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The Buddha often praised Śāriputra for His wisdom and ability to guide others on the path to enlightenment. In the Theragāthā (Verses of the Elder Monks), the Buddha is recorded as saying: “Like the Buddha, His wisdom is great, He is supreme in wisdom, the disciple of the Buddha. The Dharma taught by the Awakened One, He penetrates deeply, Śāriputra.” Despite His esteemed position, Śāriputra remained humble. His humility is evident in several instances recorded in the scriptures, where He defers to the Buddha’s authority and expresses gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Dharma. Śāriputra dearly wanted to see the Buddha and hear Him preach. Once, when He came to a deep, fast-flowing river, He thought, “This stream won’t stop Me. I will go see the Blessed One.” He stepped onto the water, which felt as solid as stone under His feet. But when He reached the middle of the stream where the waves were high, Śāriputra became fearful and started to sink. However, He strengthened His faith and made a renewed effort, continuing on and finally reaching the other side. He said, “It was faith – just faith – that allowed me to do this, and now I am here in the bliss of the Master’s presence.” The Buddha then said, “Śāriputra, You have spoken well. Only faith like Yours can save the world from the endless cycle of suffering and help people reach the other shore safely.” Knowing His end was near, Śāriputra gathered the monks and asked for their forgiveness for any wrongs He might have done, although they assured Him He had done nothing wrong. According to the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta, Śāriputra attained Nirvana, entering deep meditation, and passed away peacefully in the presence of His family and close disciples. Beloved Buddha accepted the relics and told the monks a story, praising Śāriputra’s wisdom, dedication, and role in turning the Wheel of Dharma. In the Jataka Tales, Shakyamuni Buddha, in a past life as King Moonlight, was a wise and compassionate ruler Who vowed to give anything requested of Him, no matter what the cost. One day, a deceitful Brahmin approached Him, asking for the King’s head as an offering. True to His vow, King Moonlight did not hesitate, despite the pleas of His ministers and subjects. His ministers, deeply devoted to Him, tried to prevent His sacrifice. Prime Minister Great Moon arranged for 500 jewel-crafted human heads to be presented to the Brahmin instead, hoping to satisfy the request. The Brahmin rejected them, insisting that only the real head of King Moonlight would suffice for his ritual. The prime minister was so frustrated and angry that he died immediately from a heart attack. However, just as the King was about to fulfill the request, the gods intervened. During a lecture in 2015, our Most Beloved Supreme Master Ching Hai (vegan) told this story, as recorded by the Venerated Ānanda (vegan). “‘The Prime Minister Great Moon at that time, now is Śāriputra. At that time, He [could not] bear to see me die, so He died first. Today it’s the same. He could not bear to see me gone, so He went first. That’s all.’ I and all in the assembly, hearing the Buddha saying thus, we had so much love for the Buddha, and we were also moved by the sincerity and love from Śāriputra, so loyal to the Buddha, since many lifetimes. So we all praised His virtues and merit.” In the Lotus Sutra, the Buddha prophesies that Śāriputra will one day become the Buddha Padmaprabha.
