Next From birth Siddhartha was a physically weak child, who
was lonely and very sensitive to the mutability, sadness, and
contradictions of the human condition.There is the following legend about the young Buddha. At the time of the annual ceremony of the first tilling of the soil, he was taken by his father to participate. The prince was closely watching the farmers working The farmers who worked covered with mud and sweat were imprinted as the image of mans suffering on the prince's heart. Insects crawled out from the earth freshly turned by their spades. While he was gazing at their movement, a bird appeared out of thin air and in one quick movement swooped onto the insect, caught it in its beak, and flew away. The prince witnessed the reality of the law of the jungle of the natural world in which living things have to prey on each other and also saw the suffering that men endure The prince sank into a despondent mood, and full of pity, started meditating under a tree in the nearby forest. When kings went to look for in the prince who had disappeared, they found him as a prince with a divine appearance. The shade of the tree stopped moving with the sun, and provided continuous shade for the prince. On seeing him in this form, they all instinctively offered up a prayer. Perhaps because he felt the emptiness of not having a true mother, from a young age, he seems to have been sensitive to the mutability of the world. Beautiful in appearance and protected from life's dirtiness, by the age of 7 the prince was acquiring broad knowledge, military arts, and arts necessary for a king.. King Sddordana fearing his son might become a priest, early on invited the princess Yashordara to be his bride.Thanks to the king's care, the two young people were isolated evil, unhappy or foul circumstances, and lived surrounded by beautiful music and dance in the royal palace, wanting for nothing. However, the prince was not happy in his heart. Before long, a boy was born and given the name Rarfra (restraint). One day, the prince asked the king for permission to go out. The king arranged that the road be prepared and put in good condition, and that only selected people who were young, healthy and beautiful should be visible to his son. However, the prince saw the elderly, the sick, and even the dead. The gods who wished him to become a priest as soon as possible had caused this.. "Even though everyone knows they face death, why do they live in such a calm manner, taking life easy? " "Since I know I will die, why should I spend time enjoying myself?" "Turn the carriage round." The prince fell into a pensive mood on his return journey. When attempts were made to comfort him by suggesting enjoyable activities at the palace, his mood only became worse. In the garden where lovely flowers were blooming and birds flitting, the prince was enticed by beautiful women singing, playing musical instruments and dancing. People got drunk on the nectar, and there was no end to the treat. However, Siddhartha's intense concern that at base all living things undergo suffering from sickness, aging, and death, and his awareness that everything would disappear before long was not dispelled. Are these young women, now so young and beautiful, not aware that this will all soon disappear and they will face sickness ageing and death? Therefore, it is likely to be laughed at them anxiously. However, the world is not something that will continue forever, and when I think of the world as an ever changing, eternally mutable thing, living according to one's desires and indulging one's lusts no longer seems a happy course. There is no comfort in these things. As the sun set and the banquet ended, the women also returned to the house and suddenly the glittering atmosphere faded and everything became quiet.. The prince seeing this and feeling afresh the mutability of life returned to the royal palace. From that time, whatever he saw, his heart was never full and he spent anxious days until, one day, with a calmer mind he walked alone into the forest. At the base of a tree he found a person engaged in spiritual training "Who are you?" "I am looking for an answer to the question of life and death, and in my search for emancipation have become a priest. Released from life's suffering and confusion, I am continuing spiritual training to obtain peace of mind and immortality." The prince trembled with pleasure. Let's be become a priest also by me, reborn, die, escape from suffering of the changing transmigration of the soul, and request an immortal road. The prince who had returned to the royal palace entered the room of his father. "Please forgive my becoming a priest father. I am looking for the true road in life. I want to obtain the peace of mind that comes from knowing the truth." The king realized that his fears had become reality "Please throw away such desires, my prince. You are still young. I want you to enjoy the pleasures of this world now, and to defend the royal family's prosperity. Being such a small country, we never know when it will be invaded by the Korsara kingdom. Please give up your plan. If you do, I will fulfill any dream you have." "In that case, I have four requests. If you can fulfill these, I will stay for ever at your side. My first wish is that I never die My second wish is that I never get sick My third wish is that I never grow old. My fourth wish is that I never become unhappy." "You should not ask for such an impossible thing. There is no human for whom these wishes can be fulfilled." "Then, please let me become a priest to solve these anxieties and sufferings." The king kept a close watch on the prince after this and ordered his servants to afford the prince even more pleasure. The prince and prince's wife, princess Yashordara and his young son Rarfra warmly welcomed the prince when he returned to his rooms. Beautifully dressed women also did their utmost to look after the prince.. The prince suddenly woke up in the middle of the night. He woke up the fleet-footed groom, Channa, and ordered him to bring his beloved horse Kantaca as he intended to become a priestAnd, he said to Channa, who was desperately trying to stop him. "In my life so far, I have tasted the physical pleasures of life but found no satisfaction in them. My intention to become a priest and seek peace of mind is fixed and immovable." When the prince mounted his horse, the bolt of the castle gate slid open naturally and not a soul awoke as he left. The prince arrived in the vicinity of the Anormar river at daybreak. Getting off his horse, he removed his crown and said "Please present this to the king. Please tell him I have become a priest and taken up spiritual training in order to provide relief to all living creatures who are in in suffering and pain. I will not return until I have found enlightenment." The he removed all other jewelry and accessories he was wearing. "Please hand these to my mother and Yashordara and tell them to abandon their love for me." He ignored the entreaties of his groom Channa. It is said that his horse Cantaca also realized this was the moment of separation, and looked sad. At the moment the prince wished for suitable clothes for someone training as a priest, a hunter wearing a light brown ragged clothes mysteriously appeared and exchanged clothes with him. After that, he shaved off his hair, and having taken an appearance suitable for those in spiritual training in the forests, Prince Siddhartha of the Shakya family went forth to seek the moment of enlightenment to become Buddha. |
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