Buddhist Period Conversion of The Great Personalities into Buddhism : Conversion of Yashas

Conversion of The Great Personalities into Buddhism.

1. Conversion of Yashas

• There lived in the town of Benares a nobleman's son called Yashas. He was young in years and very attractive in appearance. He was beloved of his parents. He lived in abounding wealth. He had a big retinue and a large harem and passed his time in nothing but dancing, drinking and carnal pleasures. 
• As time past, a feeling of disgust came over him. How could he escape from this orgy? Was there any better way of life than the way he was leading ? Not knowing what to do, he decided to leave his father's house.
• One night he left his father's house and was wandering about; He happened to wend his way towards Isipathana.
• Feeling tired he sat down and as he was seated he said to himself in loud tones: ' Where am I, what is the way ? Alas! What distress; alas! What danger! ' 
• This happened on the night of the same day on which the Blessed One preached his first sermon to the Panchavargiya Bhikkus at Isipathana. Just when Yashas was approaching Isipathana, the Blessed One who was staying at Isipathana, having arisen at dawn, was walking up and down in the open. air. And the Blessed One saw Yashas, the noble youth coming from after giving utterance to his feelings.
• And the Blessed One having heard his cry of distress, said: " There is no distress, there is no danger. Come, I will show you the way, " and the Blessed Lord preached his gospel to Yashas. 
• And Yashas, when he heard it, became glad and joyful; and he put off his gilt slippers, and went and sat down near the Blessed One and respectedly saluted him. 
• Yashas hearing the Buddha's words, requested the Blessed One to take him as his disciple. 
• Then he bade him come and asked him to be a Bhikku to which Yashas agreed.
• The parents of Yashas were in great distress on finding that their son had disappeared. The father started in search. Yashas's father passed by the same spot where the Lord and Yashas in the Bhikku's garb were seated, and in passing, he asked the Blessed One: " Pray, have you seen Yashas, my son ? " 
• The Lord replied : " Come in. Sir, you will find your son." He went in and sat near his son but he knew him not. 
• The Lord explained to him how Yashas met him and how on hearing him he became a Bhikku. The father then recognised his son and was happy his son had chosen the right path. 
• " My son, Yashas," said the father, " your mother is absorbed in lamentations and grief. Return home and restore your mother to life."
• Then Yashas looked at the Blessed One, and the Blessed One said to Yashas's father, "Is that your wish that Yashas should return to the world and enjoy the pleasures of a worldly life as he did before ? " 
• And Yasha's father replied : " If Yashas, my son, finds it a gain to stay with you, let him stay." Yashas preferred to remain a Bhikku. 
• Before departing Yashas's father said: " May the Blessed One, 0 Lord, consent to take his meal at my home with the members of my family." 
• The Blessed One, having donned his robes, took his alms bowl and went with Yashas to the house of his father.
• When they arrived there, they met the mother and also the former wife of Yashas. After the meal the Blessed One preached to the members of the family his doctrine. They became very happy and promised to take refuge in it. 
• Now there were four friends of Yashas belonging to the wealthy family of Benares. Their names were Vimala, Subahu, Punyajit and Gavampati. 
• When Yashas's friends learned that Yashas had taken refuge in the Buddha and his Dhamma they felt that what is good for Yashas must be good for them. 
• So they went to Yashas and asked him to approach the Buddha on their behalf to receive them as his disciples. 
• Yashas agreed and he went to the Buddha, saying: " May the Blessed One preach the Dhamma to these four friends of mine." The Lord agreed and Yashas's friends took refuge in the Dhamma.

Jihonika Maitreya