It is not easy for a wealthy person to devote his life to the Dharma. Yet, when wealth is used to support the Dharma, the results are inspiring.
Anathapandika was a wealthy merchant and broker. He is the chief lay disciple and greatest patron of the Buddha.
Pronounced: A-NATHA-PIN-DIKA
Name: literally means “one who gives alms to the poor”
Lived during Buddha Shakyamuni’s time
Anathapindika’s faith was so strong that when he first met the Buddha, and the Buddha expounded the Four Noble Truths to him, he immediately attained the realization of a stream-enterer.
Donor and builder of the Jetavana monastery offered to Buddha Shakyamuni
Jetavana Monastery
After offering the Buddha a meal and residence at his home, Anathapindika decided to offer the Buddha and his thousand monastic followers a permanent place to practice and teach. He went back home to the city of Srvasti and searched for a suitable place.
An open park was found, but belonged to Prince Jeti. Anathapindika approached the Prince, committing to buy the land. The prince was proud and he refused. Later on, he joked, “I will sell you the land if you can cover every single square inch with gold coins”.
Due to Anathapindika’s determination, at night, he had wagons of gold coins delivered and did as Prince Jeti had challenged.
When Prince Jeti found out that Anathapindika followed his offer, he was outraged. Both of them decided to seek the counsel of arbiters. The Prince said he was just joking with the challenge he gave.
In the end, Anathapindika won and bought the land from the Prince. He used several more millions of gold coins to build the monastery building. Prince Jeti later offered to build the fence and walls to surround the land, now known as Jetavana Monastery.
Loss and Regain of Wealth
When Anathapindika began inviting the Buddha to his home, a deva of wealth (a spirit) stationed in his home would leave the home out of respect to the Buddha.
When the Buddha visited for several times, the deva became annoyed. He told Anathapindika to stop inviting the Buddha, because he had to leave the house again and again. This was an inconvenience to him.
Anathapindika demanded that his only true treasure was the Triple Gems. To this answer, the deva permanently left his house.
This incident caused the loss of fortune for Anathapindika through calamities and others. Later, Sakka, the head of the Realm of the Thirty-Three gods, scolded the deva to go back and serve Anathapindika. This the deva did, and Anathapindika’s wealth returned.
Read more: Wikipedia Anathapindika