SuttaCentral
Hi friends,
I am looking for specific examples from suttas where Buddha travels to just one particular person (or being) and offers them a targeted teaching specifically tailored to their understanding. I know there is at least one instance, but I cannot recall it now. In my investigation this has been a very inspiring theme. Thanks, may you be well.
Hi mheadley,
Welcome to the D&D forum! We hope you enjoy the various resources, FAQs, and previous threads. You can use the search function for topics and keywords you are interested in. Forum guidelines are here: Forum Guidelines. May some of these resources be of assistance along the path.
If you have any questions or need further clarification regarding anything, feel free to contact the moderators by including @moderators in your post or a PM.
Regards,
trusolo (on behalf of the moderators)
How about MN62, The Longer Advice to Rāhula - there is no specific traveling mentioned there but the advice is to one person.
Alone, he traveled to the forests where Angulimala dwelt. MN86
Apart from those that have already been mentioned:
So you are looking for suttas only where he travels? sn22.84 he is helping one monk, but the monk is brought to him.
an6.55 the Buddha travels to Ven. Soṇa.
SN 21.1 Kolita, SN 40.1 Savitakka, AN 7.61 Pacalāyana are about the Buddha helping Ven. Moggallana.
SN 22.87 Vakkali the Buddha goes but not using psychic powers. SN 35.74 Paṭhama Gilāna, SN 35.75 Dutiya Gilāna are similar, with unnamed monks.
AN 8.30 Anuruddha is also quite famous.
You can find these in the CIPS under Buddha, the and look for the various “visiting” sub entries. (note: may not work on mobile or old devices)
Ambalaṭṭhikā Rāhulovāda Sutta (MN 61) to Bhante Rahula
Cūḷa Rāhulovāda Sutta (MN 147) Buddha helping Rahula achieving Arahantship.
Quote : "I have heard that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying near Sāvatthī in Jeta’s Grove, Anāthapiṇḍika’s monastery. Then, as he was alone in seclusion, this line of thinking arose in the Blessed One’s awareness: “The mental qualities that ripen in release have ripened in Rāhula. What if I were to lead Rāhula further to the ending of the effluents?”
Dhātuvibhaṅgasutta MN140 which Buddha travelled specifically to help former King Pukkusati to learn Dhamma before his demise.
Welcome @mheadley .
Dharmapada 203 commentary: https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/dhammapada-illustrated/d/doc1084415.html
“Hunger is the greatest ill”.
The Buddha, foreseeing that a poor man would attain sotāpatti fruition, traveled to the village of Ālavi, thirty yojanas away. However, the man was busy searching for his lost oxen and arrived at the gathering exhausted and hungry. Understanding that hunger would prevent him from fully absorbing the Dhamma, the Buddha asked the donors to feed him before delivering his teaching. After hearing the discourse on the Four Noble Truths, the man attained sotāpatti fruition. The Buddha explained to the monks that he had traveled such a long distance because he knew the man was ready to receive the Dhamma.
https://www.wisdomlib.org/buddhism/book/the-buddha-and-his-teachings/d/doc118511.html
The Forenoon Session
Usually early in the morning he surveys the world with his divine eye to see whom he could help. If any person needs his spiritual assistance, uninvited he goes, often on foot, sometimes by air using his psychic powers, and converts that person to the right path.
As a rule he goes in search of the vicious and the impure, but the pure and the virtuous come in search of him.
For instance, the Buddha went of his own accord to convert the robber and murderer Aṇgulimāla and the wicked demon Áḷavaka, but pious young Visākhā, generous millionaire Anāthapiṇḍika, and intellectual Sāriputta and Moggallāna came up to him for spiritual guidance.
While rendering such spiritual service to whomsoever it is necessary, if he is not invited to partake of alms by a lay supporter at some particular place, he, before whom kings prostrated themselves, would go in quest of alms through alleys and streets, with bowl in hand, either alone or with his disciples.
Does anyone know how this kind of happening is called in the texts?