The newly enlightened Buddha was travelling to go to see the five ascetics with whom he had formerly practised. On the way he met two merchants. They were converted to his message and became the first Buddhists and lay followers. He taught them to take refuge in the Buddha and the Dharma (there being no sangha at that time). Then he arrived at the place where the five ascetics were and they, remembering that he had abandoned them resolved not to honour him, but when he appeared his bearing was such as to tell them that he had indeed accomplished some great spiritual awakening and he instructed them in the proper way to treat a teacher. They became his disciples and he taught them the four truths for noble ones. Konndinya was enlightened. A short time after he taught them the teaching of non-self and all became arhants. So he continued and when he had sixty arhants he sent them forth for the spiritual welfare of the world. They went singly or in small groups and spread the Dharma, lovely in its beginning, lovely in its progress and lovely in its consummation.
This simple progression tells us the essence of the Dharma. First take refuge and thus become a follower of the Dharma. Then treat the teacher appropriately and become a disciple. Then understand the four truths and eliminate the major obstacles to living your life. Then understand non-self and become one who is free to liberate others.
Thus they went forth and did so in many different ways. The Buddha did not produce clones. He empowered each to fulfil their spiritual destiny. Some lived in groups and some were hermits, some travelled and some established communities, some built hospitals and animal sanctuaries and some write poems, some danced and some renounced dancing, some were ascetic and some married, some were arhants and some bodhisattvas. All were bombu. All followed one Dharma. All realised their potential and helped others to do so. It was just as the ocean might flow into any number of coves, bays, basins or the open main, yet everywhere it has the taste of salt. Such is the life of faith. Namo Amida Bu.
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