"FOLLOW ME."
Almost his first converts were thirty profligate young men, whom he met sporting with lemans in the Kappasya jungle. "He received them," says Professor Rhys Davids, "into the order, with the formula, 'Follow Me.'" ("Birth Stories," p. 114.)
THE TWELVE GREAT DISCIPLES.
"Except in my religion, the twelve great disciples are not to be found." (Bigandet, p. 301.)
"THE DISCIPLE WHOM JESUS LOVED."
One disciple was called Upatishya (the beloved disciple). In a former existence, he and Maudgalyâyana had prayed that they might sit, the one on the right hand and the other on the left. Buddha granted this prayer. The other disciples murmured much. (Bigandet, p. 153.)
"GO YE INTO ALL THE WORLD."
From Benares Buddha sent forth the sixty-one disciples. "Go ye forth," he said, "and preach Dharma, no two disciples going the same way." (Bigandet, p. 126.)
"THE SAME CAME TO JESUS BY NIGHT."
Professor Rhys Davids points out that Yâsas, a young rich man, came to Buddha by night for fear of his rich relations.