ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Subhuti

Subhuti is a person who lived a long, long time ago in ancient India. He was a wise man who was a disciple of Gautama Buddha, who was an even wiser man. Subhuti was known for asking the Buddha lots of questions, and the Buddha was happy to answer them because he knew Subhuti sincerely wanted to learn and understand.

Subhuti's questions were very deep and philosophical, and they helped the Buddha to explain some of his most important teachings. In fact, the Sutras (sacred texts of Buddhism) contain many dialogues between Subhuti and the Buddha. Some of these dialogues are about emptiness, compassion, and mindfulness, which are big ideas that can make your brain hurt if you're not careful.

Subhuti was also an important figure in the development of Mahayana Buddhism. This is a branch of Buddhism that emphasizes the idea of bodhisattva, which means one who seeks enlightenment not only for themselves, but also for the benefit of all beings. Subhuti believed that understanding emptiness was a key to becoming a bodhisattva, so he asked the Buddha many questions about it.

Overall, Subhuti was an important figure in the history of Buddhism because he was curious, humble, and eager to learn. He listened carefully to the Buddha's teachings and tried to apply them in his own life. He also helped the Buddha to share these teachings with others, which is how Buddhism has spread throughout the world today.