Rahula: son of Buddha
Rahula was the only historical daughter of the Buddha. He was born shortly before his father left in search of enlightenment. Indeed, Rahula's birth appears to have been one of the factors that fueled Prince Siddhartha's determination to become a wandering beggar.
Buddha Leaving His Son
According to Buddhist legend, Prince Siddhartha had already been deeply shaken by the knowledge that he could not escape disease, old age and death. And he was starting to think about leaving his privileged life to seek peace of mind. When his wife Yasodhara gave birth to a son, the Prince bitterly called the boy Rahula, which means "to chain".
Soon Prince Siddhartha left his wife and son to become the Buddha. Some modern spirits have called the Buddha a "dead daddy". But baby Rahula was the grandson of the Suddhodana king of the Shakya clan. It would be well cared for.
When Rahula was about nine years old, his father returned to his hometown of Kapilavastu. Yasodhara took Rahula to see his father, who was now the Buddha. He told Rahula to ask his father for his inheritance so that he would become king when Suddhodana died.
So the boy, as the children want, clung to his father. He followed the Buddha, constantly asking for his legacy. After a while the Buddha obeyed by having the boy ordained as a monk. His would be the legacy of dharma.
Rahula learns to be sincere
The Buddha showed no favoritism to his son, and Rahula followed the same rules as other new monks and lived in the same conditions, which were very far from his life in a palace.
It was recorded that an elderly monk once took a place to sleep during a thunderstorm, forcing Rahula to seek refuge in a latrine. He was awakened by his father's voice, asking who is there?
It's me, Rahula, the boy replied. I see, replied the Buddha, who went away. Although the Buddha was determined not to show his son special privileges, perhaps he had heard that Rahula had been discovered in the rain and had gone to check on the boy. Finding him safe, albeit uncomfortable, the Buddha left him there.
Rahula was a good-humored boy who loved jokes. Once he had deliberately misdirected a lay person who had come to see the Buddha. Upon learning of this, the Buddha decided that it was time for a father, or at least a teacher, to sit down with Rahula. What happened next was recorded in the Ambalatthika-rahulovada Sutta in the Pali Tipitika.
Rahula was amazed but pleased when his father called him. He filled a basin with water and washed his father's feet. When he finished, the Buddha indicated the small amount of water left in a ladle.
"Rahula, do you see this little remaining water?"
"Yes, sir."
"It is so little of a monk who has no shame in telling a lie."
When the remaining water was thrown away, the Buddha said, "Rahula, do you see how this little water is thrown away?"
"Yes, sir."
"Rahula, whatever there is of a monk in anyone who is not ashamed to tell a lie is thrown away like this."
The Budha turned the ladle upside down and said to Rahula, "See how this ladle is upside down?"
"Yes, sir."
"Rahula, whatever there is of a monk in anyone who is not ashamed to tell a lie is reversed just like that."
Then the Buddha turned the dipper with the right side facing up. "Rahula, do you see how empty and empty this ladle is?"
"Yes, sir."
"Rahula, whatever there is of a monk in anyone who is not ashamed to tell a deliberate lie is empty and just like that."
The Buddha then taught Rahula how to think carefully about everything he thought, said and considered the consequences and how his actions affected himself and others. Chastened, Rahula learned to purify his practice. He was said to have made the lighting at just 18 years of age.
Rahula's Adulthood
We only know a little about Rahula in his later life. It is said that through her efforts her mother, Yasodhara, eventually became a nun and also achieved enlightenment. His friends called him the lucky Rahula. He said he was twice lucky, having been born the son of the Buddha and also enlightening.
It has also been recorded that he died relatively young while his father was still alive. Emperor Ashoka the Great is said to have built a stupa in honor of Rahula, dedicated to novice monks.