Rahula was the Buddha’s son. The Buddha is said to have had three wives. The senior was Gopika, the next was Yashodhara, and the junior was Mrigadava. Rahula was the son of Yashodhara. When he was born, the members of the Shakyan clan from which the Buddha came were outraged because the Buddha had already left home for six years. They all said, “She’s certainly been up to no good. The Buddha has already been gone for six years. How could she legitimately have a son?”
In truth, Rahula had dwelt in his mother’s womb for six long years, but no one believed it; it was too improbable. The angry Shakyans wanted to punish her, to put her to death, and the evil rumors spread through the streets and all over the countryside. Soon everyone knew that the Buddha had been absent for six years and his wife had given birth to a son. One of Yashodhara’s servants spoke to the King on her behalf saying that she had not done anything untoward and that the child really was the Buddha’s, but no one believed her because it’s simply impossible to carry a child for six years. At that time, Yashodara made a vow. “If I have violated the rules of conduct, then, when I jump into a pit of fire, my son and I will burn. If I am blameless, then the heavenly spirits will protect us, and we will not burn.” Then people made a large pit, filled it with lots of wood, and lit a roaring fire. Holding Rahula in her arms, she threw herself into the flaming pit. Miraculously, it turned into a pool of water and a lotus emerged to catch them. Seeing this, the King and everyone else realized they had made a mistake. They knew that the situation with Yashodhara and her son was very special, and they stopped slandering her.
Rahula’s name means “obstacle”. In a former life, as a child, he had plugged up a mouse-hole with a piece of wood and waited six days before he removed it. As a result, he received the retribution of having to dwell in his mother’s womb for six years. Everyone should think it over. The network of cause and effect is indeed severe! Rahula was the Buddha’s son, and even he had to undergo six years of retribution.
“Obstacle” also refers to the fact that he created a lot of trouble for Yashodhara–he was quite an obstacle.
Ultimately, where did Shakyamuni Buddha’s son come from? Was he actually Shakyamuni Buddha’s son?
Yes.
Did Shakyamuni Buddha have his son in the manner common to ordinary husbands and wives?
No. Before the Buddha left home, Yashodhara expressed her desire to have a son. The Buddha merely pointed his finger at her and she became pregnant. This may sound like a myth, but it is only one of many such occurrences within the Buddhadharma. It is an inconceivable realm. If you want to research and verify it, there is no way to do so except by working hard and cultivating until you reach the level where you will know that the realm of the Buddha is miraculous and hard to conceive of. It’s inconceivable.
Just now two people came in and listened to the lecture for a while, but probably they didn’t like what they heard, so they left. It is not easy to sit through the Sutra lectures every day. One must truly have great good roots in order to be able to sit here comfortably. The two of them left because they did not feel comfortable at all.