What
Buddhists Believe
Venerable K. Sri Dhammananda Maha Thera
---o0o---
His
Renunciation
The renunciation of Prince Siddhartha
was the boldest step that a man has ever taken.
Critics
have condemned Siddhartha for His manner of leaving home and Kingdom. Some
described it as a 'callous abandonment of wife and family'. Yet what would
have happened if He had not left so stealthily and had approached His
loved ones for a formal farewell? They would, of course, have implored him
to change His mind. The scene would have been hysterical, and quite
possibly the little domain of His father Rajah Suddhodana would have been
thrown into turmoil. His intention to seek the truth would have had to be
aborted by His father and wife who would prevent Him from His renunciation
plans. At the age of 29 years, Siddhartha was a full-blooded young man in
the prime of life. As it was, the temptation not to abandon all He had
know and loved in order to seek the truth must have been formidable.
During His final moments in the palace, He visited His bedroom and looked
at His slumbering wife and their newborn child. The great impulse to
remain and abandon His plan must have caused Him agony. Certainly in those
days in India, it was considered a noble thing for a man to forsake home
and loved ones to become an ascetic to lead a holy life. All things
considered, it would seem that Siddhartha was right in boldly and quickly
achieving His plan.
He renounced the world not
for His own sake or convenience but for the sake of suffering humanity. To
Him the whole of mankind is one family. The renunciation of Prince
Siddhartha at that early age was the boldest step that a man could have
taken.
Detachment is
one of the most important factors for the attainment of Enlightenment. The
attainment of Enlightenment is by way of non-attachment. Most of life's
troubles are caused by attachment. We get angry, we worry, we become
greedy and complain bitterly. All these causes of unhappiness, tension,
stubbornness and sadness are due to attachment. When we investigate any
trouble or worry we have, the main cause is always attachment. Had Prince
Siddhartha developed His attachment towards His wife, Child, kingdom and
worldly pleasures, He would never have been able to discover the remedy
for suffering mankind. Therefore, He had to sacrifice everything including
worldly pleasures in order to have a concentrated mind free from
distractions, in order to find the Truth that can cure humanity from
suffering.
In the eyes of this young
Prince, the whole world was burning with lust, anger, greed and man other
defilements which ignite the fire of passions. He saw each and every
living being in this including His wife and child, suffering from all
sorts of physical and mental ailments. So determined was He to seek a
solution for the eradication of suffering amongst suffering humanity, that
He was prepared to sacrifice everything.
Two thousand five hundred
years after His renunciation, some people shed crocodile tears or
criticize Him for His action. His wife, however, did not accuse Him for
desertion when she realized the purpose of His renunciation. Instead, she
gave up her luxurious life to lead a simple life as a mark of respect.
Here is how a well-known poet saw the
renunciation of the Buddha:
'Twas not through hatred
of children sweet,
'Twas not through hatred of His lovely wife,
Thriller of hearts-not that He loved them less,
But Buddhahood more, that He renounced them all.
(Dwight Goddard)
-ooOoo-
Previous
page Contents Next
page
---o0o---
Source: Buddhist
Study and Practice Group, http://www.sinc.sunysb.edu/Clubs/buddhism/
---o0o---
Layout: Chan Duc - Nguyen Thao
Update : 01-11-2002
