Venerable Assajiperson
1 discourse
One of the first five to hear the Dhamma, by the tradition's count. In the canon's own scenes, the Jain debater Saccaka tested him on how the Buddha trains disciples and failed to shake him (MN 35); gravely ill at the Kassaka park in Rājagaha, he was freed by the Buddha's teaching on the aggregates as impermanent and not-self (SN 22.88); and the monks led by Assaji and Punabbasuka at Kīṭāgiri were corrected by the Buddha on eating at night (MN 70).
Discourses
When the monks led by Assaji and Punabbasuka refuse to stop eating at night, the Buddha asks if they take him to teach that whatever one feels must be wholesome. Felt comfort does not prove a practice wholesome and who should act with diligence.
PTS 1.473–1.480