Ananda - Anan

Date of birth and death unknown. One of the ten great disciples of the Buddha (Shakyamuni). A transliteration of the Pali word Ananda, the correct translation is Ananda. It translates as joy or delight. He is said to be the Buddha's cousin. After leaving the priesthood, he served the Buddha as an attendant for 25 years in his later years, and was said to have listened to the Buddha's sermons more than any other disciple, being the one who "listened the most." He had an excellent memory and was able to recite the Buddha's sermons, which consisted of several thousand words, without making a single mistake. At first, the original Buddhist sect did not allow women to join, but due to the earnest wishes of the Buddha's foster mother and the mediation of Ananda, the sect of bhikkhunis was recognized. Ananda served the Buddha closely for a long time, but was unable to attain enlightenment during the Buddha's lifetime. However, after the Buddha's death, he attained enlightenment at the First Assumption held at Rajagriha in Magadha and contributed to the compilation of the Buddhist scriptures. Many of the Buddhist scriptures are in the form of dialogues between the Buddha and Ananda.

[Takahashi Tsubo November 18, 2016]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

生没年不詳。仏陀(ぶっだ)（釈迦(しゃか)）の十大弟子の一人。パーリ語アーナンダĀnandaの音写で、正しくは阿難陀(あなんだ)と写す。歓喜、慶喜と訳す。仏陀の従弟(いとこ)といわれる。出家後、晩年の仏陀に侍者として25年間仕え、仏陀の説法を聞くことが仏弟子中もっとも多く、「多聞(たもん)第一」といわれる。記憶力抜群で、数千語に及ぶ仏陀の説法を一語も間違えずに復誦(ふくしょう)することができた。原始仏教教団では初め女性を入団させなかったが、仏陀の養母らの切なる願いと、阿難の取りなしにより、比丘尼(びくに)の教団が認められるに至った。阿難は、仏陀に近侍すること長きにわたったが、仏陀の生前にはついに悟りを得ることができなかった。しかし仏陀入滅後、マガダ国のラージャグリハで行われた第1回結集(けつじゅう)において悟りを開き、経蔵をまとめるのに貢献した。仏教経典には、仏陀と阿難の対話形式によるものが多い。

［高橋　壯　2016年11月18日］

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