| Instructed nuns. The Buddha was far nuns. The | | | | first each promised to help the other. They were |
| Buddha was far ahead of his time, but also a product | | | | informed as to where they could meet the Buddha, |
| of his time in that he did not consider women inferior, | | | | “that deep ocean of wisdom, in the transforming |
| but only reluctantly agreed to allow women into the | | | | effect of whose immaculacy they would be able to |
| order. | | | | bathe.” Just Before they did, however, they met |
| The two disciples we encounter everywhere in | | | | a false holy man. He was afraid that he would lose |
| northern Buddhism are Sharputta and Maudgalyayana. | | | | his many followers to the new way of thinking. He |
| They stand, from the Buddha’s perspective, to | | | | whispered bad things about their inspiring new |
| the right and left of his throne, each holding an alms | | | | teacher, but they saw through his treachery. They |
| bowl and a jingling beggar’s staff. In the thangka | | | | reached the wisest of the Shakya, and request to be |
| they radiate holiness, with their nimbuses, which are | | | | admitted into the nonastic order. As soon as the |
| green here, and a transparent nandorala glowing | | | | Buddha had agreed to this, their hair spontaneously |
| behind each of them. They stand in an opulent green | | | | fell out, and they took a metaphorical bath in the |
| landscape, each on a little square rug. | | | | deep sea of immaculacy. |
| Both were sons of Brahmans. They met at a party | | | | Eventually, they became his best students. In hopes |
| where everybody was singing, dancing, and having | | | | of helping sinners gain a better rebirth and thereby |
| fun. They were the only ones to disregard these | | | | offering them the possibility of a virtuous life, they |
| amusements. They decided to withdraw from social | | | | descended into hell. There, numerous people were |
| interaction to become monks and seek perfection. | | | | paying dreadful penance for their sins, including |
| They met a wise old man, a teacher who had a lot | | | | Shakyamuni’s grudge-bearing cousin, Devadtta. |
| of knowledge, but who also knew that true | | | | Shariputra was known for his sharp, analytical ability |
| perfection would be taught when a wise member of | | | | and Maudgalyayana excelled in clairvoyance and |
| the shakya decided to become a monk. He advised | | | | magical powers. |
| them to seek their salvation in the future with him. | | | | Because they could not bear the thought of dying |
| And so it came to pass. Maudgalayayana asked | | | | after the Buddha, he allowed them to depart the |
| whether Shariputra, the smarter of the two (That is | | | | world sooner, both on the same day in the year 486 |
| also why he stands on the Buddha’s right, | | | | b.c.e. Shariputra died first, and Maudgalyayana, who is |
| because right is better than left), would share his | | | | also sometimes called Mahadgalyayana was murdered |
| knowledge with him if he were to gain understanding | | | | near Rajgir by religious opponents. |