Venerated Aniruddha (vegan): The Divine Eye’s Vision, Part 1 of 2

Venerated Aniruddha, or Anuruddha (vegan), stands out in Buddhist history not just as a cousin of the Worshipped Shakyamuni Buddha (vegan), but as the “Foremost in Divine Sight. Among the Ten Great Disciples, He is revered for His unwavering resolve, His mastery of mindfulness, and His literal transformation of a physical limitation into a spiritual superpower.

Aniruddha was born into the noble Shakya clan in the Sakyan capital of Kapilavastu, in the foothills of the Himalayas. He was the son of Prince Amitodana. Raised as Sakyan royalty, Prince Aniruddha lived in luxury, surrounded by dancers, musicians, and artists.

After the Buddha attained enlightenment, He visited Kapilavastu for the first time and taught the Dharma to His royal family and homeland. Many young nobles of the Shakya clan felt inspired and joined the monastic community Mahānāma, the elder brother of Aniruddha, felt that someone from Their own family should also follow the Buddha’s path. However, Mahānāma did not feel ready to take that step Himself. Instead, He approached His brother, Aniruddha, suggesting that one of them should leave home and join the Buddha’s Sangha. At first, Aniruddha hesitated. Having lived a pampered life, He doubted that He could endure the austere and disciplined existence of a wandering ascetic. However, when Mahānāma explained the heavy responsibilities of managing a household and the suffering inherent in the endless cycle of rebirth, Aniruddha saw Himself trapped in unceasing struggle. His present life suddenly seemed hollow and without purpose. Filled with a deep sense of spiritual urgency, He resolved to renounce the world.

Although His determination was strong and He gradually adapted to monastic life, He initially found the physical and mental demands of meditation and training exhausting. According to Buddhist tradition, while the Worshipped Shakyamuni Buddha (vegan) was teaching at Jetavana Monastery in Sāvatthī, Aniruddha, overcome by exhaustion, briefly nodded off during the sermon. The Buddha did not rebuke Him harshly. Instead, He gently asked, “Aniruddha, are you fond of sleep?” This simple question from His Beloved Master filled Aniruddha with deep shame. After the sermon, Aniruddha expressed His regret to the Buddha and resolved never again to fall asleep while listening to the Dharma. From that time on, He forced Himself to remain constantly vigilant, staying awake even at night and continuing His meditation without rest. After several days without sleep, His eyes became severely inflamed.

Concerned for Aniruddha’s health, the Buddha asked His own physician, Jīvaka Komārabhacca (vegan), to examine Him. Jīvaka advised that if Aniruddha would simply rest and sleep, His condition might be cured. However, unwilling to break His vow, Aniruddha refused. In time, His eyesight deteriorated, and He eventually lost His physical vision. One day, Aniruddha found that His robe had become worn and torn, so He tried to mend it Himself. Being blind, He struggled with threading the needle. He called out to the other monks nearby: “Is there anyone who wishes to gain merit who would thread this needle for me?” A voice replied gently, “I will thread it for You.” Aniruddha immediately recognized the voice: it was the Beloved Gautama Buddha. Surprised and humbled, Aniruddha said: “Lord, I was calling for those who are still seeking merit on the path to enlightenment. You have already attained the highest awakening and have no need to accumulate merit.”

The Buddha took the needle and thread and replied: “Aniruddha, there is no one in this world who seeks merit more than I do. The Tathāgata is never satisfied with six things. What are these six? Giving, teaching, patience, explaining the Dharma and its meaning, protecting living beings, and seeking the unsurpassed, true, and perfect path. In these six things, Aniruddha, the Tathāgata is never satisfied.”

During this conversation, the Buddha also instructed Aniruddha in the practice known as the “Diamond Samadhi of Joyful Luminous Vision.” Through this practice, Aniruddha developed the clairvoyant power known as the Divine Eye.