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THE FIRST CONVERTS
THE Blessed One tarried in solitude seven times seven days, enjoying
the bliss of emancipation. At that time Tapussa and
Bhallika, two
merchants, came traveling on the road near by, and when they saw the
great samana, majestic and full of
peace, they approached him
respectfully and offered him rice cakes and honey.
This was the first food that the
Enlightened One ate after he
attained Buddhahood.
And the Buddha addressed them and pointed out to them the way
of
salvation. The two merchants, seeing the holiness of the conqueror
of Mara, bowed down in reverence and said: "We
take our refuge,
Lord, in the Blessed One and in the Dharma." Tapussa and Bhallika were
the first that became followers
of the Buddha and they were lay
disciples.
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