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E-book Lives of Great Monks and Nuns
The Master, who was named A?vagho?a Bodhisattva, was a disciple of Elder Pår?va. When Elder Pår?va, being deeply concerned about the Buddha-Dharma, entered samådhi in order to contemplate who was competent to renounce the world and widely propagate the teachings of the Way so as to enlighten living beings, he had a vision of a hermit heretic in Central India who was well versed in worldly wisdom, eloquent in debate, and good at argumentation. The hermit announced, “If there is any bhik?u who can hold debate with me, let him strike the bell. If he cannot, he is not qualified to strike the in public and receive o›erings from the people.” Elder then set out from Northern India with the intention of traveling to the city of ¸åkya in Madhyade?a. On his way, he met some ?råma?eras who joked with him, saying, “Virtuous Elder, let us carry your books for you.” Then they took away his books and teased him in various ways for no reason. Elder Pår?va’s countenance did not change and, with a placid mind, he took no notice of their mischievous tricks. One of the ?råma?eras, who was a well-learned person, discerned that the elder was a great and farsighted man and suspected that he was no ordinary person. He questioned the elder and observed his behavior, and found that he never ceased in his spiritual progress. being was settled, his mind was deep and far-reaching, and he never thought of trivial matters. When all the ?råma?eras realized that the elder was a man of great virtue and unfathomable magnanimity, they treated him with doubled respect and served as his attendants in order to help send him on his way.
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