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First Study: The Story of Ananda
He who would honor and respect with food, drink, and adornments of fragrant flowers and garlands, would place his eldest son in charge of his family, friends, relatives, and servants, and would then, after informing his friends, relatives, and servants, go to the assembly of the Kolla people and stay in the Posahasala, having received the Dharma-Pannatti from the Bhagavan Mahavira. Thus, he would fulfill his obligations. He would fulfill his obligations, just as a large field is filled with flowers, and he would honor and respect with fragrant flowers and garlands. Having honored and respected, he would place his eldest son in charge of his family, friends, relatives, and servants, and would then say to his son, "My son, I have many things to do in the city of Vanijyagrama, and I am not able to follow the Dharma-Pannatti of the Bhagavan Mahavira. Therefore, I am leaving you in charge of the family, and I will go to the assembly of the Kolla people and stay in the Posahasala, having received the Dharma-Pannatti from the Bhagavan Mahavira."
After that, the Shramanopasaka Ananda spent fourteen years cultivating his soul through various vows, virtues, restraints, renunciations, and fasts. When half of the fifteenth year had passed, one night after midnight, while engaged in Dharma-Jagaran, Ananda had a thought, a desire, a feeling, or a resolve: "In the city of Vanijyagrama, there are many Mandalik Narapatis, wealthy and influential men, and I have many things to ask them and seek their advice. I am the [head, leader, and] support of my entire family. Because of these distractions and obstacles, I am not able to fully follow the Dharma-Pannatti, the Dharma-teaching, that I have received from the Bhagavan Mahavira. Therefore, it is best for me to [wait until tomorrow morning, when the blue and other lotuses have blossomed in their beautiful forms, when the sun has risen, illuminating the world with its brilliance, and the red Ashoka, Kinshuku, parrot's beak, and half-Dhungachi-colored red glow has awakened the lotus forest, and the sun, with its thousand rays, has risen, illuminating the world with its brilliance], prepare a large amount of food, drink, and delicacies, and invite my friends, relatives, family members, and servants to eat. I will honor and respect them with clothes, fragrant substances, garlands, and ornaments, and I will place my eldest son in charge of the family, friends, relatives, and servants."