Editing Ānanda (section)

=== Attending to the Buddha ===
[[File:MET 60 76.jpg|left|thumb |18th-century Burmese sculpture of Ānanda |alt=Wooden sculpture of monk sitting in a mermaid pose, reclining |upright]]

In the first twenty years of the Buddha's ministry, the Buddha had several personal attendants.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} However, after these twenty years, when the Buddha was aged 55,<ref name="Higham" />{{refn |group=note |According to [[Mūlasarvāstivāda]] tradition, the Buddha was 50.{{sfn |Witanachchi |1965 |p=530}}}} the Buddha announced that he had need for a permanent attendant.{{sfn |Keown |2004 |page=12}} The Buddha had been growing older, and his previous attendants had not done their job very well.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} Initially, several of the Buddha's foremost disciples responded to his request, but the Buddha did not accept them.<!--both--> All the while Ānanda remained quiet. When he was asked why, he said that the Buddha would know best whom to choose,<!--Malalasekera--> upon which the Buddha responded by choosing Ānanda.{{refn|group=note |According to the Mūlasarvāstivāda tradition, Ānanda was born at the same time the Buddha became enlightened, and was therefore younger than the other leading disciples. The reason that the other disciples were not chosen may be because they were too old for the task.<ref name="Mohr" />}} Ānanda agreed to take on the position, on the condition that he did not receive any material benefits from the Buddha.{{sfn |Keown |2004 |page=12}}{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} Accepting such benefits would open him up to criticism that he chose the position because of ulterior motives.<!--Malalasekera--> He also requested that the Buddha allow him to accept invitations on his behalf, allow him to ask questions about his doctrine, and repeat any teaching that the Buddha had taught in Ānanda's absence.<!--both-->{{sfn |Keown |2004 |page=12}}{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} These requests would help people trust Ānanda and show that the Buddha was sympathetic to his attendant.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} Furthermore, Ānanda considered these the real advantages of being an attendant, which is why he requested them.{{sfn |Buswell |Lopez |2013 |loc=Ānanda}}

The Buddha agreed to Ānanda's conditions, and Ānanda became the Buddha's attendant, accompanying the Buddha on most of his wanderings. Ānanda took care of the Buddha's daily practical needs, by doing things such as bringing water and cleaning the [[Gandha Kuṭī|Buddha's dwelling place]]. He is depicted as observant and devoted, even guarding the dwelling place at night.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}}{{sfn |Buswell |Lopez |2013 |loc=Ānanda}} Ānanda takes the part of [[Interlocutor (linguistics)|interlocutor]] in many of the recorded dialogues.<ref name="EB1911" /> He tended the Buddha for a total of 25 years,<ref name="Powers" />{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} a duty which entailed much work.{{sfn |Findly |2003 |p=376}} His relationship with the Buddha is depicted as warm and trusting:<ref name="Mcneill">{{cite book |last1=Mcneill |first1=William |title=Berkshire Encyclopedia of World History |edition=2nd |date=2011 |publisher=[[Berkshire Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-1-61472-904-4 |page=270 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PpdgrgEACAAJ}}</ref>{{sfn |Findly |2003 |p=375}} when the Buddha grew ill, Ānanda had a sympathetic illness;{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} when the Buddha grew older, Ānanda kept taking care of him with devotion.{{sfn |Buswell |Lopez |2013 |loc=Ānanda}}

Ānanda sometimes literally risked his life for his teacher. At one time, the rebellious monk Devadatta tried to kill the Buddha by having a drunk and wild elephant released in the Buddha's presence. Ānanda stepped in front of the Buddha to protect him. When the Buddha told him to move, he refused, although normally he always obeyed the Buddha.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} Through a [[ṛddhi|supernatural accomplishment]] ({{langx|pi|iddhi|link=no}}; {{langx|sa|ṛiddhi|link=no}}) the Buddha then moved Ānanda aside and subdued the elephant, by touching it and speaking to it with [[mettā|loving-kindness]].{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/n/naalaagiri.htm Nālāgiri]}}

Ānanda often acted as an intermediary and secretary, passing on messages from the Buddha, informing the Buddha of news, invitations, or the needs of lay people, and advising lay people who wanted to provide gifts to the ''saṅgha''.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}}<ref name="Bodhi">{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Bodhi |first1=Bhikkhu |author-link1=Bhikkhu Bodhi |editor1-last=Johnston |editor1-first=William M. |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Monasticism |date=2013 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |title=Early Buddhist Disciples |isbn=978-1-136-78716-4 |page=389 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iepJAgAAQBAJ}}</ref> At one time, [[Mahapajapati|Mahāpajāpatī]], the Buddha's foster-mother, requested to offer robes for personal use for the Buddha. She said that even though she had raised the Buddha in his youth, she never gave anything in person to the young prince; she now wished to do so. The Buddha initially insisted that she give the robe to the community as a whole rather than to be attached to his person. However, Ānanda interceded and mediated, suggesting that the Buddha had better accept the robe. Eventually the Buddha did, but not without pointing out to Ānanda that good deeds like [[dāna|giving]] should always be done for the sake of the action itself, not for the sake of the person.{{sfn |Findly |2003 |p=387}}
[[File:Wat Tham Khao Rup Chang - 065 47 pu tuo ye pu tuo ye (14663856064).jpg|thumb |Sculpture of Ānanda from Wat Khao Rup Chang, [[Songkhla]], Thailand |alt=Sculpture of a monk with East Asian traits, holding an alms bowl. |upright]]
The texts say that the Buddha sometimes asked Ānanda to substitute for him as teacher,{{sfn |Shaw |2006 |p=18}}{{sfn |Findly |2003 |p=368}} and was often praised by the Buddha for his teachings.{{sfn |Findly |2003 |p=377}} Ānanda was often given important teaching roles, such as regularly teaching Queen [[Mallikā (Buddhist figure)|Mallikā]], Queen [[Samavati|Sāmāvatī]], ({{langx|sa|Śyāmāvatī|link=no}}) and other people from the ruling class.{{sfn |Buswell |Lopez |2013 |loc=Mallikā; Śyāmāvatī}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Bailey |first1=Greg |last2=Mabbett |first2=Ian |title=The Sociology of Early Buddhism |date=2003 |publisher=[[Cambridge University Press]] |isbn=978-0-511-06296-4 |page=28 |url=http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/the_sociology_of_early_buddhism_baileymabbett.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215105731/http://www.khamkoo.com/uploads/9/0/0/4/9004485/the_sociology_of_early_buddhism_baileymabbett.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2017 |url-status=live |access-date=12 September 2018 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Once Ānanda taught a number of King [[Udayana (king)|Udena]] ({{langx|sa|Udayana|link=no}})'s concubines. They were so impressed by Ānanda's teaching, that they gave him five hundred robes, which Ānanda accepted. Having heard about this, King Udena criticized Ānanda for being greedy; Ānanda responded by explaining how every single robe was carefully used, reused and recycled by the monastic community, prompting the king to offer another five hundred robes.{{sfn |Findly |2003 |pp=389{{en dash}}90}} Ānanda also had a role in the Buddha's visit to [[Vaishali (ancient city)#Visits of the Buddha to Vaiśālī|Vesālī]]. In this story, the Buddha taught the well-known text ''[[Ratana Sutta]]'' to Ānanda, which Ānanda then recited in Vesālī, ridding the city from illness, drought and evil spirits in the process.{{sfn |Buswell |Lopez |2013 |loc=Ratanasutta}} Another well-known passage in which the Buddha taught Ānanda is the passage about [[kalyanamitta|spiritual friendship]] ({{langx|pi|kalyāṇamittata|italic=yes |link=no}}). In this passage, Ānanda stated that spiritual friendship is half of the holy life; the Buddha corrected Ānanda, stating that such friendship is the entire holy life.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |last1=Bodhi |first1=Bhikkhu |author-link1=Bhikkhu Bodhi |editor1-last=Johnston |editor1-first=William M. |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia of Monasticism |date=2013 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |title=Discourses |isbn=978-1-136-78716-4 |page=394 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iepJAgAAQBAJ}}</ref>{{sfn |Shaw |2006 |page=12}} In summary, Ānanda worked as an assistant, intermediary and a mouthpiece, helping the Buddha in many ways,<!--377--> and learning his teachings in the process.<!--375-->{{sfn |Findly |2003 |pp=375, 377}}

==== Resisting temptations ====
Ānanda was attractive in appearance.{{sfn |Malalasekera |1960 |loc=[http://www.palikanon.com/english/pali_names/aa/aananda.htm Ānanda]}} A Pāli account related that a ''[[bhikkhuni|bhikkhunī]]'' (nun) became enamored with Ānanda, and pretended to be ill to have Ānanda visit her. When she realized the error of her ways, she confessed her mistakes to Ānanda.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Attwood |first1=Jayarava |title=Did King Ajātasattu Confess to the Buddha, and did the Buddha Forgive Him? |journal=Journal of Buddhist Ethics |date=1 January 2008 |page=286 |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242321681 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911044821/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242321681 |url-status=live |archive-date=11 September 2018 |issn=1076-9005}}</ref> Other accounts relate that a [[chandala|low-caste]] woman called Prakṛti (also known in China as {{zh|t=[[:zh:摩登伽女|摩登伽女]]|p=Módēngqiénǚ|labels=no}}) fell in love with Ānanda, and persuaded her mother Mātaṅgī to use a black magic spell to enchant him. This succeeded, and Ānanda was lured into her house, but came to his senses and called upon the help of the Buddha.<!--243; 107--> The Buddha then taught Prakṛti to reflect on the [[asubha|repulsive qualities]] of the human body, and eventually Prakṛti was ordained as a ''bhikkhunī'', giving up her attachment for Ānanda.<!--243-4; 108-->{{sfn |Ambros |2016 |pages=243{{en dash}}4}}<ref>{{cite book |last1=Wilson |first1=Liz |title=Charming Cadavers: Horrific Figurations of the Feminine in Indian Buddhist Hagiographic Literature |date=1996 |publisher=[[University of Chicago Press]] |isbn=978-0-226-90054-4 |pages=107{{en dash}}8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rTwdkBXBz7sC}}</ref> In an East Asian version of the story in the ''[[Śūraṅgama Sūtra|Śūraṃgamasūtra]]'', the Buddha sent [[Manjusri|Mañjuśrī]] to help Ānanda, who used [[dharani|recitation]] to counter the magic charm. The Buddha then continued by teaching Ānanda and other listeners about the [[Buddha nature]].{{sfn |Buswell |Lopez |2013 |loc=Śūraṅgamasūtra}}