The Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja

The Great Arahant
Pindola Bharadvaja
With the guidance and direction of Most

Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnanananda
art by Sumathipala & Jothipala
The Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja
With the guidance and direction of

Most Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnnnanda
art by Sumathipala & Jothipala
Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery - Toronto
Page 1
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
Page 2
Dedication
To Most Venerable Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnnnanda who
opened the path to the Noble Dhamma in Gautama Supreme
Buddha's dispensation.
Page 3
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
Page 4
Preface
With the guidance of meritorious Bhikkhu Kiribathgoda Gnnnanda, we present to you
this time, the story of Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja. This is the sixth Dhamma picture story
book that we have created.
Life stories of great arahants are truly magnificent. They are filled with interesting
incidents. The life story of Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja is just the same.
Cultivating wholesome qualities as taught by the Blessed One leads to the supreme result
of Arahantship, and the psychic powers displayed by these taint free sages is truly astonishing.
The Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja was also an individual who displayed psychic powers.
The head Nobleman of city of Rajagaha challenged, asking anyone who has psychic powers
to come forward to take the sandalwood bowl that was placed on the very top of a tall bamboo
stick. But exceeding that challenge, Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja displayed a psychic power
where he circled a huge rock around the city of Rajagaha seven times. It is such a blessing to even
know and form a pleasant mind about such great beings who are supatipanno (follow the path to
eradicate desire, hatred and delusion).
When reading this book, you may question the way we have portrayed Nigantas. Nigantas
are a group of naked ascetics who consider the four directions to be their clothes. However, we
decided to portray them as wearing a small piece of clothing to avoid practical problems that may
arise.
These Dhamma picture story books which are created with the guidance and direction of
Lokuswaminvahanse have become very popular by now. Therefore, we would like to humbly
wish merit to all those who helped.
We would like to a pay our homage to meritorious Bhikkhu Bodhidhamma of Kekirawa as
well as all meritorious monks of Mahamevnawa Buddhist Monastery for assisting and helping us
in presenting this series of books to you. We would like to humbly wish you merit for the
assistance that you have provided as well.
Mr. Ranasinghe has also been of great help! We would also like to thank the owner of
Elation Printers, Mr. S. A Prasad Silva and his staff for offering to print this series of books in an
attractive way.
May meritorious Lokuswaminvahanse as well as all other meritorious monks of
Mahamevnawa Monastery realize the Four Noble Truths!
Just like for previous books, we would truly appreciate your compliments and complaints
about this books as well!
May the Noble Triple Gem Bless you!
Sincerely,
Sumathipala & Jothipala
Sarasavi'
Hendiyagala
Sandalankava
031-2299486
Page 5
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 Rattapala
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
Page 6

Prince Bharadvaja was born to the
Brahman caste. Therefore, he did not lack
any money or comforts.
He had
extraordinary
memory skills. He
could remember
anything by listening
to it only once.
For that reason, he completed all his

studies in a very short time period.
Prince Bharadvaja,
Master Disapamok is
calling you.
I sent you a message

for a very important
reason.
You have now completed

all your studies to the
highest level.
Pardon me,
Master!
Alright..! I'll
go and see.

I am now very old. Hence, I would be
happy to see you as the master of this
school.
Yes, Master. I'd

be happy to take
that
responsibility.
8
You'd like to be the master to the five
hundred students of this school, don't you
Bharadvaja?
In that case, go back to your palace and

let your parents know. Get their
permission and return!
Yes, Master!
Why is Bharadvaja
returning from school
early today?
Im wondering
the same thing!
Pardon me, Father. Our Master Disapamok

said he would be happy to appoint me as
the master of his school.
Oh, how
wonderful!

Do you know something? Master
Bharadvaja is so fond of food and
drinks.
If his portion is not enough for him, he just

grabs other people's food without any care.
Master, everything is finished. Didn't you eat a

lot more than usual today?
9
Bhathiya is right! I noticed that too. It
doesn't matter how much food there
is, it's never enough for him.
Mmm! The food is very delicious today! Yasadatta, is

there any more food left in the kitchen?
I did eat a lot. But I didn't realize it since the

food was so delicious.

Well, are there any sweets like fruits or
yogurt left in the storage?
Well, what to do then. Why don't you quickly

prepare some porridge?
Even though I cook food and make sweets all day

long, it's never enough for Bhardvaja. It's not a
stomach that he has, it's a mound.
10
No master, you have
eaten all of them as
well.
Oh dear! I have worked in many kitchens before,

but never a place like this. I don't even get a
minute of rest!
The name Pindola

was added to the
beginning of
Bharadvaja's name
because of his
greediness for
food.

There, take a look at Master
Bharadvaja's stomach today!
11
No doubt, he would have
had a whole basin of rice
today!
He was born to
eat!
The day before yesterday, he had

eaten my portion of lunch too. I was
starving the whole afternoon.
Of course! Now don't say that I didn't say this.

In the next few days, our fees will also increase
to cover for Master Pindola's food.
The money that chief master earns from the

school is probably not enough to feed Master
Pindola!
Oh, I don't think so.

I will find a new
school and leave.

Why did you say the
school was closed
early today?
Oh! Then our master also wishes to

listen to the Dhamma.
Every time we get together, do we ever say

anything good about Master Bharadvaja other
than insult him?
12
Didn't you hear? Gautama
Supreme Buddha is in city of
Rajagaha during these days.
Aren't we going to
listen to the
Dhamma as well?
Of course! Let's go. How

fortunate we would be to
listen to the Supreme
Buddha's Dhamma.
Let's go to city of
Rajagaha with the
master today.
Yes, then he will be

happy too.
Bharadvaja, who listened to the Supreme

Buddha's Dhamma, formed a pleasant mind
(about the Noble Triple Gem).
It would be great if I can

become a monk under
the Supreme Buddha
and escape from
sasra, putting an end
to all suffering.
Pardon me, Venerable Sir, I too listened

to your Dhamma and formed a pleasant
mind.
13
What a meaningless life we lead by
clinging, eating, drinking and savoring
food.
Yes, I want to become a monk and

attain Nibbna as soon as possible.
This sasra is very scary. So, please

ordain me in your dispensation.

Bhikkhu Pindola Bharadvaja separated from the
rest of the monks and practiced insight
meditation in seclusion with ardent effort and...
Oh Blessed One, I
have cultivated
everything that
needs to be
cultivated in the
Supreme Buddha's
dispensation.
Everyday, from
that point
onwards, the
Great Arahant
Pindola
Bharadvaja
went from
monastery to
monastery and
opened the
door with a key
and said:
in no time, eradicated all defilements

and attained arahantship.
Yes, meritorious
Bharadvaja, you have
now ended this journey
of birth and death. This
is your final birth.
If anyone has a doubt about the path to

being Sotapanna(stream entry) or the fruit
of Sotapanna then let them ask me. I will
explain it.

One day early in the morning,
Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja was
going on the alms round.
This is a good
place to have
the meal.
Thinking in this way, the Great Arahant went

to King Udeni's Royal garden in the Kosambi
city using his psychic powers.
15
May you be well! May you
realize the Four Noble
Truths!
I should go to the city of Kosambi to get

some rest in the evening.

Dear King, heres some
wine from me too.
Very good,
Rathi!
If it isn't for wine and you girls,

there's no point of this Kingship.
You drank a lot

more wine than
usual today.
16
Wonderful!
Just wonderful!
Rathi, give me
another cup of
wine from your
hands.
That's alright. I want to

enjoy myself a lot today.
Thats
enough, my
lord!
17
Ah! My head is
spinning!
Girls, sing some nice songs for me. Kema,

start a dance, will you?
Sugala, stroke my
head until I fall
asleep.
Kema, that's
enough dancing.
The King has
fallen asleep.
That's enough
drinking for today,
Your Highness.
Yes,
my lord!

We can rest until the king
wakes up, Bhadra.
18
Muditha, let's take a
walk further into the
garden.
Oh! Muditha, a monk is meditating!
Shall we go to
that side?
To the side of the river,

right? I'd like to go
there too.
Oh, I wonder if we'll

be disturbing him if
we go there.
That's true. He looks

very peaceful.
No. No. We can calmly stay

there without disturbing him.
We enjoy by eating, drinking and dancing.

Apparently sages become happy by
concentrating their minds.

All the princesses
went in the direction
of the river. Only the
king and I are left
here.
I fell asleep a lot. It looks like its

late in the evening, isn't it? Where
are all the princesses?
Oh, isn't it wonderful the way they treat their

King. They have no right to leave me and go.
19
Hmm! Ah!
Sugala!
Dear King!
They were dancing until you fell

asleep. Then, all of them went
towards the riverside.
Thats true, my king!

They are not close to
you like I am. Theyre
a bunch of ungrateful
women!
Alright. I'll find

out where they
have gone.

Theres that indecent bunch of women!
Crowded around a monk, they seem to
be in a big discussion!
20
Oh, these women have no shame. This is such
a great disrespect for you.
That's exactly right,

Sugala. Look at this fake
monk acting as an ascetic,
showing off his false skills
and surrounding himself
with women. Nothing will
get through to them.
Heres a nest of red ants.
Just wait till I teach you a
good lesson.
Not knowing the

qualities of the Noble
Triple Gem, King Udeni
who was overwhelmed
with anger ran towards
Arahant Pindola
Bharadvaja with the
nest of red ants.

This is to stop you from doing these
indecent things in the future.
Meritorious King, I
am not angry with
you. I only feel
compassion for you!
Oh, what an evil thing I have done!
21
Arahant Pindola
Bharadvaja stood
up immediately
and arose into
the air with his
psychic powers
and advised the
king.
Oh! That monk

vanished into the air.
I must go to Jetavana Monastery

immediately to meet that monk and ask
for forgiveness.

King Udeni met with Great Arahant Pindola
Bharadvaja and received forgiveness for his
wrong doing.
Venerable
Bharadvaja, there
are young monks
who are black
haired.
So what is the reason behind these

young monks following the life long
chaste life, perfect and pure for their
entire life?
22
From that point on, at every possible opportunity,
King Udeni met with the Great Arahant and
engaged in Dhamma discussion.
They are in the first stage of their life-without

having experienced sensual pleasures.
Meritorious King, the one who knows and sees

everything, the Blessed one, the Worthy One, the
Supremely Enlightened One has proclaimed thus:

Meritorious monks, think about all women
that are around the age of your mother in the
same way you would look at your own mother.
Meritorious Great King, there are young

monks who are black haired and are in
their prime youth.
So the reason why these young monks are able to

follow the life long chaste life, perfect and pure for
their entire life is this. This is the truth.
23
Think of all women that are around the age of your
sister, in the same way you would look at your own
sister. Think of all girls that are around the age of
your daughter, in the same way you would look at
your own daughter.
They are in the first stage of their life without

having experienced any sensual pleasures.
Venerable Bharadvaja, this mind is something

that clings. There are instances where this
mind desires even women that are around the
age of one's mother.

And there are instances where this mind
desires women that are around the age of
one's sister, and there are times where this
mind desires girls that are around the age of
one's daughter. Venerable Bhardvaja

Supremely Enlightened One has said thus:
This body consists of hair, nails, teeth, skin,

muscles, veins, bones, bone marrow, a kidney,
a heart, a liver, a pancreas, a spleen, lungs,
small and large intestines.
24
Is there a reason or perhaps another goal as to

why these black haired young monks live a pure
and noble life throughout their lifetime?
Meritorious monks, come here and

contemplate on this body. From your feet up
and from your haired head down, enclosed
by this skin is nothing more than a pit full of
waste and excrement.
Un-digested food, feces, bile, phlegm, pus,

blood, sweat, fat, tears, oil layer on skin,
saliva, nasal mucous, synovial fluid and
urine.
Meritorious King, it's true that there are

young monks who are black haired and are
in their prime youth. They are in the first
stage of their life
Venerable Bharadvaja, there are some

monks who have meditated about the reality
of this body. They are very virtuous and
have developed their mind.
who have not meditated well about the reality of this

body. They havent developed their virtue well. They
have neither developed their mind nor their wisdom
well. For those monks this is a very difficult task.
Venerable Bhardvaja
25
without having experienced any sensual pleasures.
This is the reason as to why these young monks
are able to follow the life long chaste life, perfect
and pure. This is the truth.
They have also developed their wisdom. So

doing this wouldnt be difficult for these monks.
But there are some monks
sometimes, thinking we are seeing the

foulness of the body, we end up seeing its
pleasantness.
Venerable Bharadvaja, is there a reason

or perhaps another goal as to why
these black haired young monks live a
pure and noble life throughout their
lifetime?
Come meritorious monks, guard the doors of

your sense faculties and abandon
unwholesomeness. Upon seeing forms, do not
grasp at any theme or details of that form.
distress and evil unwholesome qualities

that might arouse defilements within, then
strive to discipline that faculty. Restraint
the faculty of eye.
26
Supremely Enlightened One has proclaimed thus:
Do not even grasp a minute theme or

detail of that form. If one were to live
without restraint over the faculty of eye
which can result in greed
Become well restraint over the faculty of eye.

Upon hearing sounds, do not grasp at any
theme or details of that form.

detail of that sound. If one were to live
without restraint over the faculty of ear
Become well restraint over the faculty of ear.

Upon smelling odors, do not grasp at any
theme or details of that odor
distress and evil unwholesome qualities

that might arouse defilements within, then
strive to discipline that faculty. Restraint the
faculty of nose.
27
distress and evil unwholesome qualities that
might arouse defilements within, then strive
to restraint that faculty. Discipline the faculty
of ear.
Do not even grasp a minute theme or detail

of that odor. If one were to live without
restraint over the faculty of nose which can
result in greed
Become well restraint over the faculty of

nose. Upon tasting flavors, do not grasp at
any theme or details of that flavor.

Do not even grasp a minute theme or detail of
that flavor. If one were to live without restraint
over the faculty of tongue which can result in
greed

tongue. Upon touching tangibles, do not grasp
at any theme or details of that tangible.

to discipline that faculty. Restraint the faculty
of body.
28
to discipline that faculty. Restraint the
faculty of tongue.

detail of that tangible. If one were to live
without restraint over the faculty of body
Become well restraint over the faculty of body.

Upon cognizing mental objects, do not grasp at
any theme or details of that mental object.

Do not even grasp a minute theme or detail of
that mind object. If one were to live without
restraint over the faculty of mind which can
result in greed

mind. Meritorious King, it's true that
there are young monks
This is the reason as to why these young monks

are able to follow the life long chaste life, perfect
and pure. This is the truth.
29
to discipline that faculty. Restraint the faculty
of mind.
who are black haired and are in their prime youth.

They are in the first stage of their life without
having experienced any sensual pleasures.
Oh Venerable Bharadvaja, it is wonderful! It is

magnificent! The one who knows and sees
everything, the Blessed one, the Worthy One,
the Supremely Enlightened One has

well-spoken! Oh, Venerable Bhardvaja, this
indeed is the reason why there are monks
who are black haired, who are in their prime
youth
follow the life long chaste life, perfect and

pure without ever becoming impure. This is
the truth.
being unmindful and my sense faculties

uncontrolled, I enter into the palace
(harem). As a result
30
in the first stage of their life without having
experienced any sensual pleasures..
Venerable Bharadvaja, there are times where

being unaware of my bodily actions, speech
and mind
my mind is overcome by desire. But, Venerable

Bharadvaja, if at some point I enter the palace
being aware of my bodily actions, speech and
mind

being mindful and having my sense
faculties well controlled, desire does
not prevail my mind.
or were to reveal what had been hidden or

were to point the way to one who has lost his
way.
Even so in many ways has Venerable

Bharadvaja expounded the Dhamma. O
Venerable Bharadvaja, I take refuge in
the Blessed One,
31
Excellent, O Venerable Bharadvaja,
excellent! It is just as if someone set
upright what had been overturned.
It is just as if someone were to hold an oil

lamp in the dark so that those with eyes
may see things.
the Noble Dhamma, and the Noble

Sangha. May Venerable Bhardvaja accept
me as a lay follower who has taken
refuge from this day forward for as long
as I live!

Meanwhile, a person who came to meet
the Nobleman of a palace in the city of
Rajagaha.
32
My Lord, I found a wonderful piece of
sandalwood while I was doing business
in a faraway land.
How are you

Nanda?
You, Sir came to my mind instantly

since you like items made of
sandalwood, my lord.
There are various sandalwood sculptures

throughout the palace. What should I make
with this?
You can make a

very nice piece with
this, my lord.
Thats true!
Oh, I just got a brilliant

idea. I can use this to do
something marvelous!

There are a lot of people in Dambadiva that
claim to be arahants. They get a lot of
favors and special treatment from lay
people.
So, I will create a

fabulous bowl out
of this piece of
sandalwood.
If there are
arahants with
psychic
powers in this
world, I will
ask them to
come from the
sky and take
the bowl.
33
But we do not know who the real
arahants are and who arent from
among them!
Then, I will tie a few bamboo sticks together

and place the bowl upside-down at the very
top!
Yes, then we can see for ourselves who are

real arahants, if there are arahants at all.

Thinking in this way, the Nobleman got one of
the best sculptors in the city to carve a bowl
from the sandalwood piece.
That's a very
nice bowl,
my dear!
Wonderful! The sandalwood

aroma has spread all
throughout the palace.
34
Kolitha, could you please find
some long bamboo sticks that are
strong!
Yes,
my lord.
Indeed, my queen. I got this bowl carved from

a piece of sandalwood given to me by a
businessman I know of.
Wait and see. I am going to

do something marvelous
with this.

Sir, I found some long bamboo
sticks just like you asked for.
Then, place the bowl upside down on

the longest bamboo stick and fix them
to the ground.
Oh, Master, we have a big

challenge ahead of us!
35
First, we must place them next to
each other in such a way that they
stand very high when tied together.
If there are arahants with psychic

powers in this world, let them come
from the sky and take the sandalwood
bowl.

A challenge?
What is it Jatila?
The head Nobleman of the

city has placed a valuable
sandalwood bowl on top of a
line of bamboo sticks tied
together.
There are some devotees in this area that

look up to you as a great religious leader!
Thats true Jatila But it's not possible for

me to travel through the sky to get that
sandalwood bowl.
36
And?
He has asked that if there are

people with psychic powers in this
world then they come from the sky
to get the bowl.
If you do not accept this challenge, your

devotees will lose their respect and trust in
you.
We have to come up
with another trick
soon!
What do you
mean?

My lord, a religious member is waiting to
see you.
Dear Nobleman, youre probably unaware

that it is wrong to challenge people with
great psychic powers such as our master.
No! If your
teacher is an
arahant who has
psychic powers
then why must
you ask that bowl
from me?
37
Alright. I will come to see him.
So please take
down that bowl
and offer it to
our teacher. That
way, you can
collect a lot of
merit!
He can come from the sky and take it

himself. You can go back to your teacher
and let him know that.
38
Meanwhile, at the Niganta Nataputta's Monastery.
Devotees, it looks like a lot of people

are fighting to get that sandalwood
bowl that's being displayed in the
city. Theres only one thing to do. A
few of you must go to Rajagaha city
and tell the Nobleman that the only
person whos worthy of getting this
sandalwood bowl is Niganta
Nataputta who has powerful psychic
powers.
But it is not worthy to show his psychic

powers in front of all these people just to
get a silly sandalwood bowl like this.
So ask the
Nobleman to
give the
sandalwood bowl
to your great
master!
But Sir, what if he

still refuses to
give it?
No. He will give it. The Nobleman is

very pleased with me.
That is why he comes to the monastery to

offer alms and collect a lot of merit!

er
t
La
It was pointless, Master. The Nobleman

is being very stubborn. He didn't listen
to anything we said.
Is that so? Then we'll never be able to

get the sandalwood bowl in good
terms!
Alright. Let
me think of
a good trick
for this
challenge!
39
He says that if you have such powerful
psychic powers then you should come from
the sky and take the bowl yourself. He is not
changing his mind!
But because of this situation, we cannot

ignore and let it pass either!
Sure. But we need a solution fast.

Citizens have already started to
doubt about our psychic powers.

Dear Nobleman, instead of trying to tire me out,
why don't you offer me the bowl. If not, I'll
come from the sky and take this bowl in front of
all these people.
People who have gathered here! Please

move aside and give me some space. I
am going to show off my skills now.
40
That would be wonderful, Master Niganta
Nataputta. I would like to see that happen!
Oh Master, why are you doing such

meaningless things? We are not going to
let you use your psychic power to get that
bowl.

Leave me alone, let me
go! Even though you
know about my psychic
powers, these people
who are gathered here
are not aware of it!
41
No! Even if we lose our lives we are not
letting go of you! Let's stop this useless
thing and go back to the monastery.
Oh, what am I to do? I can't do

anything with you people around.

During that time, Great Arahant Moggallana
and Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja, having
left the Veluwana Monastery to come to city of
Rajagaha were taking rest.
42
This is surprisingly shocking. There
used to be so many religious leaders
claiming to be arahants in this city.
But today, there are no

arahants to take that
sandalwood bowl from the
Head Nobleman in the
Rajagaha city. It is certain
now that there are no
arahants in this world!
Did you hear that, Venerable

Bharadvaja? Villagers are saying that
there are no arahants in this world.
That is true. They are insulting the Supreme

Buddha's dispensation too. How can we sit
around without doing anything after hearing
such insulting comments?

Venerable Bharadvaja, why don't you travel
from the sky, show your psychic powers and
take the sandalwood bowl? It is in your hands.
No, Venerable Bharadvaja. A lot of people

are already aware of my psychic powers.
Therefore, you should travel from the

sky with your psychic powers and
take that sandalwood bowl. It
belongs to you!
43
Great Venerable Mugalan, you are
foremost among people with powerful
psychic powers. Therefore, you should
go from the sky and take the bowl.
It is well known. But no one

knows about your psychic
powers.
Venerable Mugalan is right. I should

travel from the sky and win this bowl.
44
Next, Great Arahant

Pindola Bharadvaja
attained a blissful
stage of
concentration and
raised the great
rock that he was
resting on up to the
sky. Then, making
himself invisible, he
moved the rock
seven times around
the Rajagaha city.
How did this

huge rock end
up in the sky?
This is unbelievable!
This will definitely fall
onto our heads
Oh, who will help us!

Is there anyone to
save us?

Right then, Venerable
Bharadvaja revealed
himself so that
everyone there could
see him.
Oh, isn't this our meritorious monk?

Please save us, Venerable Sir. This
rock will land on us any second
now.
Hearing the villagers'

cries, the Great
Arahant raised the
rock up and kicked it.
The rock went flying
back to its original
place instantly!
45

After that, Great Arahant Pindola
Bharadvaja floated in the sky at the
Head Nobleman's palace in the city of
Rajagaha.
46
Oh, Venerable Sir, please have mercy upon
us and come down to the ground.
Accepting the Nobleman's invitation, the Great

Arahant came inside the palace and sat on the
seat prepared for him.
Kolitha, quickly go and bring me the

sandalwood bowl on the top of those
bamboo sticks.
I have found the
person who
deserves it.
Yes, my lord.
47
Having seen these

psychic powers, the
villagers followed
Venerable
Bharadvaja to the
monastery while
cheering and
asking him to show
more psychic
powers.
The Blessed One who was inside the monastery

at that time heard the noise that these people
were making.
Ananda, why
are people
making such a
racket?
Oh, Venerable Sir, Arahant

Bharadvaja has travelled
from the sky and won the
sandalwood bowl from the
Head Nobleman in the city of
Rajagaha.
As a result, the cheering

citizens have followed
venerable Bharadvaja all
the way to the
monastery.
In that case,
please ask
Bharadvaja to
see me.

Bharadvaja, did you travel from the sky to
win the sandalwood bowl from the Head
Nobleman of Rajagaha city?
Baharadvaja, it is an inappropriate thing

that you did. What you did is not suitable
for a monk's life. Showing psychic powers
for a wooden bowl in front of thousands of
people is like an indecent woman selling
her body by revealing her private parts for
money.
48
Yes, dear Blessed One. I did
win that bowl.
What you did will

neither help develop
confidence in those
who lack confidence
nor further develop
confidence in those
who already have
confidence.
Monks, from now on, you should abstain

from displaying the supreme human quality
of psychic powers to lay people. Oh monks,
break that bowl into pieces and use it as an
ointment on the eyes of monks who have
fallen sick.
49
Monks, since the day my son Pindola

Bharadvaja eradicated all defilements and
became an arahant, he went among the
community of monks and did a lion's roar,
asking anyone who have questions about
the fruit or path of stream-entry to clarify it
from him.
Another time he approached me and did a

fearless lion's roar: Oh, Venerable Sir, if
there was something to be accomplished in
this dispensation, I fully accomplished it. I
have finished doing what needs to be done.
Another time, emphasizing his lion's roar, he

traveled in the sky and won the Head
Noblemans sandalwood bowl while being
cheered by the village citizens.
Supreme Buddhas criticize what needs to be

criticized and praises what needs to be
praised. Therefore, this is the right time to
praise my son, Pindola Bharadvaja.
The End

Born to a Brahmin family and having studied the Vedas to the highest
degree, Pindola Bharadvaja became a master to many students just in his
youth. He was a very intelligent person. After listening to the Dhamma from
the Supreme Buddha at the city of Rajagaha, he became ordained in Gautama
Supreme Buddha's dispensation. Accomplishing the real purpose of
monkhood in a very short time, he possessed wonderful psychic powers.
This book contains the amazing life story of Great Arahant Pindola
Bharadvaja who was foremost among monks who were able to teach the
Dhamma by making a lion's roar in Gautama Supreme Buddha's
dispensation.
The beautiful story of Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja is being
presented to you through wonderful pictures by the two devotees
Sumathipala & Jothipala. May those two artists, as well as you the reader be
fortunate to realize the Four Noble Truths through the teaching of Gautama
Supreme Buddha!
With metta in Gautama Supreme Buddha's dispensation

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 Pindola Bharadvaja

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Droits d'auteur :

The Great Arahant Pindola Bharadvaja

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Droits d'auteur :

The Great Arahant

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