old-path-white-clouds-thich-nhat-hanh

But Sariputta implored Assaji, “Please, can’t you share with me even a few words of the Buddha’s teaching? It would be so precious to
me. I will come for more teaching later.”
Assaji smiled and then recited a short gatha:
“From interdependent origins
all things arise
and all things pass away.
So teaches the
Perfectly Enlightened One.”
Sariputta suddenly felt his heart open as though it were being flooded by bright light. A flawless glimpse of true Dharma flashed before
him. He bowed to Assaji and quickly ran to seek his friend Moggallana.
When Moggallana saw Sariputta’s radiant face, he asked, “My brother, what has made you so happy? Can you have found the true
path? Please tell me, brother!”
Sariputta related what had just happened. When he recited the gatha for Moggallana to hear, Moggallana also felt a sudden flash of light
illuminate his heart and mind. Suddenly he saw the universe as an interconnected net. This was because that was, this arose because that
arose, this was not because that was not, this passed away because that passed away. The belief in a creator of all things vanished in this
understanding of dependent co-arising. He now understood how one could cut through the endless cycle of birth and death. The door of
liberation opened before him.
Moggallana said, “Brother, we must go to the Buddha at once. He is the Teacher we have been waiting for.”
Sariputta agreed, but reminded him, “What of the two hundred fifty parivrajaka brothers who have long placed their faith and trust in us
as elder brothers of the community? We can’t just abandon them. We must go and inform them of our decision first.”
The two friends made their way to the parivrajaka main gathering place and explained to their fellow practitioners their decision to leave
the community and become disciples of the Buddha. When the parivrajakas heard that Sariputta and Moggallana were about to leave them,
they were grieved. The community would not be the same without these two elder brothers. And so, they all expressed their desire to
follow them and become disciples of the Buddha, too.
Sariputta and Moggallana went to Master Sanjaya and told him of the decision of the community. He entreated them to stay, saying “If
you remain here, I will transfer the leadership of the community to you both.” He said this three times, but Sariputta and Moggallana had
made up their minds.
They said, “Respected Master, we embarked on the spiritual path in order to find liberation, and not to become religious leaders. If we
do not know the true path, how can we lead others? We must seek out the Master Gautama for he has attained the path we have long
sought for.”
Sariputta and Moggallana prostrated themselves before Sanjaya and then departed, followed by the other parivrajakas. They walked to
Palm Forest where they all prostrated before the Buddha and asked to be ordained. The Buddha spoke to them about the Four Noble
Truths and accepted them as bhikkhus in his sangha. After the ordination ceremony, the number of bhikkhus in Palm Grove numbered
1,250.
Here ends Book One.