It was also in this city of Kosambī that, during the period between the end of the ninth rain retreat and the beginning of the tenth rain retreat by the Gotama Buddha, an event took place at Ghositārāma temple as follows:
 
A group of vinayadhara monks, experts in Vinaya, i.e., the disciplinary code, and a group of suttanadhara monks, experts in the Dhamma, i.e., the teachings, quarreled and argued with each other over a trivial matter:
 
* A vinayadhara monk came out of the toilet, leaving some washing water in the container.
* A suttanadhara bhikkhu went into the toilet and saw the residual washing water in the container.
 
Such a small misunderstanding caused a great division among the monks in Kosambī, such that they refused to cooperate in Sangha activities.
 
Recognizing the quarrelsome, the Buddha came and advised each group of monks to refrain from quarreling and arguing, instead repent, live in harmony, and carry out the Sangha activities together. However, neither group listened to the advice of the Buddha.
 
One day, the Blessed One went for an alms round in Kosambī, and afterward left Kosambī by Himself for the Pālileyyaka grove. Alone in this desolate forest, the Blessed One thought:
 
“Until recently, the two groups of monks from Kosambī quarreled intensely with each other. Now that the Tathagata is alone, with no one around, the solitude and quietness are striking!”
 
The Blessed One began the tenth rain retreat in this Palileyyaka forest. Pālileyyaka, the elephant king, was hiding in this forest because he was tired of living among a herd of young elephants. He met the Blessed One and felt very joyous to serve the Blessed One, like a dutiful disciple caring for his teacher.
 
Seeing the elephant king Pālileyyaka serving the Blessed One, the monkey king generated pure faith, and also imitated and served the Blessed One. Every day, the monkey king went to the forest to look for delicious ripe fruits and brought them back as offerings to the Blessed One.
 
One day, the monkey king found a honeybee hive with no bees. He brought it to the Blessed One and offered it to Him. Seeing that the Blessed One was using that honey, the monkey king joyfully jumped and danced, but he accidentally fell and died. After his death, the great wholesome kamma of his honey offerings resulted in his rebirth as a deity named Makkaṭa Devaputta, a deity in the magnificent palace in the Thirty-Three Heaven.
 
After the three-month rain retreat, Ven. Ānanda and a group of 500 monks left Sāvatthi for the Pālileyyaka forest to pay respects to the Blessed One. At that time, the Blessed One preached the Dhamma to the 500 bhikkhus, all of whom realized the Four Noble Truths, attained the Four Noble Paths, the Four Noble Fruits, and Nibbāna, and became Arahants there.
 
Ven. Ānanda respectfully invited the Blessed One to visit the city of Sāvatthi at the request of Anāthapiṇḍika, a wealthy landowner, Mrs. Visākhā, and others, The Blessed One silently accepted. He left the Pālileyyaka grove and went to Sāvatthi along with the monks.
 
As the elephant king Pālileyyaka saw off the Blessed One to the edge of the forest, the Blessed One turned to advise the elephant king Pālileyyaka, “Hey, Palileyyaka! You should go back to the forest; beyond this is human territory, it could be unsafe for you!” Hearing the blasphemous loving-kindness voice arising from the Buddha, the elephant king Pālileyyaka stopped and watched with boundless love and respect.
 
After the Blessed One was out of sight, the elephant king Pālileyyaka stood there and died. After his death, the great wholesome kamma of serving the Blessed One resulted in his rebirth as Pālileyyaka Devaputta, a deity in the magnificent castle in the Thirty-Three Heaven.
 
Daylight came to Kosambī. We crossed the trails that connected the winding roads. The surroundings were melancholy and desolate, bearing the mark of sadness as if recalling that old day when the Buddha abandoned the Sangha in a deep forest and was accompanied by the elephant king and monkey king, serving the Blessed One. Are these lingering concerns from more than 2500 years ago, or just my feelings?
 
Day after day passed, and we gradually moved away from that tragic place, heading towards Saṅkassa, through the freezing weather. Despite mornings of eating instant noodles while shivering, the Sangha moved on, embracing the journey with joy.

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Source: Dhammacetiya