Two Incidents from Gautama’s Life
By Helen M. Johnson, Muni Ratnaprabha Vijay
Summary
This article recounts two stories illustrating Gautama’s humility and devotion. In the first, Gautama fears that his lack of omniscience may prevent him from attaining liberation. Remembering that the gods once said anyone who spends a night on Mount Aṣṭāpada will be liberated, he asks Mahavira’s permission and flies there by supernatural power. Other ascetics, fasting rigorously, attempt to climb but doubt that the robust Gautama can ascend; he scales the mountain easily, worships the twenty‑four Jinas at Bharata’s shrine and delivers a sermon to assembled gods and vidyādharas. His effortless ascent inspires the other ascetics and demonstrates that spiritual readiness, not physical austerity, determines progress. In the second incident, Indrabhuti Gautama visits the lay devotee Ananda, who is near death and claims clairvoyant knowledge extending 500 yojanas. Gautama doubts that a householder can have such far‑reaching avadhi‑jñāna and asks him to do prāyaścitta (atonement). Ananda retorts that he is telling the truth and Gautama should apologise for doubting him. Gautama consults Mahavira, who tells him to ask Ananda’s pardon; Gautama returns, performs the atonement and seeks forgiveness. These narratives emphasise the values of humility, respect for both ascetics and lay followers, and the recognition that spiritual insight can arise in unexpected places.
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Conclusion
The two anecdotes portray Gautama as a monk who combines zeal with humility. His ascent of Aṣṭāpada shows that devotion and the Master’s permission, rather than extreme austerities, lead to spiritual heights. The episode with Ananda teaches that monks must respect lay insight and be willing to apologise when wrong. Together, they illustrate Jain values of humility, reverence and reliance on the teacher’s guidance.