Dictionary of Pali Proper Names v1.c15.82

v1.c15.82

Ghositārāma.—A monastery in Kosambī, built by Ghosita (Ghosaka, q.v.) for the use of the Buddha and the monks. The Buddha often stayed there during his visits to Kosambī and numerous incidents are mentioned in the books in connection with the monastery. It was because of a dispute between two monks of the Ghositārāma, one expert in the Vinaya and one in the Dhamma, that the first schism arose in the Order, driving the Buddha himself to seek quiet in the Pārileyyaka forest.¹ Even at other times the Buddha seems to have sought solitude in this forest during his sojourns at the Ghositārāma.² It was here that the Buddha decreed the ukkhepaniyakamma for Channa, who refused to acknowledge and atone for his offences,³ and here that he laid down the procedure in that connection to be followed. Devadatta was at Ghositārāma when he first conceived the idea of using Ajātasattu for his own ends.⁴ The Buddha was there at the time and it is said that the devaputta Kakudha appeared before Mahāmoggallāna to warn him of Devadatta's schemes. The information was reported to the Buddha, who warned Moggallāna not to pass it on to others. The Buddha then proceeded to tell Moggallāna of the five kinds of teachers which appear in the world.⁵ Ānanda is several times spoken of as staying in the Ghositārāma, sometimes with the Buddha, sometimes alone. On one such occasion he asks the Buddha why women should suffer from certain disabilities as compared with men.⁶ And again,⁷ what are the circumstances which conduce to ease (phāsuvihāra) in the case of monks? Could it be said of a follower of the Buddha that his attainments depend on the length of time during which he has observed the Buddha's teachings? Once Ānanda visits,⁸ at her request, a nun living near by reported to be ill and enamoured of him. The mere sight of him causes her recovery, but he preaches to her on the impermanent nature of the body and makes her realise the truth.⁹ Among those who visit Ānanda at the Ghositārāma and discuss various matters with him are mentioned Ghosita (S. iv. 113), Unṇābha (S. v. 271 f.), a householder, follower of the Ājīvikas (A. i. 217 f.), and Bhaddaji A. iii. 202). Udāyi twice visits him there, once to ask for a description of consciousness (S. iv. 169 f.), and again to quote a verse uttered by Pañcālacanda devaputta and to ask Ānanda to explain it (A. iv. 449). We find him also joining in a discussion which ensued on a sermon to the monks by Ānanda (A. iv. 426 f.). Udāyi preached to large audiences at the Ghositārāma and was evidently appreciated, for we find Ānanda reporting it to the Buddha and being told that it is no easy matter to preach to a large assembly with acceptance (A. iii, 184 f.). The Yuganaddha Sutta is a discourse preached by Ānanda to the monks at the Ghositārāma of his own accord (A. ii. 156 f.). Channa is several times mentioned in connection with incidents taking place at the Ghositārāma. Mention has already been made of the ukkhepaniyakamma declared on him. A devoted householder,¹⁰ wishing to build a vihāra for him, asked him for a site. Channa started cutting down trees and other things, in order to clear the site, and this led to great uproar. On another occasion he is reported to the Buddha for refusing to listen to his colleagues and the Buddha chides him.¹¹ It was when Channa was at the Ghositārāma that Ānanda came, at the bidding of the monks, to inflict on him the brahmadanda.¹²