Sariputta and Mogallana

Upatissa and Kolita were childhood friends. Later on, they became famous as Sariputta and Mogallana. One day, in the city of Rajgir, Upatissa saw Arahat Assaji going on alms round with downcast eyes, with restrained movements, peaceful demeanour and with a radiant glow on his face. Sariputta followed him and asked—“Sir, I feel you have obtained what needs to be obtained. Please let me know what meditation did you practice by which you have attained this stage?” Bhikkhu Assaji replied that the Buddha himself has come to Rajgir now, and it will be good to meet him and directly learn this wonderfull meditation technique from him. Still, when he insisted, Assaji related the essence. Hearing it, due to the vast merits of his past existences, Vipassana arose in him, and he became a stream-enterer. Then he went over to meet his friend Mogallana and explained this technique to him. Listening likewise, Moggallana also became a stream-enterer. Both of them talked to the 250 followers of Ācārya Sanjaya and along with them, they went to meet the Buddha. Ācārya Sanjaya, however was not interested to go with them. By practising vipassana taught by the Buddha, Sāriputta, Mogallana and their 250 friends eradicated the past karmas and stopped creating new karmas and thus became Arahats, liberated persons.