Sunita

{{Short description|Disciple of the Buddha}}

{{other uses|Sunitha (disambiguation)}}

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.{{Cite web|title=Life of Buddha: Sunita, the Scavenger (Part One)|url=http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/buddhism/lifebuddha/31lbud.htm|website=www.buddhanet.net|access-date=2020-05-30}} According to Thanissaro Bhikkhu's translation of the Theragāthā account,{{cite web |last1=Ṭhānissaro Bhikkhu |title=Thag 12:2 Sunīta the Outcaste |url=https://www.dhammatalks.org/suttas/KN/Thag/thag12_2.html |website=dhammatalks.org |accessdate=2019-03-17}} 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."