|
Leaving home and family to live a life of spiritual practice as a mendicant, one who lives only by alms, in 6th century BCE was not so radical. Siddhartha joined the movement that began around the 9th century BCE called “Samanas.” They rejected the Vedic traditions (the forerunner of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism) and believed truth can be understood by reason or meditation.
It was a time of great social change. The Vedic Upanishadic tradition that incorporated samsara with the cause/effect of karma tied a person to continual transmigration and suffering. Samanas rejected this. This, and atman/Brahma is questioned as “everyman.” The Samanas wander the land to “find the basis of true and lasting happiness.”
The Four Gates story of Siddhartha’s ventures outside of the palace gates offers a symbolic legend for him defying his father with the Great Renunciation. What Siddhartha saw on his three ventures outside the palace gates was old age, then illness and finally a corps - death.
At this point, Siddhartha awakens to his understanding that he is not an exception to these conditions of life. He too will grow old, become ill and die. When he awakens to his own mortality and impermanence of existence he sees his wealth, with its associated pleasures, as meaningless.
At 29 he departs from the fourth and last gate, leaving behind years of excess, to seek answers as a mendicant. He puts on the yellow robe of the Samanas, finds a begging bowl and journeys the path of asceticism.
After six years exploring and mastering the different paths Samanas practice as ascetics, Siddhartha arrives at the crucial realization – the middle path. Already a renunciant and already trained in battle (Siddhartha was born into the ksatriya warrior class), Siddhartha fights a last battle with the illusion temptations of Mara. Mara, in this case representing death and desire, is essential to Siddhartha; he needs to conquer the final illusion of self and impermanence. He does conquer them. Earth declares Siddhartha victor.
By dawn Siddhartha realizes perfect enlightenment and is Buddha. Siddhartha awakens to the “no exceptions” rule of life. He awakens to the “all is impermanent” rule of life. He blows out the candle of illusions and faces what we fear most, the illusion of self and its death. His choice to remain awake and share this knowledge entitles him to be called The Buddha.
The variations of this story of Siddhartha’s journey to becoming a Buddha are numerous. But they all begin with the historical basis of the Vedic Upanishadic tradition of his day. In our current western world we forget the powerful role religion/philosophy played in shaping, limiting or liberating individuals through time and geography.
The story of Siddhartha’s leaving the palace gate for the fourth and last time is a powerful one. He gives up everything to try to find what he is seeking, with no guarantee that he will. At what cost will we search for meaning, inner peace, or liberation? The path is not easy but becomes easier on the Shin Buddhist path with “come as you are…”
Namo Amida Butsu
In gassho
Rev. Anita
rev.anit.cbt@outlook.com
|
