• Sūra-Ambattha

An eminent lay disciple, declared by the Buddha foremost among his followers in unwavering loyalty (agggam aveccappasannānam) (A.i.26; cf.iii.451). He resolved to acquire this eminence during his birth in the time of Padumuttara Buddha. He was born, in this Buddha age, in a banker's family in Sāvatthi and became a follower of the heretics. One day the Buddha, seeing Sūra's fitness for conversion, went to his door for alms. Out of respect for the Buddha, Sūra invited him in, and, giving him a comfortable seat, entertained him to a meal. At the end of the meal, when the Buddha returned thanks, Sūra became a sotāpanna. Some time after the Buddha had left, Māra, disguised as the Buddha, visited Sūra and, in reply to Sūra's questioning, said that he had returned to contradict a wrong statement which he had made earlier. He had said that all the sankhāras were impermanent, etc., but, on further reflection, he had come to the conclusion that only some sankhāras were of that nature. Sūra recognized Māra and drove him away. AA.i.215; cf. DA.iii.864.

• Sūra-Ambattha

Một đệ tử tại gia lỗi lạc, được Đức Phật tuyên bố là người đứng đầu trong số các tín đồ của Ngài về lòng trung thành không lay chuyển (agggam aveccappasannānam) (Ai26; cf.iii.451). Ông đã quyết tâm đạt được sự nổi bật này trong thời đại của Đức Phật Padumuttara. Ông sinh ra, trong thời đại của Đức Phật này, trong một gia đình chủ ngân hàng ở Sāvatthi và trở thành một tín đồ của những người theo dị giáo. Một ngày nọ, Đức Phật thấy Sūra thích hợp để cải đạo, đã đến nhà ông để khất thực. Vì tôn trọng Đức Phật, Sūra đã mời ông vào nhà, và nhường cho ông một chỗ ngồi thoải mái, tiếp đãi ông đến dùng bữa. Vào cuối bữa ăn, khi Đức Phật cảm ơn trở lại, Sūra đã trở thành một vị thánh nhập lưu. Một thời gian sau khi Đức Phật rời đi, Māra, cải trang thành Đức Phật, đến thăm Sūra và trả lời câu hỏi của Sūra, nói rằng anh ta đã trở lại để phủ nhận một tuyên bố sai lầm mà anh ta đã nói trước đó. Ngài đã nói rằng tất cả các hành (sankhāra) đều vô thường, v.v., nhưng sau khi suy ngẫm kỹ hơn, ngài đi đến kết luận rằng chỉ có một số hành (sankhāra) mang bản chất vô thường. Sūra nhận ra Māra và đuổi hắn đi. AA.i.215; cf. DA.iii.864.

I. Thông tin từ cuốn Đại Phật Sử 6B ENG

6.  SURAMBA®®HA The Householder

• His Past Aspiration

The  future  S|rambaÔÔha  the  householder  was  born  into  a  worthy  family  in  the  city  of HaÑsǎvatī, during the time of Buddha Padumuttara. While listening to a sermon by the Buddha, he saw a lay disciple being named by the Buddha as the foremost lay disciple who had firm conviction in the Teaching. He aspired to that distinction, and, after making an extraordinary offering, he expressed his wish that at some future existence his aspiration would be fulfilled.

(b)   His Last Existence as S|rambaÔÔha The Householder

The future S|rambaÔÔha was reborn in the deva or human realms for a hundred thousand world-cycles before being reborn into a rich man’s family of Sǎvatthi, during the time of

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Buddha  Gotama.  His  name  was  S|rambaÔÔha.  When  he  came  of  age,  he  married  and became a regular lay supporter of ascetics who were outside the Buddha’s Teaching.

S|rambaÔÔha The Householder attained Stream-Entry Knowledge

Early one morning, the Buddha, in His routine review of the world for individuals who were  ready  for  Enlightenment,  saw  the  ripeness  of  the  past  merit  of  S|rambaÔÔha  the householder  to  gain  sotǎpatti–magga.  So,  He  went  to  S|rambaÔÔha’s  house  for  alms-food. S|rambaÔÔha  thought  to  himself:  ‚Samana  Gotama  comes  from  a  royal  family  and  has earned a vast reputation in the world. Perhaps, it is only proper for me to welcome Him.‛ Thinking thus, he went to the Buddha, made obeisance at His feet, took His alms-bowl, and conducted Him to a raised couch which was set aside for noble persons. He made offerings of food and after attending on Him, sat in a suitable place.

The Buddha preached a discourse, which suited the mental framework of S|rambaÔÔha. At the end of which, he was established in sotǎpatti-phala. After bestowing S|rambaÔÔha with Stream-Entry Knowledge, the Buddha returned to the monastery.

Mǎra tested The Conviction of S|rambaÔÔha

Then  Mǎra  thought:  ‚This  S|rambaÔÔha  the  householder  belongs  to  my  fold  (being  a follower of the ascetics which are outside the Buddha’s Teaching). But the Buddha has visited his house today. Why? Has S|rambaÔÔha become an ariya after hearing the Buddha’s discourse? Has he escaped from my domain of sensuality? I must find out.‛ Then, being possessed of powers of impersonating anyone, he assumed the form of the Buddha completed with the thirty-two marks of the great man and in perfect Buddha-style of holding the alms-bowl and the robe. In that deceitful impersonation, he stood at the door of S|rambaÔÔha the householder.

S|rambaÔÔha wondered why the Buddha visited a second time, when he was informed by his attendants. ‚The Buddha never comes without some good reason,‛ he replied, and approached the impersonated Buddha in the belief that he was the real Buddha. After making obeisance to the impersonated Buddha, he stood in a suitable place, and asked:

‚Venerable Sir, the Bhagavǎ has just left this house after having a meal. For what purpose does the Bhagavǎ come again?‛

The  bogus  Buddha(Mǎra)   said:  ‚Lay   supporter  S|rambaÔÔha,   I   made  a  slip  in  my discourse to you. I said that all of the aggregates are impermanent, woeful and insubstantial. But the five aggregates are not always of that nature. There are certain of the five aggregates that are permanent, stable and eternal.‛

The Steadfast Conviction of S|rambaÔÔha The Householder

S|rambaÔÔha, a Stream-Enterer, was vexed by that statement. He pondered thus: ‚This is a statement of most serious import. The Buddha never makes a slip in His speech, for He never utters a word without proper consideration. They say that Mǎra is the opponent of the Buddha. Surely this must be Mǎra himself.‛ Thinking correctly thus, he asked bluntly:

‚You are Mǎra, are you not?‛ Mǎra was shocked and shaken as if struck with an  axe because it was a confrontation by an ariya. His disguise fell off and he admitted: ‚Yes, S|rambaÔÔha, I am Mǎra.‛

S|rambaÔÔha  rebuked:  ‚Wicked  Mǎra,  even  a  thousand  of  your  kind  will  not  be  able  to shake my conviction. Buddha Gotama, in His discourse has said: ‘All conditioned things are impermanent.’ And the Buddha’s discourse has led me to sotǎpatti–magga. Get out of here!‛ He said sternly to Mǎra, flipping his fingers. Mǎra had no words to cover up his ruse, and vanished immediately.

In the evening, S|rambaÔÔha went to the Buddha and related the visit of Mǎra to him and what Mǎra had said, and how he had dealt him. ‚Venerable Sir,‛ he said to the Buddha, ‚in this way has Mǎra attempted to shake my conviction.‛

(c)   S|rambaÔÔha is named as The foremost Lay Disciple

Referring to this incident, the Buddha, during His residence at the Jetavana monastery, on the occasion of naming outstanding lay disciples in accordance with their merits, declared:

‚Bhikkhus, among My lay disciples who have unshakeable conviction in My Teaching, S|rambaÔÔha is the foremost.‛

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