Reading Notes: The Life of Buddha: Reading B
Siddhartha's father kept showering his son with gifts. He did not was to see his son leave to live a life in the forests. Siddhartha had a son with his wife the princess. However, through this all, the king lived a virtuous and humbled life, never giving into the possible sins around him.
Siddhartha ventures off to discover three encounters. The first was old age, the second was illness, and the third was death. Little by little, each encounter dampened Siddhartha's upbeat mood. His father, the king, was still trying with all the power he could to shield his son from this, but the gods were forcing Siddhartha to these encounters.
Siddhartha continues these grievances, and denies/shuns his father and friend, Udayin, of the gifts of beautiful maidens they've given to him. He returns to the palace still hopeless where his wife Dropa has a dream essentially about the end of the world. On the contrary, Siddhartha says to rejoice, for she shall be saved from evil one day.
Siddhartha then asks his father to part from the palace in order to live a life of deliverance. The king refuses this request, so Siddhartha says I will not leave if you promise me 4 things. The king says his promises are much too powerful to promise and that he could not. Siddhartha tells his father of him leaving, and part to the royal stables.
Siddhartha arrives at the stables and orders the man to bring the horse that was once his fathers, Kanthaka. The man obeys him and essentially, Siddhartha is on his was from the palace. The section ends with Siddhartha saying he will not return until he has seen the end of life and death.
Siddhartha changes into plain robes from a hunter who was presented to him from the gods. He also cuts off his hair with Chandaka's sword in order to bring a more plain appearance to himself.
The entire city was in disbelief. The king, Siddhartha's mother, his wife, and everyone else prayed and hoped for his return, but it never came. When Chandaka returned with Kanthaka, he had told the people what had happened and when Siddhartha would return. Kanthaka drops dead in the stable with the other horses.
Bibliography:
The Life of Buddha by A. Ferdinand Herold, tr. by Paul C Blum
Siddhartha ventures off to discover three encounters. The first was old age, the second was illness, and the third was death. Little by little, each encounter dampened Siddhartha's upbeat mood. His father, the king, was still trying with all the power he could to shield his son from this, but the gods were forcing Siddhartha to these encounters.
Siddhartha continues these grievances, and denies/shuns his father and friend, Udayin, of the gifts of beautiful maidens they've given to him. He returns to the palace still hopeless where his wife Dropa has a dream essentially about the end of the world. On the contrary, Siddhartha says to rejoice, for she shall be saved from evil one day.
Siddhartha then asks his father to part from the palace in order to live a life of deliverance. The king refuses this request, so Siddhartha says I will not leave if you promise me 4 things. The king says his promises are much too powerful to promise and that he could not. Siddhartha tells his father of him leaving, and part to the royal stables.
Siddhartha arrives at the stables and orders the man to bring the horse that was once his fathers, Kanthaka. The man obeys him and essentially, Siddhartha is on his was from the palace. The section ends with Siddhartha saying he will not return until he has seen the end of life and death.
Siddhartha changes into plain robes from a hunter who was presented to him from the gods. He also cuts off his hair with Chandaka's sword in order to bring a more plain appearance to himself.
The entire city was in disbelief. The king, Siddhartha's mother, his wife, and everyone else prayed and hoped for his return, but it never came. When Chandaka returned with Kanthaka, he had told the people what had happened and when Siddhartha would return. Kanthaka drops dead in the stable with the other horses.
Chandaka bringing Kanthaka back in sculpture form. Wikimedia
Bibliography:
The Life of Buddha by A. Ferdinand Herold, tr. by Paul C Blum
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