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was no longer considered a member of the Buddha’s sangha.
News of Venerable Devadatta’s independent sangha spread quickly. The bhikkhus were asked about it everywhere they went.
Venerable Sariputta instructed them to answer all questions by simply saying, “Those who sow bad seeds reap bad fruits. Causing the
community to break is the most serious violation of the teaching.”
One day while speaking to several bhikkhus, the Buddha mentioned that Jivaka had counselled him to make a formal announcement that
Venerable Devadatta was no longer considered a member of the Buddha’s sangha. Sariputta reflected on Jivaka’s suggestion and then
said, “Lord, we often publicly praised Venerable Devadatta’s ability and virtue in the past. How will it look if we now denounce him?”
The Buddha asked, “Sariputta, in the past when you publicly praised Devadatta, were you speaking the truth?”
“Yes, Lord, I was speaking the truth when I praised Venerable Devadatta’s ability and virtue.”
“Will you be speaking the truth now if you denounce brother Devadatta’s actions?”
“Yes, Lord.”
“Then there is no problem. The important thing is to speak the truth.”
At a gathering of lay persons some days later, the bhikkhus announced to the people that the Venerable Devadatta had been expelled
from the Buddha’s sangha and that henceforth the sangha could not assume responsibility for Venerable Devadatta’s actions.
Venerables Sariputta and Moggallana remained curiously silent throughout these events. They did not even answer the laity’s questions.
Venerable Ananda noticed their reticence and said to them, “Brothers, you have not offered any views on Venerable Devadatta’s actions.
Perhaps you have some plan of your own?”
They smiled and Venerable Moggallana said, “That is correct, brother Ananda. We will serve the Buddha and the sangha in our own
way.”
Many of the laity gossiped about the schism and blamed it on jealousy and petty feelings. Others understood that there must be deeper
unrevealed reasons for the Buddha to denounce Venerable Devadatta. Their faith in the Buddha and the sangha did not waver.
One stormy morning, the people in the capital were shocked to learn that King Bimbisara was abdicating the throne in favor of his son,
Prince Ajatasattu. The coronation ceremony for the new king was scheduled to take place ten days later on the day of the full moon. The
Buddha was concerned that he did not learn of these plans directly from King Bimbisara. The king had always consulted with the Buddha in
the past before making major decisions. His concern that something was amiss was confirmed when Jivaka paid him a visit some days later.
The Buddha and Jivaka did walking meditation together along a mountain path. They took slow, quiet steps while observing their breath.
After a time, the Buddha invited Jivaka to sit with him on a large rock. Jivaka informed the Buddha that Prince Ajatasattu had placed King
Bimbisara under house arrest. The king was confined to his chambers. No one but Queen Videhi was allowed to see him. The king’s two
most trusted advisors had also been placed under arrest because the prince feared they would try to prevent his coronation from taking
place. Their families were falsely informed that they needed to remain at the palace for several days in order to assist with important political
matters.
Jivaka told the Buddha that the only reason he knew about these events was because he had been called to tend to an illness of the
queen’s. She told him how a month earlier, the imperial guards had caught the prince about to enter the king’s chambers late one night.
Finding his behavior suspicious, they searched him and discovered a sword concealed under his robes. They led him into the king’s
chambers and told the king of their discovery. The king looked at his son and asked, “Ajatasattu, why were you carrying a sword into the
royal chamber?”
“It was my intention to kill you, Father.”
“But why would you want to kill me?”
“I want to be king.”
“Why must you kill your own father to be king? If you but asked me, I would have abdicated in your favor at once.”
“I did not think you would do that. I have obviously made a grave error and beg you to forgive me.”
The king asked his son, “Who put you up to this?”
Prince Ajatasattu did not answer at first, but after his father’s persistent questioning, he confessed that the idea had been Venerable
Devadatta’s. Although it was the middle of the night, the king summoned his two most trusted advisors to ask for their counsel. One advisor
said that trying to assassinate the king was a crime punishable by death and therefore the prince and Venerable Devadatta should both be
beheaded. He even demanded the deaths of all the bhikkhus.
The king disagreed. “I cannot kill Ajatasattu. He is my own son. As for the bhikkhus, they have already made it clear that they cannot be