WHO ARE OUR ROLE MODELS? - Ghatikāra, the Potter (reborn to the Pure Abodes)

Welcome back to the Sutta Meditation Series Podcast. Role models play an important part in all of our lives, whether we seek them out or not. And whether we walk the Buddhist Path or not, they can have the power to shape the direction we take and the ability to influence the decisions that follow on from there.  For Buddhist practitioners,  the Buddha is our most eminent role model, teacher and the Perfectly Enlightened One. And there are also many noble and great disciples of the Buddha.   Today we will delve into the story of Ghatikara, the Potter, a lay disciple, who was the chief attendant and supporter of Kassapa Buddha and a good friend of the bodhisatta, Jotipala, who we know as Gotama Buddha. He has a significant role in the time of Kassapa Buddha and also Gotama Buddha.   There are some very inspiring stories of Ghatikara told by Kassapa Buddha and we also have the more recent story of Ghatikara as a noble being dwelling in the Pure Abodes. He realised path and fruit of non-return during the time of Kassapa Buddha, and we meet him in the time of Gotama Buddha, when he pays a visit to inform the Buddha of several bhikkhus who were reborn in the Aviha realm of the Pure Abodes.   We can learn much from the example of Ghatikara, who lived an exceedingly upright householder life with outstanding noble qualities of a good person.   The primary suttas referred to in this Dhamma talk:  – Ghaṭikāra Sutta  (MN 81)  – Ghaṭikārapañha (Mil 5.5.7)  – Ghaṭīkārasutta (SN 1.50), (SN 2.24) In learning about such noble beings, we can delight in their lives and accomplishments; recognise the importance of seeing them as worthy role models; and use it as inspiration towards progress on the Buddha's Noble Eightfold Path. The VIDEO with slides has been uploaded to the Sutta Meditation Series podcast channel - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_r7lJAOHoKk Blessings of the Triple Gem. Theruwan saranai