Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 07: The Bodhisatta's Renunciation"

Latest revision as of 18:24, 31 December 2013

It was night.
The prince found no rest on his soft pillow;
he arose and went out into the garden.
"Alas!" he cried, "all the world is full of darkness and ignorance;
there is no one who knows how to cure the ills of existence."
And he groaned with pain. [1]

Siddhattha sat down beneath the great jambu-tree and gave himself to thought,
pondering on life and death and the evils of decay.
Concentrating his mind he became free from confusion.
All low desires vanished from his heart and perfect tranquillity came over him. [2]

In this state of ecstacy he saw with his mental eye
all the misery and sorrow of the world;
he saw the pains of pleasure and the inevitable certainty of death
that hovers over every being;
yet men are not awakened to the truth.
And a deep compassion seized his heart. [3]

While the prince was pondering on the problem of evil,
he beheld with his mind's eye under the jambu-tree
a lofty figure endowed with majesty, calm and dignified.
"Whence comest thou, and who mayest thou be?" asked the prince. [4]

In reply the vision said: "I am a samana.
Troubled at the thought of old age, disease, and death
I have left my home to seek the path of salvation.
All things hasten to decay;
only the truth abideth forever.
Everything changes, and there is no permanency;
yet the words of the Buddhas are immutable.
I long for the happiness that does not decay;
the treasure that will never perish;
the life that knows of no beginning and no end.
Therefore, I have destroyed all worldly thought.
I have retired into an unfrequented dell to live in solitude;
and, begging for food, I devote myself to the one thing needful." [5]

Siddhattha asked: "Can peace be gained in this world of unrest?
I am struck with the emptiness of pleasure and have become disgusted with lust.
All oppresses me, and existence itself seems intolerable." [6]

The samana replied:
"Where heat is, there is also a possibility of cold;
creatures subject to pain possess the faculty of pleasure;
the origin of evil indicates that good can be developed.
For these things are correlatives.
Thus where there is much suffering, there will be much bliss,
if thou but open thine eyes to behold it.
Just as a man who has fallen into a heap of filth
ought to seek the great pond of water covered with lotuses, which is near by:
even so seek thou for the great deathless lake of Nirvana
to wash off the defilement of wrong.
If the lake is not sought, it is not the fault of the lake.
Even so when there is a blessed road
leading the man held fast by wrong to the salvation of Nirvana,
if the road is not walked upon,
it is not the fault of the road, but of the person.
And when a man who is oppressed with sickness,
there being a physician who can heal him,
does not avail himself of the physician's help,
that is not the fault of the physician.
Even so when a man oppressed by the malady of wrong-doing
does not seek the spiritual guide of enlightenment,
that is no fault of the evil-destroying guide." [7]

The prince listened to the noble words of his visitor and said:
"Thou bringest good tidings,
for now I know that my purpose will be accomplished.
My father advises me to enjoy life and to undertake worldly duties,
such as will bring honour to me and to our house.
He tells me that I am too young still,
that my pulse beats too full to lead a religious life." [8]

The venerable figure shook his head and replied:
"Thou shouldest know that for seeking a religious life no time can be inopportune." [9]

A thrill of joy passed through Siddhattha's heart.
"Now is the time to seek religion," he said;
"now is the time to sever all ties
that would prevent me from attaining perfect enlightenment;
now is the time to wonder into homelessness and, leading a mendicant's life,
to find the path of deliverance." [10]

The celestial messenger heard the resolution of Siddhattha with approval. [11]

"Now, indeed," he added, "is the time to seek religion.
Go, Siddhattha, and accomplish thy purpose.
For thou art Bodhisatta, the Buddha-elect;
thou art destined to enlighten the world. [12]

"Thou art the Tathagata, the great master,
for thou wilt fulfil all righteousness and be Dharmaraja, the king of truth.
Thou art Bhagavat, the Blessed One,
for thou art called upon to become the saviour and redeemer of the world. [13]

"Fulfil thou the perfection of truth.
Though the thunderbolt descend upon thy head,
yield thou never to the allurements that bequile men from the path of truth.
As the sun at all seasons pursues his own course, nor ever goes on another,
even so if thou forsake not the straight path of righteousness,
thou shalt become a Buddha. [14]

"Persevere in thy quest and thou shalt find what thou seekest.
Pursue they aim unswervingly and thou shalt gain the prize.
Struggle earnestly and thou shalt conquer.
The benediction of all deities, of all saints,
of all that seek light is upon thee,
and heavenly wisdom guides thy steps.
Thou shalt be the Buddha, our Master, and our Lord;
Thou shalt enlighten the world and save mankind from perdition." [15]

Having thus spoken, the vision vanished,
and Siddhatta's heart was filled with peace.
He said to himself: [16]

"I have awakened to the truth
and I am resolved to accomplish my purpose.
I will sever all ties that bind me to the world,
and I will go out from my home to seek the way of salvation. [17]

"The Buddhas are beings whose words cannot fail:
there is no departure from truth in their speech. [18]

"For as the fall of a stone thrown into the air,
as the death of a mortal,
as the sunrise at dawn,
as the lion's roar when he leaves his lair,
as the delivery of a woman with child,
as all these things are sure and certain -
even so the word of the Buddhas is sure and cannot fail. [19]

"Verily I shall become a Buddha." [20]

The prince returned to the bedroom of his wife to take a last farewell glance
at those whom he dearly loved above all the treasures of the earth.
He longed to take the infant once more into his arms and kiss him with a parting kiss.
But the child lay in the arms of his mother
and the prince could not lift him without awakening both. [21]

There Siddhattha stood gazing at his beautiful wife and his beloved son,
and his heart grieved.
The pain of parting overcame him powerfully.
Although his mind was determined,
so that nothing, be it good or evil, could shake his resolution,
the tears flowed freely from his eyes,
and it was beyond his power to check their stream.
But the prince tore himself away with a manly heart,
suppressing his feelings but not extinguishing his memory. [22]

The Bodhisatta mounted his noble steed Kanthaka,
and when he left the palace, Mara stood in the gate and stopped him:
"Depart not, O my Lord," exclaimed Mara.
"In seven days from now the wheel of empire will appear,
and will make thee sovereign over the four continents and the two thousand adjacent islands.
Therefore, stay, my Lord." [23]

The Bodhisatta replied:
"Well do I know that the wheel of empire will appear to me;
but it is not sovereignty that I desire.
I will become a Buddha and make all the world shout for joy." [24]

Thus Siddhattha, the prince, renounced power and worldly pleasures,
gave up his kingdom, severed all ties, and went into homelessness.
He rode out into the silent night,
accompanied only by his faithful charioteer Channa. [25]

Darkness lay upon the earth,
but the stars shone brightly in the heavens. [26]

Continue Reading

Source

mountainman.com.au

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{DisplayImages|1579|296|2092|1575|1755|397|416|471|706|1104|1940|1703|776|777|346|2098|639}}
 It was night.<br/>
-The prince found no rest on his soft pillow;<br/>
+The {{Wiki|prince}} found no rest on his soft pillow;<br/>
 he arose and went out into the garden.<br/>
-"Alas!" he cried, "all the world is full of darkness and ignorance;<br/>
+"Alas!" he cried, "all the [[world]] is full of darkness and [[ignorance]];<br/>
-there is no one who knows how to cure the ills of existence."<br/>
+there is no one who [[knows]] how to cure the ills of [[existence]]."<br/>
-And he groaned with pain. [1]<br/>
+And he groaned with [[pain]]. [1]<br/>
 <br/>
-Siddhattha sat down beneath the great jambu-tree and gave himself to thought,<br/>
+[[Siddhattha]] sat down beneath the great jambu-tree and gave himself to [[thought]],<br/>
-pondering on life and death and the evils of decay.<br/>
+[[pondering]] on [[life]] and [[death]] and the [[evils]] of [[decay]].<br/>
-Concentrating his mind he became free from confusion.<br/>
+{{Wiki|Concentrating}} his [[mind]] he became free from {{Wiki|confusion}}.<br/>
-All low desires vanished from his heart and perfect tranquillity came over him. [2]<br/>
+All low [[desires]] vanished from his [[heart]] and perfect [[tranquillity]] came over him. [2]<br/>
 <br/>
-In this state of ecstacy he saw with his mental eye<br/>
+In this state of ecstacy he saw with his [[mental]] [[eye]]<br/>
-all the misery and sorrow of the world;<br/>
+all the [[misery]] and [[sorrow]] of the [[world]];<br/>
-he saw the pains of pleasure and the inevitable certainty of death<br/>
+he saw the [[pains]] of [[pleasure]] and the inevitable certainty of [[death]]<br/>
 that hovers over every being;<br/>
-yet men are not awakened to the truth.<br/>
+yet men are not [[awakened]] to the [[truth]].<br/>
-And a deep compassion seized his heart. [3]<br/>
+And a deep [[compassion]] seized his [[heart]]. [3]<br/>
 <br/>
-While the prince was pondering on the problem of evil,<br/>
+While the {{Wiki|prince}} was [[pondering]] on the problem of [[evil]],<br/>
-he beheld with his mind's eye under the jambu-tree<br/>
+he beheld with his [[mind's]] [[eye]] under the jambu-tree<br/>
-a lofty figure endowed with majesty, calm and dignified.<br/>
+a lofty figure endowed with majesty, [[calm]] and dignified.<br/>
-"Whence comest thou, and who mayest thou be?" asked the prince. [4]<br/>
+"Whence comest thou, and who mayest thou be?" asked the {{Wiki|prince}}. [4]<br/>
 <br/>
-In reply the vision said: "I am a samana.<br/>
+In reply the [[vision]] said: "I am a [[samana]].<br/>
-Troubled at the thought of old age, disease, and death<br/>
+Troubled at the [[thought]] of [[old age]], {{Wiki|disease}}, and [[death]]<br/>
-I have left my home to seek the path of salvation.<br/>
+I have left my home to seek the [[path]] of {{Wiki|salvation}}.<br/>
-All things hasten to decay;<br/>
+All things hasten to [[decay]];<br/>
-only the truth abideth forever.<br/>
+only the [[truth]] abideth forever.<br/>
 Everything changes, and there is no permanency;<br/>
-yet the words of the Buddhas are immutable.<br/>
+yet the words of the [[Buddhas]] are immutable.<br/>
-I long for the happiness that does not decay;<br/>
+I long for the [[happiness]] that does not [[decay]];<br/>
-the treasure that will never perish;<br/>
+the [[treasure]] that will never perish;<br/>
-the life that knows of no beginning and no end.<br/>
+the [[life]] that [[knows]] of no beginning and no end.<br/>
-Therefore, I have destroyed all worldly thought.<br/>
+Therefore, I have destroyed all [[worldly]] [[thought]].<br/>
-I have retired into an unfrequented dell to live in solitude;<br/>
+I have retired into an unfrequented dell to live in [[solitude]];<br/>
-and, begging for food, I devote myself to the one thing needful." [5]<br/>
+and, begging for [[food]], I devote myself to the one thing needful." [5]<br/>
 <br/>
-Siddhattha asked: "Can peace be gained in this world of unrest?<br/>
+[[Siddhattha]] asked: "Can [[peace]] be gained in this [[world]] of unrest?<br/>
-I am struck with the emptiness of pleasure and have become disgusted with lust.<br/>
+I am struck with the [[emptiness]] of [[pleasure]] and have become disgusted with [[lust]].<br/>
-All oppresses me, and existence itself seems intolerable." [6]<br/>
+All oppresses me, and [[existence]] itself seems intolerable." [6]<br/>
 <br/>
-The samana replied:<br/>
+The [[samana]] replied:<br/>
 "Where heat is, there is also a possibility of cold;<br/>
-creatures subject to pain possess the faculty of pleasure;<br/>
+creatures [[subject]] to [[pain]] possess the faculty of [[pleasure]];<br/>
-the origin of evil indicates that good can be developed.<br/>
+the origin of [[evil]] indicates that good can be developed.<br/>
 For these things are correlatives.<br/>
-Thus where there is much suffering, there will be much bliss,<br/>
+Thus where there is much [[suffering]], there will be much [[bliss]],<br/>
-if thou but open thine eyes to behold it.<br/>
+if thou but open thine [[eyes]] to behold it.<br/>
 Just as a man who has fallen into a heap of filth<br/>
-ought to seek the great pond of water covered with lotuses, which is near by:<br/>
+ought to seek the great pond of [[water]] covered with [[lotuses]], which is near by:<br/>
-even so seek thou for the great deathless lake of Nirvana<br/>
+even so seek thou for the great {{Wiki|deathless}} lake of [[Nirvana]]<br/>
-to wash off the defilement of wrong.<br/>
+to wash off the [[defilement]] of wrong.<br/>
 If the lake is not sought, it is not the fault of the lake.<br/>
 Even so when there is a blessed road<br/>
-leading the man held fast by wrong to the salvation of Nirvana,<br/>
+leading the man held fast by wrong to the {{Wiki|salvation}} of [[Nirvana]],<br/>
 if the road is not walked upon,<br/>
-it is not the fault of the road, but of the person.<br/>
+it is not the fault of the road, but of the [[person]].<br/>
-And when a man who is oppressed with sickness,<br/>
+And when a man who is oppressed with [[sickness]],<br/>
-there being a physician who can heal him,<br/>
+there being a {{Wiki|physician}} who can heal him,<br/>
 does not avail himself of the physician's help,<br/>
-that is not the fault of the physician.<br/>
+that is not the fault of the {{Wiki|physician}}.<br/>
 Even so when a man oppressed by the malady of wrong-doing<br/>
-does not seek the spiritual guide of enlightenment,<br/>
+does not seek the [[spiritual guide]] of [[enlightenment]],<br/>
 that is no fault of the evil-destroying guide." [7]<br/>
 <br/>
-The prince listened to the noble words of his visitor and said:<br/>
+The {{Wiki|prince}} listened to the [[noble]] words of his visitor and said:<br/>
 "Thou bringest good tidings,<br/>
 for now I know that my purpose will be accomplished.<br/>
-My father advises me to enjoy life and to undertake worldly duties,<br/>
+My father advises me to enjoy [[life]] and to undertake [[worldly]] duties,<br/>
 such as will bring honour to me and to our house.<br/>
 He tells me that I am too young still,<br/>
-that my pulse beats too full to lead a religious life." [8]<br/>
+that my pulse beats too full to lead a [[religious]] [[life]]." [8]<br/>
 <br/>
-The venerable figure shook his head and replied:<br/>
+The [[venerable]] figure shook his head and replied:<br/>
-"Thou shouldest know that for seeking a religious life no time can be inopportune." [9]<br/>
+"Thou shouldest know that for seeking a [[religious]] [[life]] no [[time]] can be inopportune." [9]<br/>
 <br/>
-A thrill of joy passed through Siddhattha's heart.<br/>
+A thrill of [[joy]] passed through Siddhattha's [[heart]].<br/>
-"Now is the time to seek religion," he said;<br/>
+"Now is the [[time]] to seek [[religion]]," he said;<br/>
-"now is the time to sever all ties<br/>
+"now is the [[time]] to sever all ties<br/>
-that would prevent me from attaining perfect enlightenment;<br/>
+that would prevent me from [[attaining]] [[perfect enlightenment]];<br/>
-now is the time to wonder into homelessness and, leading a mendicant's life,<br/>
+now is the [[time]] to wonder into homelessness and, leading a mendicant's [[life]],<br/>
-to find the path of deliverance." [10]<br/>
+to find the [[path]] of [[deliverance]]." [10]<br/>
 <br/>
-The celestial messenger heard the resolution of Siddhattha with approval. [11]<br/>
+The [[celestial]] messenger heard the resolution of [[Siddhattha]] with approval. [11]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Now, indeed," he added, "is the time to seek religion.<br/>
+"Now, indeed," he added, "is the [[time]] to seek [[religion]].<br/>
-Go, Siddhattha, and accomplish thy purpose.<br/>
+Go, [[Siddhattha]], and accomplish thy purpose.<br/>
-For thou art Bodhisatta, the Buddha-elect;<br/>
+For thou [[art]] [[Bodhisatta]], the Buddha-elect;<br/>
-thou art destined to enlighten the world. [12]<br/>
+thou [[art]] destined to [[enlighten]] the [[world]]. [12]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Thou art the Tathagata, the great master,<br/>
+"Thou [[art]] the [[Tathagata]], the [[great master]],<br/>
-for thou wilt fulfil all righteousness and be Dharmaraja, the king of truth.<br/>
+for thou wilt fulfil all [[righteousness]] and be [[Dharmaraja]], the [[king]] of [[truth]].<br/>
-Thou art Bhagavat, the Blessed One,<br/>
+Thou [[art]] [[Bhagavat]], the [[Blessed One]],<br/>
-for thou art called upon to become the saviour and redeemer of the world. [13]<br/>
+for thou [[art]] called upon to become the saviour and redeemer of the [[world]]. [13]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Fulfil thou the perfection of truth.<br/>
+"Fulfil thou the [[perfection]] of [[truth]].<br/>
-Though the thunderbolt descend upon thy head,<br/>
+Though the [[thunderbolt]] descend upon thy head,<br/>
-yield thou never to the allurements that bequile men from the path of truth.<br/>
+yield thou never to the allurements that bequile men from the [[path]] of [[truth]].<br/>
-As the sun at all seasons pursues his own course, nor ever goes on another,<br/>
+As the {{Wiki|sun}} at all seasons pursues his own course, nor ever goes on another,<br/>
-even so if thou forsake not the straight path of righteousness,<br/>
+even so if thou forsake not the straight [[path of righteousness]],<br/>
-thou shalt become a Buddha. [14]<br/>
+thou shalt become a [[Buddha]]. [14]<br/>
 <br/>
 "Persevere in thy quest and thou shalt find what thou seekest.<br/>
 Pursue they aim unswervingly and thou shalt gain the prize.<br/>
 Struggle earnestly and thou shalt conquer.<br/>
-The benediction of all deities, of all saints,<br/>
+The benediction of all [[deities]], of all [[saints]],<br/>
 of all that seek light is upon thee,<br/>
-and heavenly wisdom guides thy steps.<br/>
+and [[heavenly]] [[wisdom]] guides thy steps.<br/>
-Thou shalt be the Buddha, our Master, and our Lord;<br/>
+Thou shalt be the [[Buddha]], our [[Master]], and our [[Lord]];<br/>
-Thou shalt enlighten the world and save mankind from perdition." [15]<br/>
+Thou shalt [[enlighten]] the [[world]] and save mankind from perdition." [15]<br/>
 <br/>
-Having thus spoken, the vision vanished,<br/>
+Having thus spoken, the [[vision]] vanished,<br/>
-and Siddhatta's heart was filled with peace.<br/>
+and Siddhatta's [[heart]] was filled with [[peace]].<br/>
 He said to himself: [16]<br/>
 <br/>
-"I have awakened to the truth<br/>
+"I have [[awakened]] to the [[truth]]<br/>
 and I am resolved to accomplish my purpose.<br/>
-I will sever all ties that bind me to the world,<br/>
+I will sever all ties that bind me to the [[world]],<br/>
-and I will go out from my home to seek the way of salvation. [17]<br/>
+and I will go out from my home to seek the way of {{Wiki|salvation}}. [17]<br/>
 <br/>
-"The Buddhas are beings whose words cannot fail:<br/>
+"The [[Buddhas]] are [[beings]] whose words cannot fail:<br/>
-there is no departure from truth in their speech. [18]<br/>
+there is no departure from [[truth]] in their [[speech]]. [18]<br/>
 <br/>
-"For as the fall of a stone thrown into the air,<br/>
+"For as the fall of a stone thrown into the [[air]],<br/>
-as the death of a mortal,<br/>
+as the [[death]] of a {{Wiki|mortal}},<br/>
 as the sunrise at dawn,<br/>
-as the lion's roar when he leaves his lair,<br/>
+as the [[lion's roar]] when he leaves his lair,<br/>
 as the delivery of a woman with child,<br/>
 as all these things are sure and certain -<br/>
-even so the word of the Buddhas is sure and cannot fail. [19]<br/>
+even so the [[word]] of the [[Buddhas]] is sure and cannot fail. [19]<br/>
 <br/>
-"Verily I shall become a Buddha." [20]<br/>
+"Verily I shall become a [[Buddha]]." [20]<br/>
 <br/>
-The prince returned to the bedroom of his wife to take a last farewell glance<br/>
+The {{Wiki|prince}} returned to the bedroom of his wife to take a last farewell glance<br/>
-at those whom he dearly loved above all the treasures of the earth.<br/>
+at those whom he dearly loved above all the [[treasures]] of the [[earth]].<br/>
-He longed to take the infant once more into his arms and kiss him with a parting kiss.<br/>
+He longed to take the {{Wiki|infant}} once more into his arms and kiss him with a parting kiss.<br/>
 But the child lay in the arms of his mother<br/>
-and the prince could not lift him without awakening both. [21]<br/>
+and the {{Wiki|prince}} could not lift him without [[awakening]] both. [21]<br/>
 <br/>
-There Siddhattha stood gazing at his beautiful wife and his beloved son,<br/>
+There [[Siddhattha]] stood gazing at his beautiful wife and his beloved son,<br/>
-and his heart grieved.<br/>
+and his [[heart]] grieved.<br/>
-The pain of parting overcame him powerfully.<br/>
+The [[pain]] of parting overcame him powerfully.<br/>
-Although his mind was determined,<br/>
+Although his [[mind]] was determined,<br/>
-so that nothing, be it good or evil, could shake his resolution,<br/>
+so that nothing, be it good or [[evil]], could shake his resolution,<br/>
-the tears flowed freely from his eyes,<br/>
+the {{Wiki|tears}} flowed freely from his [[eyes]],<br/>
 and it was beyond his power to check their stream.<br/>
-But the prince tore himself away with a manly heart,<br/>
+But the {{Wiki|prince}} tore himself away with a manly [[heart]],<br/>
-suppressing his feelings but not extinguishing his memory. [22]<br/>
+suppressing his [[feelings]] but not [[extinguishing]] his [[memory]]. [22]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Bodhisatta mounted his noble steed Kanthaka,<br/>
+The [[Bodhisatta]] mounted his [[noble]] steed [[Kanthaka]],<br/>
-and when he left the palace, Mara stood in the gate and stopped him:<br/>
+and when he left the palace, [[Mara]] stood in the gate and stopped him:<br/>
-"Depart not, O my Lord," exclaimed Mara.<br/>
+"Depart not, O my [[Lord]]," exclaimed [[Mara]].<br/>
-"In seven days from now the wheel of empire will appear,<br/>
+"In seven days from now the [[wheel]] of [[empire]] will appear,<br/>
-and will make thee sovereign over the four continents and the two thousand adjacent islands.<br/>
+and will make thee sovereign over the [[four continents]] and the two thousand adjacent islands.<br/>
-Therefore, stay, my Lord." [23]<br/>
+Therefore, stay, my [[Lord]]." [23]<br/>
 <br/>
-The Bodhisatta replied:<br/>
+The [[Bodhisatta]] replied:<br/>
-"Well do I know that the wheel of empire will appear to me;<br/>
+"Well do I know that the [[wheel]] of [[empire]] will appear to me;<br/>
-but it is not sovereignty that I desire.<br/>
+but it is not {{Wiki|sovereignty}} that I [[desire]].<br/>
-I will become a Buddha and make all the world shout for joy." [24]<br/>
+I will become a [[Buddha]] and make all the [[world]] shout for [[joy]]." [24]<br/>
 <br/>
-Thus Siddhattha, the prince, renounced power and worldly pleasures,<br/>
+Thus [[Siddhattha]], the {{Wiki|prince}}, renounced power and [[worldly]] [[pleasures]],<br/>
-gave up his kingdom, severed all ties, and went into homelessness.<br/>
+gave up his {{Wiki|kingdom}}, severed all ties, and went into homelessness.<br/>
-He rode out into the silent night,<br/>
+He rode out into the [[silent]] night,<br/>
-accompanied only by his faithful charioteer Channa. [25]<br/>
+accompanied only by his faithful charioteer [[Channa]]. [25]<br/>
 <br/>
-Darkness lay upon the earth,<br/>
+Darkness lay upon the [[earth]],<br/>
-but the stars shone brightly in the heavens. [26]<br/>
+but the {{Wiki|stars}} shone brightly in the [[heavens]]. [26]<br/>
 {{The Gospel of Buddha}}

Difference between revisions of "The Gospel of Buddha:Chapter 07: The Bodhisatta's Renunciation"

Latest revision as of 18:24, 31 December 2013

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