Shariputra is remembered as the disciple who asked the most questions about emptiness, thus inspiring the Buddha’s Perfection of Wisdom discourses. These teachings describe the true nature of reality.
Regarding his two heart disciples, the Buddha said:
“Monks, follow Shariputra and Maudgalyayana; associate with Shariputra and Maudgalyayana. Wise monks do help (materially and spiritually) those who live the holy life.
“Monks, Shariputra is like unto a mother and Maudgalyayana is like unto a foster mother to a child. Monks, Shariputra trains beings in the path of ‘stream attainment’ and Maudgalyayana trains beings in ‘arhatship’. Monks, Shariputra is able to proclaim, teach, lay down, establish, open up, analyse, and elucidate the Four Noble Truths.”
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