Sunita
Sunita was a highly accomplished disciple of the Buddha. He was born in a family of untouchables whose job was of sweeping around the temple area. According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of the Theragāthā account, Sunīta laments:
"People found me disgusting,
despised me, disparaged me.
Lowering my heart,
I showed reverence to many."
Sunīta continues, describing his meeting with the Buddha and ordination:
The compassionate Teacher,
sympathetic to all the world, said:
"Come monk."
That was my formal Acceptance.
Sunīta practiced arduously and eventually became an Arahant. His status was acknowledged by the gods Brahmā and Śakra:
Then, as night was ending
& the sun returning,
Indra & Brahmā came to pay homage to me,
hands palm-to-palm at their hearts:
"Homage to you,
O thoroughbred of men,
Homage to you,
O man supreme,
whose effluents are ended.
You, dear sir,
are worthy of offerings."
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