Once, during his tour of Anga and Uttara regions, the Buddha saw in his vision that time was ripe for Mendaka, his wife, his son, his daughter-in-law, his granddaughter and his servant, to attain sotàpatti fruition. Seeing the prospect of these six people attaining sotàpatti fruition(Path-consciousness), the Buddha went to the town of Bhaddiya(ancient India town).
Mendaka was an extremely rich man. It was said that he found a large number of life-size golden statues of goats in his backyard. For this reason, he was known as Mendaka (a goat) the rich man. Again, it was also said that during the time of Vipassi Buddha he had donated a monastery for Vipassi Buddha and a congregation hall complete with a platform for the preacher. On completion of these buildings, he made offerings of alms-food to Vipassi Buddha and the monks for four months. Then, in yet another of his past existences, when he was a rich man in Banaras, there was a famine throughout the region. One day they had cooked a meal just enough for the members of the family when a paccekabuddha stood at the door for alms-food. Then and there he offered all the food. But due to his great faith and generosity, the rice pot was later found to be miraculously filled up again; so also were his
granaries.
Mendaka and his family, hearing that the Buddha was coming to Bhaddiya, went to pay homage to him. On the way he met a number of heretics who said to him, “Householder, how is it that you, who believe in the Activity of Souls, go to the hermit Gotama, who does not?” Thus did the heretics seek to dissuade him from his purpose. But instead of paying any attention to them, he went and saluted the Buddha and seated himself respectfully on one side. Thereupon the Buddha preached the Dhamma to him in orderly sequence.
After hearing the discourse given by the Buddha, Mendaka, his wife Candapadumà, his son Dhananjaya, his daughter-in-law Sumanàdevi, his granddaughter Visàkhà and the servant Punna attained sotàpatti fruition. Mendaka then told the Buddha how, on his way, some ascetics had spoken ill of the Buddha and had tried to dissuade him from coming to see Him. The Buddha then said, “My disciple, it is natural for people not to see one’s own faults, and to exaggerate other people’s faults and failings.”
annesaü vajjam sudassam attano pana duddasam
hi so paresam vajjàni bhusam yathà opunàti kalim
kitavà satho iva attano pana chadeti
“The faults of others are clearly observed. But one’s own faults
are difficult to see. A person winnows the faults of others into
prominence, like chaff. He hides his own like the bird-hunter
who conceals himself with leaves and twigs. “
