Foremost in Hearing, Attendant to the Buddha: The Path of Venerable Ānanda

Royal Lineage, Supreme Affinity: A Deep Connection with the Buddha

Venerable Ānanda was born into the royal family of Kapilavastu in ancient India, a cousin of the Buddha. He shared not only a deep blood relationship with the Buddha but also a supreme affinity for the Dharma. When the Buddha, after his enlightenment, returned to his hometown of Kapilavastu to spread the Dharma, Ānanda was inspired by the Buddha and resolutely renounced his royal life to follow the Buddha and become a monk.

Ānanda was handsome and possessed what was said to be the "thirty marks of excellence," making him well-liked by many. However, he was never arrogant because of this; instead, he was humble, eager to learn, and diligent in his practice. He was naturally intelligent with an astonishing memory, earning him the title "Foremost in Hearing." This laid a solid foundation for him to later become the Buddha's attendant and to compile the sutras.

Ānanda's profound connection with the Buddha was no accident. In a past life, Ānanda was also a diligent monk who, along with Śākyamuni Buddha (then a king), made a vow before a Buddha to practice and propagate the Dharma together in a future life. Therefore, in this life, Ānanda was able to become the Buddha's cousin and attendant, assisting the Buddha in spreading the Dharma for the benefit of all beings.

Twenty-Five Years as an Attendant, a Constant Shadow: Learning Directly from the Buddha

After becoming a monk, Ānanda served as the Buddha's attendant for twenty-five years. During this time, he followed the Buddha like a shadow, listening to his teachings, learning his conduct, and becoming one of his closest disciples.

As the Buddha's attendant, Ānanda was devoted and meticulous, taking care of the Buddha's daily life. Wherever the Buddha went, Ānanda was by his side, managing all affairs. He was not only the Buddha's assistant in life but also a capable aide in his mission to spread the Dharma.

More importantly, this period as an attendant was a golden age for Ānanda's own learning and practice. He was able to be near the Buddha every day, listen to his discourses, and firmly commit the Dharma he taught to memory. Due to his extraordinary memory, Ānanda could recite the Buddha's teachings verbatim, earning him the title "Foremost in Hearing."

During his time as an attendant, Ānanda also made some mistakes, such as requesting the Buddha to allow women to be ordained and initially being attached to external appearances, which delayed his enlightenment. However, these experiences became nourishment for his growth, allowing him to more deeply understand the true meaning of the Dharma and making him more humble and cautious.

Compiling the Sutras, an Invaluable Contribution: A Key Figure in the Transmission of the Dharma

After the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, the Sangha held the First Buddhist Council to preserve his teachings. Venerable Ānanda played a crucial role in this council. With his amazing memory, he recited the entirety of the Buddha's teachings from his lifetime. After being verified by the assembly, these recitations were recorded in writing, becoming the earliest Buddhist sutras.

It can be said that without Venerable Ānanda's ability to have "heard much," the Buddha's teachings would not exist as they do today. With his memory, Venerable Ānanda preserved the crystallization of the Buddha's wisdom for future generations, an act of immeasurable merit.

During the compilation of the sutras, Ānanda also demonstrated his humility and wisdom. He was not proud of being "Foremost in Hearing" but humbly accepted the opinions of the assembly to jointly accomplish this great task. His contribution was not only in reciting the scriptures but also in laying a solid foundation for the transmission of the Dharma.

From Hearing to Contemplation, from Contemplation to Practice: The Spiritual Path of Venerable Ānanda

Although Venerable Ānanda was "Foremost in Hearing," he did not stop at the stage of merely "hearing the Dharma." He went further to "contemplate" its meaning and put the Dharma into "practice."

While serving as an attendant, Ānanda constantly asked the Buddha about the meaning of the Dharma, deeply contemplating the principles the Buddha taught. He not only remembered the Buddha's teachings but, more importantly, understood their essence.

After the Buddha's parinirvāṇa, Ānanda felt a great sense of loss and became even more diligent in his practice. He worked hard to overcome his inner afflictions, focused on meditation, and finally, on the eve of the First Buddhist Council, he attained the fruit of Arhatship, completing his transformation from an ordinary being to a sage.

Venerable Ānanda's spiritual path exemplifies the importance of "hearing, contemplating, and practicing." "Hearing" is the foundation of practice, "contemplating" is the deepening of practice, and "practicing" is the implementation of practice. Only through hearing, contemplating, and practicing can one truly understand the Dharma, integrate it into one's life, and ultimately achieve liberation.

Gentle and Humble, Building Good Affinities: The Personal Qualities of Venerable Ānanda

Venerable Ānanda was not only an outstanding practitioner but also a sage of noble character. He was gentle, humble, and friendly, building good affinities with others, and was deeply loved and respected by the Sangha.

Ānanda had a gentle personality and did not argue with people, always giving and contributing silently. He greatly respected the elders and fellow practitioners in the Sangha, humbly learning from their strengths. He was also full of compassion for the lay followers, patiently answering their questions and guiding them on the right path.

It was because of Ānanda's gentleness and humility that he was able to live in harmony with the Sangha and gain their trust and support during the compilation of the sutras. His personal charm also added luster to the propagation of the Dharma.

Awakening Wisdom through Hearing, the Dharma Lamp Burns Eternally

The story of Venerable Ānanda's cultivation is a model of hearing, contemplating, and practicing to achieve realization. He started with "hearing much," delved into the meaning of the Dharma through "contemplation," and finally attained the holy fruit through "practice." His experience tells us the importance of hearing the Dharma, the necessity of contemplation, and the practicality of cultivation. In this age of information explosion, we should learn from the spirit of Venerable Ānanda, to learn broadly, think deeply, and implement the Dharma in our lives, letting the light of wisdom illuminate our lives and allowing the lamp of the Dharma to be passed on forever. Let us emulate Venerable Ānanda, practice diligently, benefit all beings, and walk together on the path to enlightenment.