The Buddha's First Sermon: A Journey of Enlightenment : หน้า 195/263

just passed away seven days ago and would now have to spend an exceedingly long lifetime in the formless Brahma-world. He might not even have the chance to hear the teachings of the next Buddha, let alone this one! Udaka Rāmaputta Hermit: who had been the meditation teacher who had been able to impart meditation to him up to the level of the nevasānāņānāsānānāyatana (fourth) level of arūpajhāna. Udaka was only one inner body away from attaining Dhammakāya. The Buddha thought to teach Udaka but on checking by meditation, found that Udaka had passed away only the day before. It appeared that the macchumāra (demons of death) had done their job well — and had disposed of the two best potential disciples the Buddha could find. If the Buddha had managed to convert Ālāra or Udaka, he would have converted the disciples of these two teachers throughout the land. It was as if Māra had deprived the Buddha of countless potential disciples by disposing of these two teachers. The next person the Buddha was to think of was Końḍañña who had been at His side since he renounced the comfort of the palace. He realized that in the present day and age, it would be hard to find his equal. He saw in his meditation that Końḍañña was still alive and well and living in the Isipatana Deer Park. This is why the Buddha made the journey to teach his first sermon there on the full moon day of the eighth lunar month. Dhammakayacakkapavattana Sutta: Content SECTION 1: EXTREMES OF PRACTICE Thus have I heard, that on one occasion the Blessed One was staying at Benares in the Deer Park at Isipatana. There he addressed the Group of Five monks as follows: 193