On that note, I believe there's a commentarial story about Anāthapindika's daughter who became a sakadāgāmi but was severely distressed over not being able to find a husband that she stopped eating and eventually died? Also, Anāthapindika, meeting his daughter on her deathbed, is unable to recognize her attainment.retrofuturist wrote: Source: (http://nanavira.xtreemhost.com/index.ph ... &Itemid=50" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; )Nanavira Thera wrote:Why am I glad that you are shocked to learn that a sekha bhikkhu can be fond of talk (and worse)? Because it gives me the opportunity of insisting that unless you bring the sekha down to earth the Buddha's Teaching can never be a reality for you. So long as you are content to put the sotāpanna on a pedestal well out of reach, it can never possibly occur to you that it is your duty to become sotāpanna yourself (or at least to make the attempt) here and now in this very life; for you will simply take it as axiomatic that you cannot succeed.
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Edit: Here's the story:
- The son, in spite of his father's efforts, showed no piety until he was finally bribed to go to the vihāra and listen to the Buddha's preaching. The daughters, on the other hand, were most dutiful and helped their father in ministering to the monks. The two elder ones attained to the First Fruit of the Path, married, and went to live with the families of their husbands. Sumanā obtained the Second Fruit of the Path, but remained unmarried. Overwhelmed with disappointment because of her failure in finding a husband, she refused to eat and died and was reborn in Tusita (DhA.i.128f).
Anathapindika
- Anathapindika and Visakha were so intimately acquainted with the
needs of the monks that they were much sought after to accompany
those who desired to carry alms to the monks. When Visakha left her
house, she appointed a granddaughter to dispense alms in her place.
Anathapindika assigned a similar duty to his oldest daughter. The
latter attained the Fruit of Conversion, married, and was succeeded by
a younger sister. She also attained the Fruit of Conversion, married,
and was succeeded by the youngest daughter Sumana. (151)
Sumana attained the Fruit of the Second Path, but remained un-
married. Thereat she sickened, would eat nothing, and sent for her
father. When the latter asked her what was the matter, she addressed
him as "youngest brother," and died. Anathapindika, unable to quiet
his grief, went to the Teacher and told him what had happened.
" Why do you grieve ? " said the Teacher. " Know you not that death
is certain for all V "I know that, Venerable sir ; but my daughter
talked incoherently when she died, addressing me as 'youngest
brother.' " " She spoke quite correctly," replied the Teacher, " for she
had attained the Fruit of the Second Path, while you have attained
only the Fruit of Conversion." 27 Thereupon the Teacher informed
Anathapindika that Sumana had been reborn in the Tusita heaven,
and pronounced Stanza 18, at the conclusion of which many were
established in the Fruits. (151-4)
Buddhaghōṣa's Dhammapada Commentary