Early Monastic Buddhism v1.c14.s1.2

v1.c14.s1.2

Buddha’s ministration commenced with the conversion of two foreign traders Trapusa and Bhallika who were travelling with a caravan along the trade-route from Dakkhiṇāpatha to Ukkala a town in the kingdom of Gandhāra. Their conversion at Uruvela was later on commemorated by the erection of stūpas in their native villages in Gandhāra.¹ Buddha after enlightenment turned his thoughts first to his comrades in asceticism then residing at Isipatana near Benares. He started from Uruvela and passed through Gayā, Aparagayā and reached Vaśālā where he was invited to a meal by a *huhuṅka* brāhmaṇa to whom he pointed out as to what made a true brāhmaṇa and tried to convert him to Buddhism. Thence he passed through Cundadvīlam and Sārathipura, crossed the Ganges and reached Benares.¹ Here at Isipatana he visited his five comrades who would not accept Buddha’s arguments regarding the futility of extreme self-mortifications in taking them to their spiritual goal. Their conviction had to be slowly overcome by Buddha through teachings from day to day impressing upon their minds the impermanence of all worldly things. They were enjoined to live as recluses, practising *jhānas* and self-control.² It was for them that he delivered his famous discourse, the *Dhammacakka-pavattana* which is believed to have embodied truths found by Buddha under the Bodhi tree. It explains the *majjhimā paṭipadā* or in other words, perfection in the *śīlas*, practice of control over *citta* which included *dhyāna*, and attainment of *paññā* or true knowledge. The other discourse delivered to them was *Anattasutta* showing the essencelessness of the five *khandhas*. The result of the discourses, of course, was the conversion of the five brāhmaṇas, and their admission into the Saṅgha.