Punna
Pūrṇa Maitrāyanīputra (Sanskrit; Pali: Puṇṇa Mantānīputta, Chinese: 富楼那弥多罗尼子; pinyin: fùlóunàmíduōluónízǐ), also simply known as Pūrṇa (Sanskrit; Pali: Puṇṇa), was an arhat and one of the ten principal disciples of Gautama Buddha, foremost in preaching the dharma.
Venerable Puṇṇa | |
|---|---|
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| Personal | |
| Born | Mantaniputta |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Lineage | Brahmin |
| Occupation | bhikkhu |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Buddha |
Life
Puṇṇa Mantānīputta was born in Donavatthu, near Kapilavatthu, in a family of brahmins. His mother was Mantānī (or Maitrāyanī), sister of Ven. Añña Koṇḍañña, who became Ven. Puṇṇa's teacher. Ven. Ānanda, after his first rain retreat, mentions him as a great influence in the Ānandasuttaṃ. He says that thanks to him he was able to become a sotāpanna.[1]
Ven. Sāriputta hears about Ven. Puṇṇa for the first time through a conversation between the Tathāgata and a group of shakyans who praised him. Then Ven. Sāriputta has the chance to meet Ven. Puṇṇa at Sāvatthī, where he asks Ven. Puṇṇa about the dharma without revealing his identity. As part of his answer, Ven. Puṇṇa uses the analogy of the relay chariots in the Rathavīnitasuttaṃ. Then both reveal their names. Ven. Puṇṇa says he is called Puṇṇa, but known as Mantāniputta by his companions in the holy life, and Ven. Sāriputta says his name is Upatissa, but that he's known by his companions in the holy life as Sāriputta. They both praise one another.[2][3]
Other bhikkhus called Puṇṇa
Puṇṇa Sunāparantaka
The Ven. Puṇṇa addressed to in the Puṇṇasuttaṃ is, according to the commentaries, Ven. Puṇṇa Sunāparantaka, a vaishya merchant native of Sunāparanta, who became a bhikkhu after listening to the Buddha as he passed through Sāvatthī on one of his travels. When asked by the Buddha what he would think if people were to assault or kill him, each time Puṇṇa Sunāparantaka explained how he would find himself fortunate. As a result, the Buddha commended Puṇṇa Sunāparantaka on his self-control and peacefulness. Puṇṇa Sunāparantaka went on to establish a thousand lay followers in the Buddha's teaching. Upon Sunāparantaka's death, the Buddha discerned that he had attained final Nibbana.[4]
References
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2013-11-30). "Ananda Sutta: Ananda (SN 22.83)". Access to Insight (BCBS Edition). Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- Nyanaponika Thera & Hellmuth Hecker (1997). Bhikkhu Bodhi (ed.). Great Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy. Massachusetts: Wisdom publications. ISBN 0-86171-381-8.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (2013-11-30). "Ratha-vinita Sutta: Relay Chariots (MN 24)". Access to Insight (BCBS Edition). Retrieved 2019-08-13.
- Thanissaro Bhikkhu (1997). "Punna Sutta: To Punna (SN 35.88". Retrieved 2019-08-13.
Bibliography
- Bhikkhu Bodhi (2000). The Connected Discourses of the Buddha: A Translation of the Samyutta Nikaya. Boston: Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-331-1.
