Anguttara Nikaya (Numerical discourses)
XII. ASPIRING
130 (1)
“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhu endowed with faith, rightly aspiring, should aspire thus: ‘May I become like Sāriputta and Moggallāna!’ This is the standard and criterion 319 for my bhikkhu disciples, that is, Sāriputta and Moggallāna.”
131 (2)
“Bhikkhus, a bhikkhunī endowed with faith, rightly aspiring, should aspire thus: ‘May I become like the bhikkhunīs Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā!’ This is the standard and criterion for my bhikkhunī disciples, that is, the bhikkhunīs Khemā and Uppalavaṇṇā.”320
132 (3)
“Bhikkhus, a male lay follower endowed with faith, rightly aspiring, should aspire thus: ‘May I become like Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Āḷavī!’ This is the standard and criterion for my male lay disciples, that is, Citta the householder and Hatthaka of Āḷavī.”321
133 (4)
“Bhikkhus, a female lay follower endowed with faith, rightly aspiring, should aspire thus: ‘May I become like the female lay followers Khujjuttarā and Veḷukaṇṭakī Nandamātā!’ [89] This is the standard and criterion for my female lay disciples, that is, the female lay followers Khujjuttarā and Veḷukaṇṭakī Nandamātā.
for topic on khujjuttara Khujjuttarā: foremost learned laywoman
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These books are often overlooked.
theragāthā
therïgāthā
Also there is the story and many people don’t know the original names of the chief disciples: Upatissa, Kolita
I recently used this famous quote in my research paper connecting the vinaya to the dhamma (that is why I have been busy elsewhere).
The reason why many people mistakenly believe that the dhamma and vinaya are separate is because the masses are usually not as educated on the subject of Theravāda. A teacher named Sañjaya was a well known teacher at the time, and even a teacher of our two great disciples, Venerable Mahāmoggalāna and Venerable Sāriputta when they were lay people. Our two great teachers reached the first stages of enlightenment (stream winner) and decided their teacher Sañjaya would easily learn, so they invited him to go along with them to finish their training with the Buddha. However, Sañjaya already had a great following and although he could see the rarity and great wisdom of the arisen Buddha in the world, he declined. He said a most famous quote to our two great venerables, still useful to be heard today.
“Friends, which are more numerous in this world, the stupid or the wise?”
“Teacher, the stupid are many, the wise are few.”
“Well then, friends, let the wise men go to the wise ascetic Gotama, and let the stupid come to stupid me. You may go, but I shall not go.” (Ancient Buddhist Texts, n.d.)
You can use this quote in many situations like, “How big is classicalTheravada compared to other groups?”
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Its kinda a strange paradox in the “early” texts that they mention important things like the chief disciples and kasinas. But hardly ever have any information about them unless you go to “late” texts or commentaries.
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