Aśvajit

The Buddha visits his former companions, the group of five.

Aśvajit (P. Assaji; T. Rta thul རྟ་ཐུལ་; C. Ashuoshi; J. Asetsuji; K. Asŏlsi 阿說示) was one of the five ascetics who practiced austerities with Gautama Buddha before his enlightenment. He became one of the Buddha's first five disciples.

Aśvajit is known for his conversion of Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana. Śāriputra and Maudgalyāyana were wandering sramanas before they met the Buddha. In one of the most famous encounters of Buddhism, Śāriputra noticed the Buddha's disciple Aśvajit while he was out collecting alms, and he was impressed with Aśvajit’s countenance and demeanor. Śāriputra approached Aśvajit and asked him whether he was a master or a disciple. When Aśvajit replied that he was a disciple, Śāriputra asked him what his teacher taught. Aśvajit replied:

Those dharmas which arise from causes,
the Tathāgata has declared their causes (hetu),
and also their cessation (nirodha).
Thus the great renunciant (śramaṇa) has taught.

Upon hearing this statement, Śāriputra immediately attained the realization of "stream-enterer" (srotāpanna). Śāriputra soon found his companion Maudgalyāyana and he repeated the statement to him, who also immediately became a "stream-enterer". They then both joined the Buddha's sangha and eventually they became the two chief disciples of the Buddha.

Further reading:

• Group of five
• Assaji, Wikipedia
• 阿說示, Christian-Steinert Dictionary