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BUDDHA

During a conversation on non-attachment, Bhagavan

said, In this part of the country, one of our ancients wrote,

O Lord, thou hast given me a hand to use as pillow under

my head, a cloth to cover my loins, hands wherewith to eat

food, what more do I want? This is my great good fortune!That is the purport of the verse. Is it really possible to say

how great a good fortune that is? Even the greatest kings

wish for such happiness. There is nothing to equal it. Having

experienced both these conditions, I know the difference

between this and that. These beds, sofa and articles around

me all this is bondage.

Is not the Buddha an example of this? asked a devotee.

Thereupon Sri Bhagavan began speaking about Buddha.

YES, SAID BHAGAVAN, when the Buddha was in the

palace with all possible luxuries in the world, he was still sad.

To remove his sadness, his father created more luxuries thanever. But none of them satisfied the Buddha. At midnight he

left his wife and child and disappeared. He remained in great

austerity for six years, realised the Self; and for the welfare of

the world became a mendicant (bhikshu). It was only after he

became a mendicant that he enjoyed great bliss. Really, what

more did he require?

In the garb of a mendicant he came to his own city, did

he not? asked a devotee.

Yes, yes, said Bhagavan. Having heard that he was

coming, his father, Suddhodana, decorated the royal elephant

and went out with his whole army to receive him on the main

road. But without touching the main road, the Buddha came

by side roads and by-lanes; he sent his close associates to the

various streets for alms while he himself in the guise of a

mendicant went by another way to his father. How could the

father know that his son was coming in that guise! Yasodhara

(the Buddhas wife), however, recognised him, made her son

prostrate before his father and herself prostrated. After that, the

father recognised the Buddha. Suddhodana however, had never

expected to see his son in such a state and was very angry and

shouted, Shame on you! What is this garb? Does one who should

have the greatest of riches come like this? Ive had enough of it!

And with that, he looked furiously at the Buddha. Regretting

that his father had not yet got rid of his ignorance, the Buddha

too, began to look at his father with even greater intensity. In

this war of looks, the father was defeated. He fell at the feet of

his son and himself became a mendicant. Only a man with

non-attachment can know the power of non-attachment, said

Bhagavan, his voice quivering with emotion.