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Content Created: 2007-03-23 File last modified: Go to Arhat Number 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 |
The last of the disciples recruited by the Buddha in this life was Sūpín-tuó 苏频陀, who always kept the name of the Buddha in his heart.
He came to the Buddha when the Buddha was dying, and when his disciples sought to protect him from the pressures of new seekers hoping to learn a last bit of wisdom from him. But Sūpín-tuó was unusually persistent, desperate to find enlightenment, as a person might be desperate to breathe when held under water. And at length he was allowed to see the Buddha, and to become his very last disciple on this earth. (For more, see chapter 29 of the Life of the Buddha.)
Sūpín-tuó is usually shown holding a pagoda, and so he is called “The Arhat Who Holds a Pagoda.” Sometimes he is represented with an alms-bowl and incense-vase beside him, holding a scripture in his left hand, and snapping the fingers of his right hand to show how quickly he attained enlightenment.
He is said to have had 800 lesser arhats under his authority.
