Millionaire Enlightened Daughters

The millionaire Buddhist Anathapindika ("one who feeds the needy") was married and had daughters. He was very devoted to the Buddha -- his chief patron -- and would often visit him to discuss the Dharma.

Before passing away, he attained stream-entry (the first of four progressive stages of enlightenment). Three of his daughters, while living at home, attained this distinction in purification earlier. Here is the astounding story of the millionaire's family.

Three Daughters
Adapted from Hellmuth Hecker (BPS, accesstoinsight.org)

Anathapindika was happily married. His wife, Puññalakkhana ("one who has the mark of merit") lived up to her name. As the good spirit of the house, she took care of the servants and of the monastics who came for alms at midday. She was devoted to the Dharma ("Teaching"). Through her brother, who had been one of the first lay disciples of the Buddha, she had become familiar with it.

Anathapindika had four children, three daughters and a son. Two of the daughters, Little Subhadda and Big Subhadda, were steeped in the Dharma like their father and had attained stream-entry. And just as they took after their father in spiritual matters, so too in worldly affairs: They were both happily married. But the youngest daughter, Sumana, surpassed the rest of her family in deep wisdom. Upon hearing the Buddha teach, she had quickly attained the second stage of enlightenment and thus was a once-returner.

She did not marry -- but not because she renounced marriage. In fact, when she saw the happiness of her two [stream-enterer] sisters, she became sad and lonely. Her spiritual strength did not suffice to overcome her depression. To the deep sorrow of her family, she wasted away, eating nothing, eventually starving to death. She was reborn in the Tusita heaven, the highest form of existence in the sensual realm. There she had to purge herself of the residue of dependence on other people, her last outwardly directed desire (Dhammapada Commentary).

The Wayward Son
The only son of Anathapindika, Kala the Dark One, was at first a strain on his father's house. He did not want to know anything of the Teaching, immersing himself completely in his business affairs.

Then one day his father urged him to observe a holy day, offering him one thousand pieces of gold if he would keep the Uposatha day. Kala consented, and soon found it relaxing to take one day of the week off from business to enjoy himself in the company of his family. Because of this, the fasting of the Uposatha day did not weigh too heavily on him. Then his father made a second request and offered him another thousand if he would come to the monastery with him one holiday afternoon in order to listen to the Dharma.

Kala gladly agreed, and it became the turning point of his life. Through the discourse of the Buddha, he attained stream-entry. His daily life became ennobled, just as in his father's case, and he also became a major benefactor of the Order (Sangha), known by the name of "Little Anathapindika" (Dhp Comy).

Kala was married to Sujata, a sister of the famous lay-devotee Visakha, mother of Migara. She was very proud of her family background and her wealth on both sides. Because her thoughts revolved around nothing but these trifles, she could not arouse noble thoughts. She was unfulfilled, dissatisfied, and peevish. And she vented her unhappiness on others. This was seen in the hostile and angry way in which she treated everyone. She beat her servants, and whenever she appeared she spread fear and terror. Nor did she follow the rules of propriety in her relationships with in-laws and husband. Thus, she increasingly made herself an object of scorn. ...

The "Prodigal" Nephew
Finally, mention is made of a nephew of Anathapindika. He had inherited a great fortune of forty million but lived a wild life, squandering, drinking, and gambling everything away. He paid thousands to various entertainers, women, and obliging friends. When he had exhausted his inheritance, he asked his wealthy uncle for support. His uncle gave him a thousand gold pieces and told him that he should use it to start a business.

He instead wasted it and appeared once more at the palace of Anathapindika, who this time gave him five times as much as before, without a single condition, but as a severance. Even the warning that this was the last of the money did not keep the nephew from his wasteful ways. For the third time he begged his uncle for money. Anathapindika gave the young man two pieces of clothing. But he wasted these as well and was shameless enough to call on his uncle for a fourth time. However, this time he was told to leave. If he had come as one of the many beggars and not as a demanding nephew, he certainly would have received sustenance from the house of Anathapindika. But this he did not do, not wanting almsfood but only money to squander.

Because he was too lazy and stubborn to earn his own living, while unwilling to beg, he died wretchedly. His body was found at the city wall and was thrown onto the refuse pile. When Anathapindika heard of this, he asked himself whether he could have prevented this sad ending. He then asked the Buddha if he should have acted differently. The Buddha resolved his misgivings, explaining how the nephew belonged to the fortunately small number of insatiable people who were like bottomless vats. He had perished because of real external needs, as had occurred in previous lives (Jataka 291).

• IMAGES: Daughters (bollyvista.com); Buddha with Anathapindika (goldenpages.com); The Return of the Prodigal Son by Edward John Poynter; The-Prodigal-Son.