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CONVERSION OF THE HIGH AND THE HOLY
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triumph for the Blessed Lord. For they had a very strong hold on the imagination of the people.
§ 3. Conversion of Sariputta and Moggallana
While the Blessed Lord was in Rajagraha there resided a well-known person by name Sanjaya with a great retinue of Parivrajakas numbering about two hundred and fifty as his disciples.
Among his disciples were Sariputta and Moggallana—two young Brahmins.
Sariputta and Moggallana were not satisfied with the teachings of Sanjaya and were in search of something better.
Now one day the venerable Assaji, one of the Panchvargiya Bhikkus, in the forenoon, having put on his under-robes, and having taken his alms bowl and outer robe, entered the city of Rajagraha for alms.
Sariputta was observing the dignified deportment of Assaji and was struck by it. On seeing the venerable Assaji, Sariputta thought, “Indeed this person is one of those monks who are the worthy ones in the world. What if I were to approach this monk and to ask him : ‘In whose name, friend, have you retired from the world ? Who is your teacher ? Whose Dhamma do you profess?’”
Now Sariputta thought : “This is not the time to ask this monk ; he has entered the inner yard of a house for alms. What if I were to follow this monk step by step, according to the course recognized by those who want something ?”
And the venerable Assaji, having finished his alms pilgrimage through Rajagraha, went back with the food he had received. Then Sariputta went to the place where the venerable Assaji was ; having approached him, he exchanged greetings and with complaisant words, he stood at his side.
Standing at his side the wandering ascetic Sariputta said to the venerable Assaji : “Your countenance, friend, is serene ; your complexion is
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