Sariputta

Sāriputta

Biographical Fact Checked against Canonical Commentaries & Epigraphy

Biography & Historical Significance

Sariputta was considered the foremost disciple of the Buddha in wisdom (pañña) and was often called the 'General of the Dhamma'. Along with Moggallana, he was one of the two chief disciples. Before meeting the Buddha, he was a wandering ascetic seeking truth alongside Moggallana. Upon hearing a single verse of Dhamma from the monk Assaji, he attained the first stage of enlightenment and subsequently became a monk.

Sariputta excelled in systematic exposition of the Dhamma and was instrumental in establishing the Abhidhamma — the Buddhist analysis of mind and reality. He passed away just weeks before the Buddha's own Parinirvana.

Source References (IDs): [2,4]

Key Associated Historical Events

0527-01-01

Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana

Sariputta attained the first stage of stream-entry (sotapatti) upon hearing just one verse of Dhamma from the monk Assaji: "Of things that arise from causes, the Tathagata has explained the causes, and also the cessation — thus the Great Recluse teaches." He immediately shared this with his companion Moggallana, and both became monks. They became the two chief disciples of the Buddha.

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Written by Tathagat Platform

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