~ OCTOBER 11 2006

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Part 2 - War History
From: USA
Inquiry:

You said in your last reponse for War History: Bombing Ops that Prime Minister Souvanna Phouma resisted having Americans assist during the Vietnam War and the Secret War in Laos. But I read he actually invited them. Which is it really?

There are varying accounts of this. On the one hand Phouma wanted to resist revolutionary forces but at the same time did not want to appear as a puppet to another western power. But he also badly needed military assistance. Additionally, he wanted peace and did not want Lao people to be bombed. He also did not want what was happening in Vietnam to occur on Lao soil. He had a lot to consider. Some people say he was pushed to accept the American point of view while others say he very much invited their assistance. I would probably say it was little bit of both.

A book written exclusively on the bombing of Laos and those who participated in it, is written in The Ravens - The Men Who Flew in America's Secret War in Laos by Christopher Robbins (1987, Crown Publishers). A very interesting read as it offers an internal perspective by the men who flew those bombing campaigns.

Jesus' disciples are well known. I was wondering if Buddha has any such well-known disciples that were influential and who were close with him?

Absolutely, in fact many pictures of the Buddha he is shown with men and women around him. More specifically his closest disciples are often depicted as monks either standing or seated next to the Buddha on both his sides, similar in dress and poses.

For this I recommend the book Great Disciples of the Buddha - Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy by Nyanaponika Thera and Hellmuth Hecker (1997, Buddhist Publication Society). Nyanaponika is a very well known and incredibly learned German Buddhist scholar. This book is quite in-depth and wonderful to read.

To further answer your question, the following list is enumerated from the above book's table of contents itself.

• Sariputta: The Marshal of the Dhamma
• Majamoggallana: Master of the Psychic Powers
• Mahakassapa: Father of the Sangha
• Ananda: Guardian of the Dhamma
• Anurupddha: Master of the Divine Eye
• Mahajacana: Master of Doctrinal Exposition
• Great Women Disciples of the Buddha
  • Visakha: The Buddha's Chief Patroness
  • Mallika: The Flower-girl Queen
  • Kehma of Great Wisdom
  • Bhadda Kundalakesa: The Debating Ascetic
  • Kisagotamo: The Mother with the Dead Child
  • Sona with Many Children
  • Nanda: The Buddha's Half-sister
  • Queen Samavati: Embodiment of Loving-kindess
  • Paracara: Preserver of the Vinaya
  • Ambapali: The Generous Courtesan
  • Sirima and Uttata
• Isidasi: A Journey through Samsara
• Angulimala: A Murderer's Road to Sainthood
• Anathapindika: The Buddha's Chief Patron
• Shorter Lives of the Disciples
• The Householder Citta
• The Bhikku Citta
• Father and Mother Nakula