This reminds me of the story of Venerable Arahant Nanda, half-brother of Lord Buddha. Do you know how Lord Buddha convinced him to become an arahant??? He promised that if he became an arahant, he would give him many maiden devis as his wives from Sakka’s Harem. I was confused and laughed while reading this. How can a Lord Buddha promise sensual pleasures in exchange for Nibbana?? However, if we analyze it clearly, he has a trap. An arahant will NOT crave anything!!! Venerable Nanda did not seem to understand this.
All this to say that he has unusual methods of teaching the Dhamma!! Jethavaranama Buddhist Monastery uses a particular method too.
Then the Buddha took Nanda by the arm and, as easily as a strong person would extend or contract their arm, vanished from Jeta’s Grove and reappeared among the gods of the thirty-three.
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ bāhāyaṁ gahetvā—seyyathāpi nāma balavā puriso samiñjitaṁ vā bāhaṁ pasāreyya, pasāritaṁ vā bāhaṁ samiñjeyya; evamevaṁ—jetavane antarahito devesu tāvatiṁsesu pāturahosi.
Now at that time five hundred dove-footed nymphs had come to attend to Sakka, the lord of gods.
Tena kho pana samayena pañcamattāni accharāsatāni sakkassa devānamindassa upaṭṭhānaṁ āgatāni honti kakuṭapādāni.
Then the Buddha said to Nanda,
Atha kho bhagavā āyasmantaṁ nandaṁ āmantesi:
“Nanda, do you see these five hundred dove-footed nymphs?”
“passasi no tvaṁ, nanda, imāni pañca accharāsatāni kakuṭapādānī”ti?
“Yes, sir,” he replied.
“Evaṁ, bhante”ti.
“What do you think, Nanda? Who is more attractive, good-looking, and lovely—the finest lady of the Sakyan land, or these five hundred dove-footed nymphs?”
“Taṁ kiṁ maññasi, nanda, katamā nu kho abhirūpatarā vā dassanīyatarā vā pāsādikatarā vā, sākiyānī vā janapadakalyāṇī, imāni vā pañca accharāsatāni kakuṭapādānī”ti?
“Compared to these five hundred dove-footed nymphs, the finest lady of the Sakyan land is like a deformed monkey with its ears and nose cut off.
“Seyyathāpi, bhante, paluṭṭhamakkaṭī kaṇṇanāsacchinnā;
She doesn’t count, there’s no comparison, she’s not worth a fraction.
evamevaṁ kho, bhante, sākiyānī janapadakalyāṇī imesaṁ pañcannaṁ accharāsatānaṁ upanidhāya saṅkhyampi nopeti kalabhāgampi nopeti upanidhimpi nopeti.
These five hundred dove-footed nymphs are far more attractive, good-looking, and lovely.”
Atha kho imāni pañca accharāsatāni abhirūpatarāni ceva dassanīyatarāni ca pāsādikatarāni cā”ti.
“Rejoice, Nanda, rejoice!
“Abhirama, nanda, abhirama, nanda.
I guarantee you five hundred dove-footed nymphs.”
Ahaṁ te pāṭibhogo pañcannaṁ accharāsatānaṁ paṭilābhāya kakuṭapādānan”ti.
“If, sir, you guarantee me five hundred dove-footed nymphs, I shall happily lead the spiritual life under the Buddha.”
“Sace me, bhante, bhagavā pāṭibhogo pañcannaṁ accharāsatānaṁ paṭilābhāya kakuṭapādānaṁ, abhiramissāmahaṁ, bhante, bhagavati brahmacariye”ti.
- Venerable Nanda became arahant after that ! He refuses to have them.
- A Lord Buddha can reveal Nibbāna in any unusual situation if a person has the merits to comprehend it. This is why he is referred to as the Supreme Master. While the disciples of Lord Buddha do so to a lesser degree. The Triple Gem is truly immeasurable.