In some Buddhas’ dispensation, chief disciples were the first to awaken and ordain so they were the most senior disciples. In other Buddhas’ dispensation, million of disciples awakened and ordained before the chief disciples. In the current Buddha’s dispensation, the chief disciples awakened and ordained after many other Arahants. My question is when the Buddha and the Sangha go for alms round, can chief disciples walk right behind the Buddha and in front of other monks even if they ordain after them?
I know seniority in the current Buddha’s dispensation is based on who ordained earlier, but was the seniority based on position in previous Dispensations where there were millions of Arahants because if even the chief disciples ordained after them, I doubt they would have to pay homage to all of them or be behind them on almsround because the chief disciples are the Buddha’s left and right hand disciples.
If chief disciples have to pay homage to those who ordained before them, do they only have to pay homage to great disciples who ordained before them and not to disciples who aren’t part of the 80 great disciples?
Im not sure about how much seniority matters for alms round. But in terms of general courtesy, even Sariputta and Moggallana would still refer to monks more senior than them as “Bhante” (elder) and the more senior monks would call the chief disciples “Avuso” (younger).
Thank you for taking the time to answer. Correct me if I’m wrong, but before the Buddha’s Parinibbana, I think monks mostly referred to each other as avuso regardless of their seniority.
yo vo, ānanda, mayā dhammo ca vinayo ca desito paññatto, so vo mamaccayena satthā.
The Dhamma and the Vinaya that I have taught and laid down for you, Ānanda, will be your Teacher after my passing.
yathā kho panānanda, etarahi bhikkhū aññamaññaṃ āvusovādena samudācaranti, na kho mamaccayena evaṃ samudācaritabbaṃ. And, Ānanda, just as bhikkhus address each other with the term ‘āvuso’ (friend) now, they should not address each other in that way after my passing.
theratarena, ānanda, bhikkhunā navakataro bhikkhu nāmena vā gottena vā āvusovādena vā samudācaritabbo.
A senior bhikkhu, Ānanda, should address a junior bhikkhu by name, by clan, or by the term ‘āvuso’.
navakatarena bhikkhunā therataro bhikkhu ‘bhante’ti vā ‘āyasmā’ti vā samudācaritabbo.
A junior bhikkhu should address a senior bhikkhu as ‘bhante’ (Venerable Sir) or ‘āyasmā’ (Venerable).
Seniority is the most genius form of organisation ..you can put 1000 monks and nuns in a Stadion .and in a very short time we would find our place…I experienced it several times in crowds of monastics ( not 1000)and it always worked very well…
)and it always worked very well…