Aniruddha: He Lost His Sight, Yet 'Saw' the Entire Universe
Some lessons can only be learned through the most painful means.
Like when a prince dozed off during a lecture and got loudly scolded by his teacher, felt so ashamed he vowed not to sleep for seven days, and ended up completely blind.
This sounds like a foolish story. Who would use such an extreme method to "reflect"?
But this person later became "Foremost in Divine Eye" among the Buddha's Ten Great Disciples, possessing extraordinary insight that could see through everything.
His name is Aniruddha.
He lost his physical vision, but "saw" a world that ordinary people can never perceive.
This is a story about loss and gain, attachment and letting go, darkness and light.
The Sleepy Prince of Luxury
Aniruddha was born into the royal family of Kapilavastu. He was the Buddha's cousin, living a life of luxury from childhood, surrounded by beautiful attendants and pleasant music.
These superior material conditions didn't bring Aniruddha true happiness. He was intelligent, but never thought deeply about life's truth. Lost in sensory pleasures, his heart was empty and confused.
The Buddha's Rebuke: Awakening from Slumber
After the Buddha attained enlightenment, he returned to his hometown to teach the Dharma, and many Śākyan princes successively renounced to follow the Buddha in practice. Aniruddha, also inspired, left home with Ānanda and others.
But after ordination, Aniruddha couldn't immediately change his old habits. He still loved to sleep and often dozed off during the Buddha's teachings.
One time, while the Buddha was teaching the assembly, Aniruddha was nodding off below. The Buddha noticed and stopped his teaching to scold him harshly: "Shame! Why do you sleep? Like snails and clams, once they sleep, they sleep a thousand years, never hearing the Buddha's name!"
The Buddha's rebuke was like a blow to the head. Aniruddha suddenly awakened, utterly ashamed, wishing he could hide in a hole. He realized his drowsiness and laziness not only betrayed the Buddha's teaching but wasted precious time for practice.
Seven Days and Nights: Diligence Bordering on Self-Punishment
To overcome his drowsiness, Aniruddha made a determination. He vowed to the Buddha: he would not sleep for seven days and nights, focusing entirely on meditation.
For the next seven days, Aniruddha fought against sleepiness. He constantly recited sutras, sat in meditation, walked in meditation, trying to stay awake.
But due to prolonged lack of sleep, his body grew weaker and his eyes increasingly painful. His mind grew foggy, his spirit dazed, barely able to hold on. Yet he didn't give up, gritting his teeth and using sheer willpower to fight the urge to sleep.
Blindness and Awakening: Light Within Darkness
On the seventh day, Aniruddha's eyes finally gave out and went completely blind. His world was enveloped in darkness.
But right at the moment of losing his sight, a miracle occurred. In his heart, a ray of light suddenly welled up. His mind felt clearer and brighter than ever before. He could "see" everything clearly, even more distinctly and deeply than before.
This light came not from outside but from within his heart. It was the fruit of his diligent practice, the reward for overcoming drowsiness and transcending darkness. He obtained "divine eye power" and became the Arhat known as "Foremost in Divine Eye."
The World Under Divine Eye: Insight Beyond the Senses
The divine eye power that Aniruddha obtained wasn't vision in the ordinary sense. It was insight that transcended the senses. He could see past, present, and future; he could see beings throughout the three thousand great thousand worlds; he could see their thoughts and afflictions.
He used his divine eye to observe the sufferings of sentient beings and show them the path to liberation. He used it to observe the Buddha's teachings and understand the truth of the Dharma even more deeply.
Aniruddha's divine eye was not only the fruit of his personal practice but also an important treasure of Buddhism. Through his experience, he showed the world: true light isn't in the external environment. It's within our hearts.
The Wisdom of Looking Inward: Practice in Darkness
After going blind, Aniruddha didn't become depressed. Rather, he used his blindness as an opportunity for practice, concentrating even more on inner contemplation.
No longer distracted by external appearances, no longer disturbed by sensory stimulation, his mind became quieter, more focused. Through looking inward, he realized the truth of the Dharma even more deeply.
Aniruddha's practice shows us a unique path: even in darkness, you can find light. Even losing your vision, you can open your wisdom.
Humility and Service: Moving Forward in the Light
Though Aniruddha obtained divine eye power, he never boasted about his supernatural abilities. He always maintained a humble and careful attitude, quietly practicing, quietly benefiting beings.
He often used his divine eye to help other monks solve problems in their practice, guiding them toward liberation. He also taught the Dharma to laypeople, instructing them in methods of cultivation.
Once, being blind, Aniruddha couldn't thread his needle to mend his robe. He murmured to himself: "Would someone please thread my needle?"
The Buddha himself walked over and said: "Let me help you."
Aniruddha was startled: "World-Honored One! You shouldn't do such things. This is something a disciple should do himself."
The Buddha said gently: "Everyone needs opportunities to cultivate merit. Let me do this small thing."
This scene moved everyone present. The Buddha didn't treat Aniruddha specially because of his blindness but served with an equal heart. And Aniruddha didn't feel inferior because of his blindness. He simply accepted this kindness with humility.
Our Light
Aniruddha's story actually answers one question:
When you lose something precious, what do you do?His answer: don't dwell in the sorrow of loss. See the new possibilities that "loss" opens up.
Blindness meant he could no longer rely on physical eyes, but it also forced him to turn inward, ultimately discovering a deeper power.
This doesn't mean that all loss is good. Loss is loss. Nobody wants to experience it.
But if you've already lost something, instead of wallowing in regret, ask yourself: How can I use this difficulty? Might this closed door have opened another window?
Aniruddha went from a drowsy prince to a sage with divine eye. Not "despite" his blindness, but "because of" his blindness, he was forced to walk a deeper path.
True light isn't outside. It's within our hearts.External light may dim with age or changing circumstances.
The light within, as long as you're willing to kindle it, will always be there.
Aniruddha's story teaches us:
Even in the deepest darkness, you can find the brightest light.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Aniruddha called 'Foremost in Divine Eye'?
'Divine eye' is the power of insight that transcends the physical eyes, able to see what ordinary people cannot, regardless of distance, whether past or future, whether the human realm or other worlds. Among the Buddha's disciples, quite a few had the divine eye power, but Aniruddha's was the clearest and most powerful. Ironically, it was only after losing his physical eyesight that he truly developed the divine eye. It's as if to say: when you close one door, another opens. Aniruddha's 'Foremost in Divine Eye' is not just a certification of ability. It's a symbol of breakthrough in adversity.
Why did Aniruddha go blind?
Because he was too attached to 'making amends.' After being publicly scolded by the Buddha, he was extremely ashamed and vowed not to sleep for seven days to prove himself. This diligence was certainly moving, but it also came with excessive self-demand. He used 'punishing himself' to respond to criticism, rather than adjusting his lifestyle more wisely. The Buddha had advised him not to be so extreme, but he didn't listen. As a result, his eyes went blind from excessive fatigue. This lesson teaches us: diligence is good, but it shouldn't become self-torture. Effort is right, but not at the expense of your body.