Subhūti

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A Tibetan illustration of Subhūti, where he is known as Rabjor.

Subhūti (T. rab 'byor རབ་འབྱོར་; C. xuputi 須菩提) was one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha. In the Pali tradition he is considered the disciple who was foremost in being "worthy of gifts" (Pali: dakkhiṇeyyānaṃ) and "living remote and in peace" (Pali: araṇavihārīnaṃ aggo). In the Mahayana texts of the Sanskrit tradition, he is considered foremost in understanding emptiness (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā).

Subhūti was born into a wealthy family and was a relative of Anāthapiṇḍika, the Buddha's chief patron. He became a monk after hearing the Buddha teach at the dedication ceremony of Jetavana Monastery. After ordaining, Subhūti went into the forest and became an arahant while meditating on loving-kindness (Pali: mettā). It is said that due to his mastery of loving-kindness meditation, any gift offered to him bore the greatest merit for the donor, thus earning him the title of foremost in being "worthy of gifts".

In the Mahayana tradition, Subhūti is portrayed as one of the central figures in Prajñāpāramitā sutras.

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