(Part
Two) 19. Jivaka, the Buddha's Doctor
Jivaka
was the most celebrated doctor in
India during the Buddha's time. Immediately after his birth, Jivaka was placed in a
wooden box and thrown away by his mother, a courtesan, on
a rubbish heap beside the road.
The
same morning baby Jivaka was abandoned, Prince Abhaya, a son
of King Bimbisara, happened to pass by the rubbish dump on
his way to the palace. When the prince discovered that the
baby was still alive, he was moved by compassion and ordered
it to be brought up as his adopted son.
When
he grew up, Jivaka studied medicine for seven years under
a famous teacher. Soon his unusual skill as a physician and
a surgeon became known. He was called upon to treat kings
and princes, including King Bimbisara himself. But of all
the distinguished people Jivaka attended to, his greatest
pleasure was to attend to the Buddha, which he did three times
a day.
Jivaka
helped in many ways. When Devadatta threw down a rock splinter
and injured the Buddha's foot, it was Jivaka who healed him.
Realising
the advantages of having a monastery close to his house, Jivaka
built one in his mango garden. He invited the Buddha and his
disciples to the monastery, offered alms and donated the monastery
to the Buddha and the monks. After the blessing ceremony of
this monastery, Jivaka attained the first stage of sainthood
(sotapanna).
Later,
when King Ajatasattu asked him where he could go for religious
discussions, Jivaka brought him to see the Buddha. Although
the king had killed his father under the evil advice of Devadatta,
King Ajatasattu became a distinguished lay follower of the
Buddha and supported the First Buddhist Council after the
Buddha's death.
