The Buddha who went into the village to beg… arrived at the village of Sena in Uruvela. He went from house to house and came to the home of Brahmin Senani, standing silently outside the door. Seeing the Buddha’s noble presence and radiance, the girl Sucata came out, took his alms bowl, and filled it generously with food. She offered this to the Blessed One. When the Buddha received the food, he said to her, “You should take refuge in the Buddha and the Dharma.” She then took the twofold refuge. Sucata became the first female disciple (upāsikā) from outside the monastic order to accept the twofold refuge.











