Ya.. because he is blind to the world.
Let me relate a story..
...Im going to tell you first
about Anandas elder brother
Sundarananda, since I havent introduced him to you yet.
Sundarananda got along very well with his wife Sundari; they
stuck
together like glue. All day long they stayed right beside one
another, they were so compatible. In fact, to distinguish him
from
Ananda. Sundarananda was given the name Sundaris Nanada
Sundarananda.
The day came when the Buddha went to cross Sundarananda
over. He took up his bowl and went to Sundaranandas home to
beg
for food. When Sundarananda saw the Buddha coming, he
withdrew from his wife and said, Wait a bit, I am going to
make
offerings to the Buddha.
His wife said, You are going to make offerings to the
Buddha?
Come back immediately. Dont go and then not come back. Of
course, Ill come right back, Sundarananda said.
Sundari then spit on the dirt floor and said, Youd better
be
back before that dries, or I wont let you in my bed.
Sundarananda heeded the command and said, Ill be back right
away, for sure. And he took vegetables and rice to fill the
Buddhas bowl.
He went to fill the bowl, but how was he to know that the
Buddha would act so strangely? The Buddha used his spiritual
power. Every time Sundarananda took a step forward to place
the
food in the Buddhas bowl, the Buddha backed up, so that
Sundarananda couldnt reach the bowl. Sundarananda kept
advancing to keep up with the Buddha, and in just a few steps
they
arrived at the Jeta Grove, despite the fact that it was a long
way
from Sundaranandas house. Once they got there, Shakyamuni
Buddha said, Dont go back. You stay here with me and leave
the
home-life.
Sundarananda was shocked; he got goose-flesh. Impossible,
he said emphatically. I cant stay. Sundari is waiting for me. I
cant
remain here and leave home.
The Buddha said, You cant leave home? Let me show you
some things and see what you think. He took Sundarananda to
a
place where there were hordes of monkeys. Which is more
beautiful, the Buddha asked him, these monkeys or your wife
Sundari?
Obviously Sundari is more beautiful, replied Sundarananda.
How could Sundari be compared to a monkey?
Quite right, the Buddha agreed, and took him to the
heavens.
As they strolled among they noticed one particular palace was
bustling with activity as servants scrubbed and polished.
There
were also 500 heavenly maidens in that palace, each one
exquisite
beyond compare.
Why are you doing all this cleaning? Sundaranda asked one
of the servants.
Were getting this palace ready for the Buddhas cousin
Sundarananda, they replied. After he cultivates hell come
to
heaven to enjoy his blessings. These 500 heavenly maidens will
be
his wives.
Sundarananda was ecstatic.
Tell me, Nanada, the Buddha said to him, which would you
say is more beautiful, Sundari or these heavenly maidens?
These maidens, obviously, Sundarananda replied. Why,
compared to these maidens, Sundari is as ugly as a monkey.
Fine, said the Buddha, this place is being readied for
you.
After they finished touring the place the Buddha took his
cousin
down to the hells. There they saw two ghosts heating a cauldron
of
oil. One of the ghosts was sound asleep and although the other
one
was awake, he didnt have his eyes open. Nanda sized up the
situation and thought to himself, these ghosts are suppose to
be
tending the fire under that cauldron, but theyre not doing their
job
at all. Boy, are ghosts lazy! Then he meddled a bit and nudged
one,
saying, What are you doing this for?
The little ones droopy eyes popped open and glared at him.
Whats it to you? he snapped.
I just wondered, said Sundarananda.
You gotta know, huh? Okay, Ill tell you. The Buddhas got a
cousin whos cultivating the blessings of people and gods.
Hes
going to get born in the heavens and enjoy 500 years of
heavenly
blessings before he falls. Once he topples, however, hell come
all
the way down to hell and when he gets here, were supposed to
have this pot hot. Hes to be deep-fried alive.
Sundarananda was horrified and his hair stood on end. He
suddenly understood the whole picture and thought, Those
heavenly maidens are ravishing, but 500 years of bliss with
them
isnt worth it if Im eventually going to end up in a pot of
boiling
oil. Id better follow the Buddha, leave home, and be a monk.
So
he forget about Sundari and left home.
In order to rescue Sundarananda, the Buddha had to accompany
him to the heavens and the hells...
~ The Shurangama Sutra, commentary by Ven Hsuan Hua
Sundarananda later attained the goal of Arhatship, liberation,
Nirvana.
