Early Monastic Buddhism v2.c29.s1.14

v2.c29.s1.14

Buddha indirectly pointed out to his new disciples the preceptor most suited to each in view of his peculiar mental leanings. This practice led to the grouping of students around a teacher or his direct disciples, hence the remark *dhātuso sattā samsandanti samenti*¹ on the principle that like draws like. In the *Samyutta Nikāya*,² we read of ten chief theras, viz. Sāriputta, Moggallāna, Mahākoṭṭhita, etc., each having ten to forty disciples under their tution. Buddha on a certain occasion pointed out that the group of bhikkhus formed round each of these theras was possessed of the same special qualifications that characterised the thera himself. Thus the bhikkhus accompanying Sāriputta were *mahāpaññavantā*, those accompanying Mahāmoggallāna were *mahiddhikā*, those accompanying Mahākassapa were *dhūtavādā*, those accompanying Devadatta were sinfully inclined (*pāpicchā*).