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secure, with mind as peaceful as an antelope.”
Of these converts Ananda became the most intimate friend and companion of Gautama and after his death led the band of 500 monks in chanting the TÀ in the council of Rajagriha. Upali, though barber by birth, became an eminent member of the order and his name is often mentioned in connection with the farraf . Devádatta became subsequently the rival and opponent of Gautama and is even said to have advised Ajatashatru, the prince of Magadha, to kill his father Bimbisara and then attempted to kill Gautama himself.
After spending his second pe or rainy season in Rajagriha Gautama repaired to Shravasti, the capital of Koshalas, where Prasenajit reigned as king. A wood called Ficca was presented to the Buddhists and Gautama often repaired and preached there. Gautama's instructions were always delivered orally and preserved in the memory of the people like all the ancient books of India, although writing was known at this time.
The third 27 was also passed in Rajagriha and in the fourth year from the date of proclaiming his creed Gautama crossed the Ganges, went to Vaishali and stopped in the Mahavana grove. Thence he is said to have made a miraculous journey through the air to settle a dispute between the Shakyas and Kolians about the water of the boundary river Rohini. In the following year he again repaired to Kapilavastu and was present at the death of his father, then 97 years old.
His widowed step-mother Prajapati Gautami and his no less widowed wife Yashodhara had now no ties to bind them to the world and insisted on joining the order established by Gautama. The sage had not yet admitted women to the order and was naturally most reluctant to do so. But his mother was inexorable and
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