The Wealthy Man Sudatta

Daily Wisdom

From the Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
Sunday, August 19, 2012:

During [Sudatta's] last period of poverty, when all the people had fled or perished and only he and his wife remained, they had five measures of rice that would nourish them for five days. At that time, five people—Mahakashyapa, Shariputra, Ananda, Rahula and Shakyamuni Buddha—came one after another to beg for the five measures of rice, which Sudatta gave them. From that day on, Sudatta was the wealthiest man in all India, and he built the Jetavana Monastery. From this, you should understand all things.

The Wealthy Man Sudatta
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on December 27, 1280

The Wealthy Man Sudatta and his offerings

During [Sudatta's] last period of poverty, when all the people had fled or perished and only he and his wife remained, they had five measures of rice that would nourish them for five days. At that time, five people—Mahakashyapa, Shariputra, Ananda, Rahula and Shakyamuni Buddha—came one after another to beg for the five measures of rice, which Sudatta gave them. From that day on, Sudatta was the wealthiest man in all India, and he built the Jetavana Monastery. From this, you should understand all things. 19/8

The Writings of Nichiren Daishonin
The Wealthy Man Sudatta
Written to Nanjo Tokimitsu on December 27, 1280