Subhūti

Elder
Subhūti
A Tibetan illustration of Subhūti, where he is known as Rabjor.
TitleForemost in being worthy of gifts, foremost in living remote and in peace, foremost in understanding emptiness (Mahayana)
Personal life
NationalityKosala
Religious life
ReligionBuddhism
SchoolAll (mostly venerated in Mahayana)

Subhūti (Pali: Subhūti; simplified Chinese: 须菩提; traditional Chinese: 須菩提; pinyin: Xūpútí) was one of the ten principal disciples of the Buddha. In Theravada Buddhism, he is considered the disciple who was foremost in being "worthy of gifts" (Pali: dakkhiṇeyyānaṃ) and "living remote and in peace" (Pali: araṇavihārīnaṃ aggo). In Mahayana Buddhism, he is considered foremost in understanding emptiness (Sanskrit: Śūnyatā).

Subhūti was born into a wealthy family and was a relative of Anāthapiṇḍika, the Buddha's chief patron. He became a monk after hearing the Buddha teach at the dedication ceremony of Jetavana Monastery. After ordaining, Subhūti went into the forest and became an arahant while meditating on loving-kindness (Pali: mettā). It is said that due to his mastery of loving-kindness meditation, any gift offered to him bore the greatest merit for the donor, thus earning him the title of foremost in being "worthy of gifts". Subhūti is a major figure in Mahayana Buddhism and is one of the central figures in Prajñāpāramitā sutras.