensation.
You have been raised and brought up with comfort

and luxury. You do not know what suffering is. So
come! Eat well and drink well and live happily.
We wont give you permission to renounce

the home life and become a monk in the
Supreme Buddhas dispensation.
Even at death, we do not want to be separated

from you. So do you really think we would give
you permission to renounce the home life and
become a monk in the Supreme Buddhas
dispensation while we are alive?
Yet his parents did not like the idea of Prince

Rattapala becoming a monk. But Prince
Rattapala stuck to his decision to become a
monk.
My dears, Prince Rattapala is lying down on the bare

floor without eating or drinking anything and he is
saying
13
Despite of his parents disapproval, Prince

Rattapala asked for permission three times to
become ordained.
Then Prince
Rattapalas parents
went to meet his
friends.
I will die right here or become ordained. Please

come to our house and change Prince Rattapalas
mind.
14
Prince Rattapalas friends came to see him

immediately.
As you enjoy sensual pleasures, do

meritorious deeds and take pleasure in the
household life. Your parents will never give
you permission for you to renounce the home
life and become a monk.
Mother and Father, Prince Rattapala is lying on

the bare floor and is saying, I shall die right
here or become ordained.

Dear friend, Rattapala, you are the only dear child of your
parents. You have been raised and brought up in comfort.
You know nothing about suffering. Get up! Eat, drink and
enjoy this life.
This is not going to work out. He is very stubborn.

Hes not going to listen to us. Lets go and talk to his
parents.
If you do not give him permission, he will die right

there. But if you give him permission then at least you
can see the prince after he has become a monk.
And if he doesnt take delight in monkhood

after he renounces the household life
So please give him your permission to renounce

the household life and become ordained in the
Then, Prince Rattapalas friends went to him

and said
15
where else would he go but return back home?
Alright, then we give him permission to renounce

the household life and become ordained. But after
becoming a monk, hell have to visit us frequently.
Dear Rattapala, your parents gave you permission to

renounce the household life and become ordained.
16
But there is one condition. Even though you

become a monk, youll have to visit your
parents often.
Thats because
he is so
stubborn!
I agree. He is not listening to

anyone. He wasnt stubborn like
this before.
The parents are blaming us too. They are

blaming us for not being able to change his mind
to take delight in the household life even though
there are four of us living here.
Oh, our prince has been lying on the floor for so

many days without eating or drinking. I cannot
bare it any longer.
This happened because of all our misfortune. I

am going insane by thinking about this.
I tried in every way I can.

But he isnt listening.
When did he ever

listen to us?
17
After receiving parents permission, Prince

Rattapala gained his physical strength back and
went to see the Blessed One.
Then Prince Rattapala got ordained

under the Blessed One and received
higher ordination.
Travelling from
village to village, the
Blessed One finally
arrived at Savatti.
Venerable Sir, I got permission from my parents

to renounce the household life and become a
monk in the Supreme Buddhas dispensation.
Dear Blessed One, please ordain me!
Then, two weeks after Venerable Rattapalas higher

ordination, the Blessed One having stayed at Tullakottita
as long as he liked set out to Savatti.
Those days, the

Blessed One was
staying at the
Jetas Grove,
Anathapindikas
Monastery in
Savatti.
18
Venerable Rattapala became secluded. With

diligence he made an ardent effort to become
free from defilements.
As he practiced the Dhamma diligently, he was

able to attain the supreme state of Arahantship
through direct knowledge
which is the supreme goal of the pure life for which

clansmen renounce the household life and become
He realized that birth has ended. The pure life has

been fulfilled. What had to be done is done and that
theres nothing further to be done.
Venerable Rattapala became one of the

Arahants.
That day, Venerable Rattapala came to visit the Blessed

One and having paid homage, sat to one side.
19
Venerable Sir, I
would like visit
my parents if I
may have the
Blessed Ones
permission.
Meritorious Rattapala, if this is

the right time for it then you
may do as you wish.
taking his bowl and outer robes, left to visit

Tullakottita village.
Then the Blessed One

read Arahant
Rattapalas mind.
When the Blessed
One understood that
Prince Rattapala is
incapable of leaving
monkhood to return
to the household life,
he said
Then Venerable Rattapala having bowed down to

the Blessed One, cleaned up his dwelling and
There,
Venerable
Rattapala lived
in King
Koravyas
Migacira
garden.
20
The next
morning,
Venerable
Rattapala put on
his robes, took
his alms bowl and
went into the
Tullakottita village
for alms.
At that time, Venerable Rattapalas father saw him

from a distance.
Then Venerable Rattapala neither received

any alms from his fathers palace
As he was going on the alms round from house to

house, he came to his own fathers palace.
These shaven headed recluses are the ones

who made our only dear and loving son
become a monk.
nor did he get

a polite
refusal. All he
got was
verbal abuse.
At that time, a slave-woman of one of his relatives

came out to throwaway some spoiled food.
Oh, isnt this Prince Rattapala who became ordained.

I can very well recognize him from his voice, hands
and feet.
21
Meritorious Sister, if that is to be thrown away then

please put it into my bowl.
Then she ran back to Prince

Rattapalas mother.
Do you know,
my lady?
Our Prince
Rattapala has
arrived.
If what you say is true,

then I will free you from
being a slave from today.
My dear, did you hear? Our son

Rattapala has come.
22
At that time,
Venerable
Rattapala was
sitting by a wall
and eating his
alms food.
Son, you are eating spoiled food! Dont you know

that you have your own home to go to?
Meritorious Householder, we do not have homes.

However, I did come to your home but didnt get
any alms...
Then Venerable Rattapalas father went to him

and said:
Meritorious Householder, how can we, who have

renounced the home life and gone into
homelessness have a home?
nor a polite refusal. All I got

was verbal abuse.
Son, Rattapala.
Come! Lets go inside
the house.

Meritorious Householder, theres no need
now. I have already finished my meal for
the day.
Venerable Rattapala accepted the invitation

with silence.
He made a big pile of gold and

treasures on the floor and covered
it with a mat. Then, he called on
Venerable Rattapalas former wives.
23
Son Rattapala,
in that case
please come
for tomorrows
meal.
Knowing that his invitation was accepted,

Venerable Rattapalas father left for his palace.
24
Widowed daughters,
if Son Rattapala
found you to be
most dear and
attractive when you
dressed in a certain
way, then go and
dress and embellish
yourself in the same
way.
As the night ended,

Venerable
Rattapalas father
prepared delicious
food at his palace
and informed
Venerable Rattapala.
Then in the
morning, Venerable
Rattapala put on
his robes and
carrying his alms
bowl came to his
fathers palace and
sat on the seat
prepared for him.
25
Then, his father

removed the mat and
uncovered the pile of
gold and treasures.
Son Rattapala, this is
your mothers
wealth.
The other is your

fathers wealth, the
other is your
grandfathers wealth.
Now you can enjoy all this

wealth..
leave the pure life and return back to the

household life and enjoy this wealth. Collect
merit!
and collect merit. Come son,

Rattapala
Meritorious Householder, if youd do as I say then you

would load these gold and treasures into carts and
26
dump them into the strong tides in the middle of

the river. Why is that, meritorious Householder?

Because this will be the cause of sorrow,
lamentation, pain, distress and despair for you.
At that moment,
Venerable Rattapalas
former wives came
forward.
What are they like,

my prince? Those
divine maidens for
whose sake you lead
the pure life?
Sisters, I am not leading this pure life for the

sake of divine maidens.
Oh no! Prince Rattapala is speaking to us as if we

are his sisters.
27
As they said this they

fainted onto the ground.
Meritorious Householder, if there is any

food to be offered then please offer it.
You may eat now, Son Rattapala. The

alms food is ready.
But dont harass

me like this.
After finishing his

meal, Venerable
Rattapala stood
up and recited
these verses.
28
With adjoined bones and veins, look at

the reality of this body we call beautiful.
It is subject to sickness.
Though it is embellished with pearls and gems,

one must always see its reality.
Feet stained red and mouth scented with breath

fresheners, it is only enough to deceive a fool
Being impermanent, it is admired by

foolish men.
This skeleton wrapped in skin

seems beautiful only because
of clothes.
but not a person seeking Nibbana.
With hair styled and eyes colored, it is only

enough to deceive a fool
29
but not a person

seeking Nibbana.
but not a
person
seeking
Nibbana.
This filthy body beautifully decorated like a brand

new pot is only enough to deceive a fool
The hunter set out the traps, but the deer

didnt get caught.
Having eaten the bait, we runaway

while the hunter weeps.
30
After reciting these verses while standing up,

Venerable Rattapala came back to King Koravyas
Migacira garden.
As he was
cleaning up
the garden,
the
gamekeeper
saw Venerable
Rattapala
sitting in the
shade of a tree
to rest for the
day.
that prince, the son of the leading clan of

Tullakottita, Prince Rattapala is also staying there.

Dear gamekeeper, clean up the
Migacira garden. I wish to see the
beautiful grounds.
As you say,
your highness.
The garden has been cleaned, your majesty. And if

theres a prince whom you often speak highly
about
In that case, my dear gamekeeper, theres no

use in going for garden recreation. Let us go to
associate with Venerable Rattapala.

Venerable Rattapala, please sit on this mat that is
used to sit on elephants.
Venerable Rattapala, a person shaves his hair

and beard and put on the ochre robe to renounce
the household life and enter the homeless life
after suffering from four types of deteriorations.
Which four? He deteriorates from aging. He

deteriorates from sickness. He deteriorates by
losing his wealth
31
Great King, that is alright. You may sit down. I have

my own seat.
Which four? He
deteriorates from
aging. He
deteriorates from
sickness. He
deteriorates by
losing his wealth
He deteriorates by the loss of his relatives.

Venerable Rattapala, what does it mean to
deteriorate from aging?
32
Venerable Rattapala, someone is old age, advanced

in life and comes to the last stage of his life.
I have come to the last stage of life. I can no

longer gain wealth which I have yet to gain.
into homelessness.
Then he thinks, I am frail, fully matured in life and

old aged
Or protect the
wealth I have
already gained.
So the only thing
left for me to do
is to shave off my
hair and beard,
put on the ochre
robe and go from
home life
Since he
deteriorated from
aging, he shaves
off his hair and
beard, put on the
ochre robe and
go forth from
home life into
homelessness.

Venerable Rattapala, this is what is known as
deterioration from aging.
You are in your prime youth, in the first stage of your

life. Venerable Rattapala, you have not deteriorated
from aging.
Venerable Rattapala, what is deterioration from

sickness? Venerable Rattapala, a person falls
sick
33
But Venerable Rattapala you are still young and black

haired.
So what did you

know or hear that
made you renounce
the household life
and become
ordained in the
Supreme Buddhas
dispensation?
falls very ill.

Then he thinks,
I am sick
now
34
I am very ill. I can no longer gain wealth which

I have yet to gain.
into homelessness. Since he deteriorated

from sickness
Venerable Rattapala, this is

what is known as
deterioration from
sickness.
Or protect the wealth I have already gained. So

the only thing left for me to do is to shave off
my hair and beard, put on the ochre robe and
go from home life
he shaves off his

hair and beard,
put on the ochre
robe and go
forth from home
life into
homelessness.
But Venerable
Rattapala you do
not have any
illness and you are
pain free. You have
a good digestion
system which is
neither too cool
nor too warm but
moderate.

Venerable Rattapala
has not deteriorated
from sickness. So what
did you know or hear
that made you
renounce the
household life and
become ordained in
the Supreme Buddhas
dispensation?
But he gradually loses his wealth. Hence, he

thinks
I can no longer gain wealth which I have yet to

gain. Or protect the wealth I have already
gained.
35
Venerable Rattapala, what is deterioration

through loss of wealth? Suppose someone is
very wealthy.
I had more than

enough wealth
before. But I have
slowly lost all that
wealth.
So the only thing left for me to do is to shave off my

hair and beard, put on ochre robes and go forth from
home life into homelessness.
36
Since he
deteriorates
because of the loss
of his wealth, he
shaves off his hair
and beard, put on
the ochre robe and
renounces the
household life to go
into homelessness.
But you, Venerable Rattapala is the son of the

leading clan of this Tullakottita village.
So what did you get to know or see that made

you renounce the household life and become
ordained in the Supreme Buddhas dispensation?
Venerable Rattapala, this is what is

known as deterioration through loss of
wealth.
So you have not

suffered from
the deterioration
from loss of
wealth.
Venerable
Rattapala, what is
deterioration from
loss of relatives?
Venerable
Rattapala, suppose
a person has many
friends,
companions and
blood relatives.
and he loses those relatives gradually. Then

he thinks, I had many friends and
companions.
Or protect the wealth I have already gained. So

the only thing left for me to do is to shave off my
hair and beard, put on the ochre robe and
he shaves off his hair and beard, put on ochre

robes and go forth from home life into
homelessness.
37
I had many blood relatives before. But now I have

gradually lost them. I am no longer able to gain
wealth which I have yet to gain.
go forth from home life into homelessness.

Because of the deterioration from the loss of his
relatives
Venerable Rattapala,
this is what is meant
by deterioration
from loss of
relatives. But you,
Venerable Rattapala
have many friends
and companions in
this Tullakottita
village.
38
You have many blood relatives. So you have not

suffered from the deterioration from the loss of
relatives.
Venerable Rattapala, if a person shaves his

hair and beard and put on the ochre robe to
renounce the household life and enter the
But Venerable
Rattapala has
not suffered
from any of
these losses. So
what did you get
to know or
So what did you get to know or hear that made

you renounce the household life and become
ordained in the Supreme Buddhas dispensation?
homeless life after

suffering from four
types of
deteriorations then
these are those
four reasons.
hear that made you renounce

the household life and become
ordained in the Supreme
Buddhas dispensation?

Great King, there are four topics of Dhamma
Having known, seen

and heard them, I
renounced the
household life and
went forth into
homelessness. What
are those four topics?
Meritorious Great King, this world is insecure. No one

can command and control it as they wish. This is the
second Dhamma topic.
39
that has been taught by the Blessed One who

knows and sees everything, the Worthy One, the
Supremely Enlightened One.
All beings are swept away by old age and death.

Therefore, it is impermanent. This is the first
Dhamma topic.
Meritorious Great King, if beings take something as

their own in this world then theyll one day have to
let go of it. This is the third Dhamma topic.
40
Meritorious Great King, all worlds are incomplete.

It is impossible to feel completely gratified. One
has to live surrendering to craving. This is the
fourth Dhamma topic.
that has been taught by the Blessed One who

knows and sees everything, the Worthy One,
the Supremely Enlightened One.
Venerable Rattapala, you said: All beings are

swept away by old age and death. Therefore, it
is impermanent.
Great King, these are the four topics of Dhamma
And having known, seen and heard them, I went

forth from home life into homelessness.
how should the
meaning of this
statement be
understood?

Meritorious Great King, wasnt there a time of your
life when you were twenty years of age? Or twenty
five years of age?
an expert archer and an expert swordsman?
Venerable Rattapala, there was a time when I was

twenty years of age and twenty five years of age.
Back then I was an expert elephant rider
41
Back then, werent you an expert elephant rider,

expert horse rider, an expert charioteer...
Didnt you have strong arms and legs and the

ability to face any battle?
expert horse rider, an

expert charioteer
42
an expert archer, an expert swordsman.
Venerable Rattapala, at times I wondered whether

I had supernatural powers. I didnt see anyone
who had the same strength.
No, Venerable Rattapala. Now I am frail, old and

aged.
I had strong legs and arms and was capable of

facing any battle.
Great King, are your arms and legs still that

strong and capable of facing any kind of battle?
I have matured in life. I am now eighty years old.

Oh, Venerable Rattapala, sometimes thinking I am
putting down my foot here I end up placing it
somewhere else.

Great King, it is for this reason that the Blessed
One, the Worthy One, the Supremely
Enlightened One taught the Dhamma verse
Oh Venerable Rattapala, it is wonderful! It is

magnificent! All beings are swept away by old
age and death. Therefore, it is impermanent is a
statement. Well said by the great teacher who
knows and sees everything.
Venerable Rattapala, in this kingdom, there are

elephant troops, chariot troops and troops of foot
soldiers.
43
All beings are swept away by old age and death.
Therefore, it is impermanent. And having known
seen and heard this. I became ordained in the
well-said! Venerable Rattapala, all beings do get

swept away by old age and death. Indeed
everything is impermanent.
When we get
attacked, it is
these troops
that defend us
form those
dangers.
44
And yet you say that this world is insecure

and that no one can command or control it as
they wish.
Great King, do you have any chronic

illnesses?
saying, King Koravya will die right now. King

Koravya will die right now.

Venerable Rattapala, how should the
meaning of that statement be
understood?
Yes, Venerable Rattapala, I have a chronic gas problem.

Some days my friends, companions and blood relatives
stand around me
What do you think, Great King, can you command

you friends, companions and blood relatives to
come
and share the pain you are enduring so that you

can feel less pain?
Venerable Rattapala, I cannot command my

friends, companions and blood relatives to
come

One, the Supremely Enlightened One said that
this world is insecure
45
Or do you have to endure that pain all on

your own?
and share with me the pain I am enduring so that

I may feel less pain.
That no one can command or control it as they wish.

And having known, seen and heard this, I became
46
magnificent! The statement of the Supreme
Buddha who knows and sees everything. This
world is insecure. No one can command or control
it as they wish, is well spoken.
Venerable Rattapala, in this kingdom, there is a

lot of gold and silver buried underground. And
yet, Venerable Rattapala is saying
Venerable Rattapala, how should the

meaning of this statement be understood?

is well spoken! Venerable Rattapala, this world indeed
is insecure. No one can command or control it.
If beings take something as their own in this world then

theyll one day have to let go of it.
What do you think, Great King? At present, you

are surrounding yourself, enjoying and being
happy with these sensual pleasures through your
sense faculties.
But can you say that you will surround yourself,

enjoy and be happy with these same sensual
pleasures in your afterlife?
Venerable Rattapala, if am enjoying sensual pleasures

through my sense faculties at present
Others will enjoy this wealth and treasures and I

will pass away according to my kamma.
47
Or will others enjoy your wealth and treasures? And

will you pass away according to your kamma?
I wont be able to surround myself, enjoy and

be happy with these same sensual pleasures in
my afterlife.

One, the Worthy One, the Supremely Enlightened
One said the Dhamma verse
48
If beings take something as their own in this world
then theyll one day have to let go of it. And having
known, seen and heard this, I became a monk near
the Supreme Buddha.
is well said! Venerable Rattapala, these beings cannot

take anything as their own. Theyll one day have to
let go of everything.
How should the meaning of this statement

be understood, Venerable Rattapala?

magnificent! The statement of the Supreme Buddha
who knows and sees everything. If beings take
something as their own in this world then theyll one
day have to let go of it,
Venerable Rattapala, you say that all worlds are

incomplete and that it is impossible to feel
completely gratified and that beings have to live
surrendering to craving.
Great King, arent you the ruler of this prosperous

country of Kuru?
49
Yes, Venerable Rattapala. I am the ruler of

this prosperous country of Kuru.
Great King? Suppose a trustworthy person were to

come to you from the east and
say, Great King, do you know? I have come

from the east.
There, I saw a prosperous, highly developed

and populous country. They have plenty of
elephant troops
horse troops, chariot troops and troops of foot

soldiers. They have plenty of wealth and a lot of
unused
gold and silver. There are stunning women

there as well.
50
That country can be conquered with a certain

amount of force. So Great King, send your
troops to fight and conquer that land. Then,
Great King, what would you do?
Great King, suppose a trustworthy person

were to come to you from the west.
Great King, do you know? I have come from

overseas. There, I saw a prosperous, highly
developed and populous country.
then I will conquer
that country and
become its ruler.
from the north from the south and from overseas

and say
They have plenty of elephant troops, horse

troops, chariot troops and troops of foot soldiers.
They have plenty of wealth and a lot of unused

gold and silver.
So Great King, send your troops to fight and

conquer that land. Great King, what would you
do in that case?
Great King, it is for this reason that the Blessed One,

the Worthy One, the Supremely Enlightened One
said
51
There are stunning women there. That country

can be conquered with a certain amount of force.
Venerable Rattapala, then I will conquer that country

as well and become its ruler.
All worlds are incomplete and that it is

impossible to feel completely gratified. All beings
have to live surrendering to craving. And having
known, seen and heard. I went forth from home
life into homelessness.
52
magnificent! The statement, All worlds are incomplete
and therefore it is impossible to feel completely
gratified.
this world indeed is incomplete. It is

impossible to feel completely gratified. We are
slaves to craving.
I have seen
the wealthiest people in the
world
who because of delusion,
don't give away their wealth
they've gained.
Greedily, they store it away,
wishing for even more wealth.
All beings have to

live surrendering to
craving, is well
spoken! by the
Supreme Buddha
who knows and
sees everything.
Venerable
Rattapala,
Then, Venerable
Rattapala further
recited these
verses.
A king who has conquered the world

and rules over the earth
bound by the sea is still dissatisfied.
He wishes to rule a country overseas as well.
That king, along with many other people,

die without having put an end to craving.
With plans still incomplete, they leave their life.
Theres never a complete gratification
in this world of sensual pleasures.
His relatives grieve with their locks of hair falling apart

Crying, Alas! May our relative be immortal!
Carrying him away, wrapped in a piece of cloth,
they place him on a pyre and set him on fire.
So he burns in the fire,

Wrapped in just one piece of cloth,
leaving all his possessions behind.
And as he dies neither relatives nor friends,
can offer him any refuge.
While his heirs take over his wealth,

this being must pass away according to his kamma.
And as he dies, nothing can follow him,
not his children, wife, wealth or his empire.
Long life cannot be gained with wealth,

nor can treasures prevent aging.
Short is this life as sages say,
it is not eternal but is subject to change.
The rich and poor alike feel contact through objects.

The wise and fools alike feel contact through objects.
But the fool sleeps sadly and suffers from contact due to his own
lack of wisdom,
while the wise sage stays unshaken by any contact.
53
54
Clear it is to see that wisdom prevails over wealth,

since through wisdom one puts an end to all suffering.
Out of delusion beings go from life to life,
doing unwholesome deeds.
And when they die, they fall back into samsaric sorrow
and continue to return to a mothers womb.
and the same is the result for those,
who follow such peoples guidance.
Just as a thief caught in robbery,

suffers for his evil deeds.
So people after death, in the next world,
suffer for their evil deeds.
Sensual pleasures, diverse, sweet and enticing,

in many different ways agitate this mind.
Seeing the dangers of this sensuality,
O King, I chose to leave to homeless life.
Just as fruits fall from the tree, people,

both young and old, fall when this body breaks.
Seeing this, O King, I have gone forth,
for the life of a recluse is trouble free and supreme.

Out of compassion for all beings, Gautama Supreme Buddha travelled from village
to village across the Indian continent teaching the Noble Dhamma and at one time arrived
at the town Tullakottita.
Among the towns people who listened to the Supreme Buddhas Dhamma talk was
special young man. Having collected a lot of merit in his past lives, this prince had a deep
desire to become ordained. However, he had to sacrifice a lot in order to get his parents
permission. But finally, his attempt became successful. He was fortunate to become
ordained in Gautama Supreme Buddhas dispensation. It is that story of Venerable
Rattapala that you are able to read here.
Because of his unshakable confidence, he made a strenuous effort and even sacrificed his
life in order to become ordained. For this reason, the Great Arahant Rattapala was the
foremost monk among those who renounced the household life out of confidence in the
Noble Triple Gem to become ordained in Gautama Buddhas dispensation.
This wonderful story of Great Arahant Rattapala is beautifully portrayed to you by the
pious devotees Sumathipala and Jothipala. May these two artists who depicted this story
as well you, the reader, be fortunate to realize the Four Noble Truths through Gautama
Buddhas teaching.
Most Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnnnanda
Art By
Sumathipala
Jothipala
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery

11175 Kennedy Road, Markham, Ontario, L6C 1P2, Canada
Tel: (905) 927 7117 | Email: info@mahamevna.ca

Website: www.mahamevna.ca

The Great Arahant Rattapala

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The Great Arahant Rattapala

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