The Conversion Into Buddhism : Conversion of the Kassyapas

Buddha And His Dhamma.

2. Conversion of the Kassyapas

• There lived in Benaras a family known as the Kassyapa family. There were three sons in the family. They were very highly educated and carried on a rigorous religious life. 
• After some time the eldest son thought of taking up Sannyasa. Accordingly he left his home, took Sannyasa and went in the direction of Uruvella where he established his Ashram. 
• His two younger brothers followed him and they too became Sannyasis.
• They were all Agnihotris or worshippers of fire. They were called Jatilas because they kept long hair.
• The three brothers were known as Uruvella Kassyapa, Nadi Kassyapa (Kassyapa of the River, i.e., the Niranjana), and Gaya Kassyapa (of the village Gaya). 
• Of these the Uruvella Kassyapa had a following of five hundred Jatilas ; Nadi Kassyapa had three hundred Jatilas as his disciples and Gaya Kassyapa had two hundred Jatilas. Of these the chief was Uruvella Kassyapa.
• The fame of Uruvella Kassyapa had spread far and wide. He was known to have obtained Mukti (Salvation) while alive. People from far-away places came to his Ashram which was located on the banks of the river Falgu. 
• The Blessed Lord having come to know of the name and fame of Uruvella Kassyapa, thought of preaching his gospel to him and if possible to convert him to his Dhamma. 
• Having come to know of his whereabouts the Blessed Lord went to Uruvella. 
• The Blessed One met him and wanting to have an opportunity to instruct him and convert him, said: "If it is not disagreeable to you, Kassyapa, let me dwell one night in your Ashram."
• "I am not agreeable to this," said Kassyapa. "There is a savage Naga king called Muchalinda who rules over this place. He is possessed of dreadful powers. He is the deadly enemy of all ascetics performing fire worship. He pays nocturnal visits to their Ashrams and does them great harm. I fear he may do you the same harm as he does to me." 
• Kassyapa did not know that the Nagas had become the friends and followers of the Blessed One. But the Blessed One knew it. 
• So the Blessed One pressed for his request, saying : " He is not likely to do any harm to me : pray, Kassyapa, allow me a place in your fire room, for one night." 
• Kassyapa continued to raise many difficulties and the Blessed One continued to press his request. 
• Then Kassyapa said : " My mind desires no controversy, only I have my fears and apprehensions, but follow your own good pleasure." 
• The Blessed Lord forthwith stepped into the fire grove and took his seat. 
• The Naga king Muchalinda came into the room at his usual time. But instead of finding Kassyapa he found the Blessed One seated in his place.
• Muchalinda, seeing the Lord seated, his face glowing with peace and serenity, felt as though he was in the presence of a great divinity, and bending his head, began to worship.
• That night Kassyapa's sleep was very much disturbed by the thought of what might have happened to his guest. So he got up with great misgivings fearing that his guest might have been burnt up. 
• Then Kassyapa and his followers at morning light came one and all to have a look. Far from the Lord injured by Muchalinda, they found Mucha-linda worshipping the Lord. 
• Beholding the scene, Kassyapa felt that he was witnessing a great miracle. 
• Struck by this miracle Kassyapa requested the Blessed Lord to stay near him and make an Ashram, and,promised to look after him. 
• The Blessed Lord agreed to stay on. 
• The two, however, had different motives. Kassyapa's motive was to obtain protection against Muchalinda Naga. The Blessed Lord thought that one day Kassyapa will give him opportunity to propound his gospel.
• But Kassyapa showed no such inclination. He thought that the Blessed Lord was only a miracle maker and nothing more. 
• One day the Blessed Lord thought of himself taking the initiative and asked Kassyapa, "Are you an Arhant? 
• " If you are not an Arhant, what good is this Agnihotra going to do to you ? "
• Kassyapa said: "I do not know what is to be an Arhant ? Will you explain it to me ? " 
• The Lord then told Kassyapa, " An Arhant is one who has conquered all the passions which disturb a man from pursuing the eight-fold Path. Agnihotra cannot cleanse a man of his sins." 
• Kassyapa was a proud person. But he did feel the force of the Blessed Lord's argument. Making his mind pliant and yielding, until at length prepared to be a vehicle of the true law, he confessed that his poor wisdom could not compare with the wisdom of the world-honoured One. 
• And so, convinced at last, humbly submitting, Uruvella Kassyapa accepted the doctrine of the Lord and became his follower.
• Following their master, the followers of Kassyapa, virtuously submissive, in turn received the teaching of the law. Kassyapa and all his followers were thus entirely converted. 
• Uruvella Kassyapa, then, lifting his goods and all his sacrificial vessels, threw them together into the river, which floated down upon the surface of the current. 
• Nadi and Gaya, who dwelt down the stream, seeing these articles of clothing (and the rest) floating along the stream disorderly, said, "These are the belongings of our brother ; why has he thrown them away ? Some great change has happened," and were deeply pained and restless. The two, each with five hundred followers, went up the stream to seek their brother. 
• On seeing him and all his followers now dressed as hermits, strange thoughts engaged their minds and they inquired into the reasons. Uruvella Kassyapa told them the story of his conversion to the Buddha's Dhamma.
• " Our brother having submitted thus, we too should also follow him," they said. 
• They conveyed their wishes to their eldest brother. Then the two brothers, with all their band of followers, were brought to hear the Lord's discourse on the comparison of a fire sacrifice with his own gospel. 
• In his discourse to the two brothers the Blessed Lord said : " The dark smoke of ignorance arises, whilst confused thoughts, like wood drilled into wood, create the fire. 
• " Lust, anger, delusion, these are as fire produced, and these enflame and burn all other things which cause grief and sorrow in the world. 
• " If once this way is found and lust, anger and delusion consumed, then with it is born sight, knowledge and pure conduct. 
• "So when the heart of a man has once conceived distaste for sin, this distaste removes covetous desire, covetous desire extinguished, there is recluse." 
• The great Rishis listening to him, lost all regard for fire worship and wished to be the disciples of the Buddha.
• The conversion of the Kassyapas was a great triumph for the Blessed Lord. For they had a very strong hold on the imagination of the people.

Lord Buddha Statue BodhGaya