Jayasena

Buddhaghosa (5th-century Indian Theravadin Buddhist commentator and scholar) says that Jayasena was Bimbisara's son (Bimbisārassa putto orasako) (MA.ii.932).

Jaysena once visited the novice Aciravata at Veluvana in Rajgriha and asked him to teach the Doctrine he was following. He said,

"I have heard, good Aggivessana, that if a monk is abiding here diligent, ardent, self-resolute, he may attain one-pointedness of mind."

Reluctantly the novice agreed to show it to Jayasena but at the end of the exposition Jayasena declared that he disagreed with the doctrine. When this was reported to the Buddha he said that Jayasena being brought up to luxury and comfort of palace could not be expected to appreciate renunciation (M.iii.128).

In the words of the Buddha,
That Prince Jayasena, living as he does in the midst of sense-pleasures, enjoying sense-pleasures, being consumed by thoughts of sense-pleasures, burning with the fever of sense-pleasures, eager in the search for sense-pleasures, should know or see or attain or realize that which can be known by renunciation, seen by renunciation, attained by renunciation, realized by renunciation — such a situation does not exist.

Buddha was an excellent teacher and related to students minds well and so he related the teachings to Aggivessana with two similes, explaining to him that to impart the knowledge the teacher must find the right opening that would intrigue and draw out the student in the disciple. He explained that the teachings must also be given in parts and improved upon to the next level after the initial stages are understood.

“Had these two similes occurred to you, Aggivessana, for Prince Jayasena, Prince Jayasena naturally would have acted in the manner of one having trust in you."

He illustrates his meaning by various examples, one being a description of the catching and taming of a wild elephant in stages. (Dantabhumi Sutta: The Discourse on the 'Tamed Stage' M.iii.128ff.)

Aggivessana was new to the Sangha and this discussion with Buddha gave Aggivessana an introduction about teaching the novice and the concept of delivering knowledge in stages with similes. Dhamma is a great doctrine but it must be served to lay people in order to intrigue them and leave them wishing for the next level of understanding that’s coming their way.

Jaysena was curious and was seeking answers from various sources hoping to find a quick understanding without dwelling deep into any particular school of thought thus he had conflicting views of various school of thoughts and his meeting with Aggivessana didn’t help him any further. He was looking for a guide, a true master and since Jayasena knew about his Uncle following the path shown by the Buddha, he decided to visit and consult. Ven Bhumija.

"Master Bhumija, there are some priests & contemplatives who espouse this teaching, espouses this view: 'If one follows the holy life, even when having made a wish [for results], one is incapable of obtaining results. If one follows the holy life even when having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining results. If one follows the holy life even when both having made a wish and having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining results. If one does not follow the holy life even when having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining results.'
With regard to that, what does Master Bhumija's teacher say, what is his view, what does he declare?"

To this Bhumija replied

"I haven't heard this face to face with the Blessed One, prince, I haven't received this face to face with the Blessed One, but there is the possibility that the Blessed One would answer in this way:


'If one follows the holy life inappropriately, even when having made a wish [for results], one is incapable of obtaining results. If one follows the holy life inappropriately, even when having made no wish... both having made a wish and having made no wish... neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is incapable of obtaining results.


[But] if one follows the holy life appropriately, even when having made a wish, one is capable of obtaining results. If one follows the holy life appropriately, even when having made no wish... both having made a wish and having made no wish... neither having made a wish nor having made no wish, one is capable of obtaining results.

(Bhumija Sutta: To Bhumija (M.iii.138).)

Jayasena was pleased with the discourse and entertained Bhumija to his own dish of rice.

Bhumija later discussed the discussion with the Buddha. The Buddha shared with him four situations on how he could have supported the teachings with similes… the Buddha said,

"Bhumija, if these four similes had occurred to you in the presence of Prince Jayasena, he would have naturally felt confidence in you and — feeling confidence — would have shown his confidence in you."

We don’t have any further reference of whether Jayasena took refuge in Sangha or not.