I suppose in the buddhas time ordaining seems to have been more commonly accepted (the youngest person in the family set out to seek enlightenment?) than it is now. So most people who was serious about the dhamma would have done so. But now the situation is quite different- I see many lay people who are more seriouc about their practice than monks.
I personally dont know at what time of the buddha's dispensation this conversation took place or whether Anathapindika was particurly unlucky as there were lay people like Citta who were so good witht he dhamma that they preached to monks. Many lay people were non-returners. Many more were once-returners and stream enterers. Incidentally Sariputta was admonished by the Buddha for not going far enough in his teaching for the layity.
I recall another sutta where Anathapindika is told by the Buddha that his generosity is adequate and that it is time for him to spend in seclusion. Even Sariputta praises this in the sutta. However it is unclear whether Anathapindika took heed of this advice. I suspect from his crying that he didnt. I cant see the Buddha not giving a teaching if it was asked of him. It is a good lesson to all of us not to wait until we are on our deathbed to practice the dhamma:
Then Anathapindika the householder, surrounded by about 500 lay followers, went to the Blessed One and, on arrival, having bowed down to him, sat to one side. As he was sitting there the Blessed One said to him, "Householder, you have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick, but you shouldn't rest content with the thought, 'We have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick.' So you should train yourself, 'Let's periodically enter & remain in seclusion & rapture.' That's how you should train yourself."
When this was said, Ven. Sariputta said to the Blessed One, "It's amazing, lord. It's astounding, how well put that was by the Blessed One: 'Householder, you have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick, but you shouldn't rest content with the thought, "We have provided the community of monks with robes, alms food, lodgings, & medicinal requisites for the sick." So you should train yourself, "Let's periodically enter & remain in seclusion & rapture." That's how you should train yourself.'
"Lord, when a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, there are five possibilities that do not exist at that time: The pain & distress dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is skillful do not exist at that time. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, these five possibilities do not exist at that time."
[The Blessed One said:] "Excellent, Sariputta. Excellent. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, there are five possibilities that do not exist at that time: The pain & distress dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on sensuality do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pleasure & joy dependent on what is unskillful do not exist at that time. The pain & distress dependent on what is skillful do not exist at that time. When a disciple of the noble ones enters & remains in seclusion & rapture, these five possibilities do not exist at that time."
http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka ... tml#anatha
