(Mv.I.23.1) [64] Now at that time Sañjaya the wanderer was staying in Rājagaha with a large assembly of wanderers — 250 in all. And at that time Sāriputta and Moggallāna were living the holy life under Sañjaya. They had made this agreement: “May whoever attains the Deathless first inform the other.”

(Mv.I.23.2) Then, early in the morning, Ven. Assaji adjusted his under robe and — carrying his bowl & robes, entered Rājagaha for alms: gracious in the way he approached and departed, looked forward and behind, drew in and stretched out (his arm); his eyes downcast, his every movement consummate. Sāriputta the wanderer saw Ven. Assaji going for alms in Rājagaha: gracious in the way he approached and departed, looked forward and behind, drew in and stretched out (his arm); his eyes downcast, his every movement consummate. On seeing him, the thought occurred to him: “Surely, of those monks in this world who are arahants or have entered the path to arahantship, this is one.

“What if I were to go to him and question him:

“‘Friend, on whose account have you gone forth? Or who is your teacher? Or in whose Dhamma do you delight?’”

(Mv.I.23.3) But then the thought occurred to Sāriputta the wanderer: “This is the wrong time to question him. Having entered among houses, he is going for alms.

“What if I were to follow behind this monk? The path is found by those who seek it.”[1]

Then Ven. Assaji, having gone for alms in Rājagaha, took his almsfood and left.

Then Sāriputta the wanderer went to Ven. Assaji and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies he stood to one side. As he was standing there, Sāriputta the wanderer said to Ven. Assaji, “Clear, my friend, are your faculties — pure your complexion, and bright.

“Friend, on whose account have you gone forth? Or who is your teacher? Or in whose Dhamma do you delight?”

(Mv.I.23.4) “There is a great contemplative — a son of the Sakyans, gone forth from the Sakyan clan — I have gone forth on account of that Blessed One. That Blessed One is my teacher, and I delight in his Dhamma.

“What is your teacher’s doctrine? What is his teaching?”

“I am new, friend, not long gone-forth, and have just recently come to this Dhamma and Discipline. I can’t teach the Dhamma in detail, but I will tell you the essence of it in brief.”

Then Sāriputta the wanderer said to Ven. Assaji, “May it be so, friend — [2]

(Mv.I.23.5) [65] So Ven. Assaji spoke this Dhamma-explanation to Sāriputta the wanderer:

[66] Then, when he had heard this Dhamma-explanation, the dustless, stainless eye of Dhamma arose for Sāriputta the wanderer — “Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.”

(Mv.I.23.6) [67] Then Sāriputta the wanderer went to Moggallāna the wanderer. Moggallāna the wanderer saw Sāriputta the wanderer coming in the distance, and said to him,

“Clear, my friend, are your faculties — pure your complexion, and bright.

“Have you attained the Deathless, friend?”

“Yes, friend, I have attained the Deathless.”

“But, friend, how did you attain the Deathless?”

(Mv.I.23.7) “Just now, friend, I saw the monk Assaji entering Rājagaha for alms: gracious in the way he approached and departed, looked forward and behind, drew in and stretched out (his arm); his eyes downcast, his every movement consummate.

“On seeing him, the thought occurred to me: ‘Surely, of those monks in this world who are arahants or have entered the path to arahantship, this is one.

“‘What if I were to go to him and question him: “Friend, on whose account have you gone forth? Or who is your teacher? Or in whose Dhamma do you delight?”’

(Mv.I.23.8) “But then the thought occurred to me: ‘This is the wrong time to question him. Having entered among houses, he is going for alms. What if I were to follow behind this monk? The path is found by those who seek it.’

“Then the monk Assaji, having gone for alms in Rājagaha, took his almsfood and left.

“I went to the monk Assaji and, on arrival, exchanged courteous greetings with him. After an exchange of friendly greetings & courtesies I stood to one side.

“As I was standing there, I said to the monk Assaji, ‘Clear, my friend, are your faculties — pure your complexion, and bright.

“‘On whose account have you gone forth? Who is your teacher? In whose Dhamma do you delight?”

(Mv.I.23.9) “‘There is a great contemplative — a son of the Sakyans, gone forth from the Sakyan clan — I have gone forth on account of that Blessed One. That Blessed One is my teacher, and I delight in his Dhamma.’

“‘What is your teacher’s doctrine? What is his teaching?’

“‘I am new, friend, not long gone-forth, and have just recently come to this Dhamma and Discipline. I can’t teach the Dhamma in detail, but I can tell you the essence of it in brief.’ “Then I said to the monk Assaji, ‘May it be so, friend — [5]

(Mv.I.23.10) [68] “So the monk Assaji spoke this Dhamma-explanation:

[69] Having heard this Dhamma-explanation, the dustless, stainless eye of Dhamma arose for Moggallāna the wanderer — “Whatever is subject to origination is all subject to cessation.”

(Mv.I.24.1) [70] Then Moggallāna the wanderer said to Sāriputta the wanderer, “Let’s go to the Blessed One’s presence. the Blessed One is our teacher.”

[Sāriputta:] “There are these 250 wanderers who live here in dependence on us and look up to us. Let’s inform them of this.

“They will do whatever they think (is appropriate).”

So Sāriputta and Moggallāna went to the wanderers and, on arrival, said to them, “Friends, we are going to the Blessed One’s presence. The Blessed One is our teacher.”

“We are living here in dependence on the venerables and look up to the venerables. If the venerables are going to live the holy life under the great contemplative, then we will all live the holy life under the great contemplative.”

(Mv.I.24.2) Then Sāriputta and Moggallāna went to Sañjaya the wanderer and, on arrival, said to him, “Friend, we are going to the Blessed One’s presence. The Blessed One is our teacher.”

“Enough, friends. Don’t go. Let all three of us look after this group.”

A second time …

A third time Sāriputta and Moggallāna said to Sañjaya the wanderer, “Friend, we are going to the Blessed One’s presence. The Blessed One is our teacher.”

“Enough, friends. Don’t go. Let all three of us look after this group.”

(Mv.I.24.3) Then Sāriputta and Moggallāna, taking along the 250 wanderers, went to the Bamboo Grove. But Sañjaya the wanderer coughed up hot blood from his mouth right there.

[71] The Blessed One saw Sāriputta and Moggallāna coming in the distance, and on seeing them addressed the monks,

“Monks, these two friends who are approaching, Kolita and Upatissa: They will by my highest, most auspicious pair of disciples.

Then the Teacher said of them:

(Mv.I.24.4) [72] Then Sāriputta and Moggallāna went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, put their heads at the Blessed One’s feet and said, “May we receive the Going-forth in the Blessed One’s presence? May we receive the Acceptance?"

“Come, monks.” Said the Blessed One. “The Dhamma is well-taught. Live the holy life for the right ending of stress.”

Such was the venerable ones’ Acceptance.