Summary: Anuruddha is a Sakyan prince and cousin of the Buddha, declared foremost among monks in the dibbacakkhu (divine eye) — the supernormal faculty that perceives the arising and passing of beings according to their kamma. He attained arahantship following instruction on the four satipaṭṭhānas and was present at the Buddha's parinibbāna.
(This page draws on canonical references; full ingest of cited sources pending.)
Life in the canon
Anuruddha was a Sakyan nobleman, cousin of the Buddha (Siddhattha Gotama). He went forth along with several other Sakyans including Ānanda and Kimbila after the Buddha returned to Kapilavatthu. The canonical text of his going forth is at Vin II 180 (cited; not yet ingested) (Cullavagga).
His realisation of arahantship is connected to instruction on the four satipaṭṭhānas (SN 52 (cited; not yet ingested)), specifically practising with the divine eye.
AN 3.127 (cited; not yet ingested) records the three thoughts of a great person (mahāpurisa-vitakka): thinking that favours fewness of wishes (appicchata), satisfaction (santuṭṭhi), and seclusion (paviveka). The Buddha heard Anuruddha expressing these thoughts and added a fourth: energy (viriya).
He is notably present in the canonical account of the Buddha's parinibbāna at Kusinārā (DN 16 (cited; not yet ingested)), where he delivers the famous verse after the Buddha's passing and leads the Sangha in consolation.
The vagga 7 vatthu context involves Belaṭṭhasīsa (Belaṭṭhasīsattheravatthu, Dhp 92:0) — Belaṭṭhasīsa was a disciple in Anuruddha's broader circle in the vatthu tradition (commentary — not canonical).
Key teachings given or received
- SN 52 (cited; not yet ingested) — Anuruddha-saṁyutta: suttas on his satipaṭṭhāna and divine-eye practice
- AN 3.127 (cited; not yet ingested) — three (then four) thoughts of a great person
- Thag 904–920 (cited; not yet ingested) — his seventeen Theragāthā verses
Relationships
- Cousin of the Buddha
- Went forth alongside Ānanda and others from the Sakya clan
- Disciple of the Buddha; arahant
Related pages
- dhammapada 07 arahantavagga — vagga context (Belaṭṭhasīsa vatthu, Dhp 92)
- arahant — his liberation; foremost in divine eye
- ananda — co-Sakyan; went forth together
- sariputta — fellow chief disciple generation