The Buddha Leaves the Quarrelling Monks and Retires to the Parileyya Forest for the Rainy Season Retreat

Kosambi is one of the main and famous holy cities in Shravatthi, India. On one occasion the Buddha stayed in the city of Kosambi with his disciples to observe the Vas (the rainy season retreat).

During that time unfortunately arose a little incident among the monks regarding the Vinaya and Dhamma. As time passed it gradually increased and led to dissension among the monks of Kosambi and they themselves divided into two groups and followed the Vinaya and Dhamma separately in two ways according to their views and opinions. with some principles. Due to holding and following these fruitless (barren) views and opinions they often created unwholesome thoughts in their minds against each other and eventually it developed into a big quarrel among them. The Buddha had been informed about this by some senior monks and he advised the quarrelling monks to stop the useless quarrelling and arguing on Vinaya and Dhamma. These two groups of monks did not listen to the Buddha’s advice and they continuously pursued the wrong thoughts, quarrelling with each other. But the Buddha knew that one day they would finally understand and realize the barrenness of quarrelling and arguing on the created controversy. So the Buddha gave them time to compromise and he decided to leave the vicinity of the quarrelling monks for a few months until they wisely see and realize the fruitless dispute. The Buddha took only his bowl and robes and without telling anyone he moved on to the great forest, Parileyya all alone for spending the rainy season retreat for three months.

The elephant, Parileyya saw the Buddha entered the forest and it was overjoyed by seeing the physical body of the fully Enlightened One. For a while, Parileyya observed the Buddha’s behaviour, calmness and serenity and approached him boldly paying its great respect and homage as it welcomed the Buddha obediently with enormous reverence. Noticing this elephant’s behaviour and good qualities, the Buddha instantly realized that this elephant was not an ordinary one and it was a Bodhisatta elephant. Forming a mutual understanding, both the Buddha and the elephant Parilieyya spent their lives together with much affection, in the forest. Though the elephant was a beast it provided a comfortable forest abode to the Buddha to spend his time in peace in the middle of the forest. Also, Parileyya protected the Buddha while he was spending time in meditation in and out of the Parileyya cave from each and every disaster in the forest. It dearly and confidently offered alms to the Buddha every day on time with great devotion. In the meantime, a monkey of the forest seeing Parileyya’s offering of food and fruits to the Buddha also offered a honeycomb in faith to the Enlightened One and was over rejoiced by himself.

Eventually, after the death of these beasts, they were instantly reborn in divine realms with a lot of luxuries due to accumulating merits by providing comfortable facilities and offering alms to the Buddha during his retirement in the forest.

Dr. Ven. DodamgodaSumanasaraThero
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences