WHO ARE OUR ROLE MODELS? - Jivaka Komarabhacca (foremost who people had confidence in, stream entry)

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast.

Role models play an important part in all of our lives, whether we seek them out or not. And whether we walk the Buddhist Path or not, they can have the power to shape the direction we take and the ability to influence the decisions that follow on from there. For Buddhist practitioners, the Buddha is our most eminent role model, teacher and the Perfectly Enlightened One. And there are also many noble and great disciples of the Buddha.

In this session we delve into the story of Jīvaka Komārabhacca, an accomplished lay disciple of the Buddha who was also the physician of the Sangha headed by the Buddha. Due to his skill as a doctor and other good qualities, he was foremost among the Buddha's lay followers who people had confidence in. He also realised the fruit of stream entry despite leading a very busy life.

Jīvaka Komārabhacca's story is a very interesting one. He had plenty of encounters with wealthy merchants, families, kings, the Buddha and the Sangha. His story is inspiring for a number of reasons, including the qualities he demonstrated, his skill at healing, his devotion to the Triple Gem, his good fortune to regularly interact with the Buddha, his influence over some of the Vinaya rules, his Dhamma questions, and his attitude towards wealth. We can learn much from Jīvaka's wonderful example.

Some of the suttas referred to in this Dhamma talk:

• — Chaṭṭhavagga (AN 1.248–257)
• — Sattavagga (AN 1.258-267)
• — Sāmaññavagga (AN 6.128)
• — Cīvarakkhandhaka (Kd 8)
• — Mahakhandhaka (Kd 1)
• — Khuddakavatthukkhandhaka (Kd 15)
• — Sanjiva Jātaka (Ja 150)
• — Saṅkicca Jātaka (Ja 530)
• — Cūḷaseṭṭhi Jātaka (Ja 4)
• — Sattigumba Jataka (Ja 503)
• — Cullahamsa Jataka (Ja 533)
• — Jīvaka Sutta (AN 8.26)
• — Jīvaka Sutta (MN 55)
• — Jīvakapañhavatthu (Dhp 90)
• — Sāmaññaphala Sutta (DN 2),
• — Cūḷapanthakavatthu (Dhp 25),

In learning about such noble beings, we can delight in their lives and accomplishments; recognise the importance of seeing them as worthy role models; and use it as inspiration towards progress on the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path.

Bohoma pin (much merit) to the kalyanamitta who contributed towards producing this Dhamma session. Much mudita.

The video of this talk has been published to the Sutta Meditation YouTube channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDRqTMpdeq8

Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai

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