Chapter 284

Everything around me is like a lamp.

Chapter 338 The Lamp for the Poor.

The Kurukshetra War, which swept across India, ended thousands of years ago. The present-day Bharata has disintegrated and is now in a period of vying for supremacy among sixteen powerful states.

Magadha was one of the sixteen kingdoms, and also the kingdom that Siddhartha ruled for the longest period.

The sunlight shone unabashedly on the impoverished people during the Sixteen Kingdoms period, the radiant Sun bestowing upon them empty promises.

Let them know that arduous labor and harsh conditions are the natural fate of those born lowly. The young children, laughing and playing, watch their parents with hunched backs and covered in sweat, and see the dusty life they too will eventually face, and laugh even louder.

At that moment, Kavia and Siddhartha, dressed in the yellow robes of asceticism, walked together under the blazing Sun, leaning on their Walking Stick.

"Excuse me, how do I get to the Purified Grove of the Rishi Uddaka Ramaputta?"

Looking at the lower- Caste men carrying timber from the side road, Siddhartha asked.

"The Rishi Uddaka Ramaputta? He lives in seclusion to the east of the Royal Palace; just follow this road straight ahead."

Thank you...

Just as he was about to leave with his Teacher, Siddhartha suddenly saw a group of soldiers with livestock, and asked again, "Where are the soldiers taking them?"

"They're going to the Royal Palace for Sacrifice; who knows how bad the harvest will be this year?"

"Sacrifice..."

Siddhartha repeated the word, then watched the people toiling away in the scorching heat, their skin nearly cracked.

"Do you want to stop it?"

Kavia asked.

"If we let the animals work together, the harvest might be better. What's the point of Sacrifice? Judging from what they just said, who knows how many years Sacrifice..."

Then Siddhartha resolutely stood in front of the soldiers, opening his arms.

"Please stop, the animals are already howling."

"Hey, Ascetics, get out of the way."

The soldier looked at Siddhartha with some impatience.

"If you want to pass, then step over my dead body."

"... What are you doing? I'm just following orders, Sacrifice these cattle to the gods. Are you, this Ascetics, trying to defy the Dharma...?"

"My Dharma is to not Sacrifice what people depend on for survival."

Siddhartha said, word by word, "Go and tell your king that there are Renunciant want to stop the sacrifice."

The soldiers, stunned by Siddhartha's imposing presence, were momentarily at a loss, but they quickly went to report to the current king of Magadha.

The King of Magadha had originally planned to Sacrifice 101 animals and 1001 priests, but upon hearing the news from the soldiers, he became furious and quickly rode his horse to the place where Siddhartha was blocking his way.

"This is my land! The place I rule!"

The King of Magadha picked up his sword and glared angrily at Siddhartha, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground with his back to him.

"Kingdom and fall, and so too does the supreme truth of life."

Siddhartha replied calmly.

Are you preaching the Dharma to me?

"I only oppose all evil deeds performed in the name of Dharma."

"If it weren't for the fact that you're a Renunciant, you would already be beheaded."

"I forgive you for the crime of killing the Renunciant."

Siddhartha's words sounded like a provocation to the king, which enraged him so much that he drew his sword to kill him. However, when he reached Siddhartha's face, he was stunned and dropped his sword.

"You... Siddhartha... it's you... the Renunciant... if it weren't for you, I would have almost made a terrible mistake..."

Magadha was located in the middle and lower reaches of the Ganges, roughly corresponding to most of present-day eastern India. In other words, it was very close to Kapilavastu, where Siddhartha was located. The Wheel-Turning King of Magadha knew of Siddhartha, the Chakravartin, very early on, and thus approached him to build a relationship when Siddhartha was young. As a result, the two had a fairly good relationship.

The news of Siddhartha's abdication and becoming Renunciant is currently only circulating within Kapilavastu and has not yet spread elsewhere. This is why the King of Magadha is so shocked that Siddhartha, who should have become Wheel-Turning King), has become Renunciant...

Looking at the familiar person before him, Siddhartha had long since lost his initial hesitation and calmly continued to answer:

"I may die by your hand, but to slaughter these animals on which people depend for survival is a far greater sin."

"Let's put this aside for now... Siddhartha, why did you become Renunciant?"

"I am not afraid of life or death; I only wish to find a way for all beings to be liberated from the cycle of reincarnation. If such a method exists, it is my goal."

Siddhartha's expression remained calm.

"Otherwise, how are we any different from sacrificial animals, left to be slaughtered at will? Your Majesty, they have committed no sin and should not be Sacrifice. They are just as full of life as we are. What Dharma allows us to kill the weak to escape our misfortune? If animals could speak, they would also say that humans must pay the price for the actions of others. If this is Dharma, then the weak Renunciant say, 'This is Adharma.'"

King Magadha was conflicted by Siddhartha's words, for Sacrifice animals to please the gods had been the established practice of the Dharma for many years, and to abandon it now would undoubtedly be to go against the Dharma like the Six Schools. However... for a moment, the king did think that what Siddhartha said made a lot of sense.

So the king thought that no matter what, Siddhartha was ultimately Wheel-Turning King), which led him to make a decision.

"Today, my friend."

The king embraced Siddhartha, saying, "You stopped me from doing something Adharma."

Then, the king turned to the crowd nearby, raised his hand, and continued speaking.

"From this day forward, Magadha shall no longer allow animal Sacrifice!"

Then he turned to face Siddhartha.

"Siddhartha, I never expected we would meet under these circumstances. I am sleeping in bed, while you are lying in the open. How about this, Siddhartha, come with me to the palace. No one will disturb your practice there. I will treat you well—"

But Siddhartha refused the king's request.

"No, Your Majesty, I have saved them today, but countless people and creatures are still struggling in pain, everywhere is filled with sorrow and suffering. If my Teacher and I can end this suffering, we can bring peace and tranquility to all beings."

"Teacher? The one from Kapilavastu?"

The King of Magadha looked around and was surprised to find that it was indeed him. "I didn't expect you to have also become Renunciant..."

Kavia nodded, then said to Siddhartha, "Siddhartha, let the king treat you well. We'll leave tonight."

Since his Teacher had said so, Siddhartha had no choice but to comply.

Kavia and Siddhartha were warmly received by the King of Magadha, and the banquet lasted until nightfall, when darkness enveloped their journey home.

The king of Magadha spent a fortune to invite various Rishi and priests to install lamps along the roads, but a single strong wind extinguished all the lights he had prepared.

"Damn it, what's going on... that's--"

Just as the king was growing increasingly anxious, he saw a faint light shining on the path leading out of the Royal Palace in the pitch-black world. Faint blessings came from the end of the darkness, causing the dim light to gradually expand, and the darkness to retreat in fear.

Far from the magnificent Royal Palace, smoke rising from a humble shed carried the aroma of cheap food. From within, someone sang a prayer, their voice becoming a beacon for those who had previously helped them cease their Sacrifice.

It was a beacon of hope for a brighter tomorrow, a beacon for impoverished people who were too lowly to attend banquets or prepare gifts.

Countless praises and countless aspirations can certainly make life seem magnificent, but a sincere heart that goes unnoticed by anyone can make one feel that their life is full of happiness.

Later Buddhist Scriptures say the following:

The lamp that the king lit sometimes went out, sometimes went completely out.

However, the Future has already arrived.

Even when people extinguished the lamps three times, the light did not go out; instead, it shone brighter, illuminating all directions, rendering the sun, moon, and fire pearls useless.

The Dipankara according to the minds of all beings, and according to their capacity for understanding. They shine even brighter and more intensely, illuminating the Mahabrahma above and the entire three thousand great chiliocosms, where all can see their light.

In the dead of night, in the darkness, Kavia and Siddhartha saw the Rishi Uddaka Ramaputta. From any angle, this Rishi appeared extremely poor, yet a beam of pure white light shone from Rishi, making his bare upper body radiate a silvery glow.

"Peace be with you, Rishi."

Siddhartha was about to take off his Ascetic Robe and put them on the Rishi, but the Rishi waved his hand to stop him.

"I have abandoned clothing; the earth is my garment."

"But you're trembling..."

"My spiritual practice has transcended the limitations of the Flesh. I am no longer afraid of the cold, nor do I need to eat. My asceticism and spiritual practice have made my body strong, ended my desires, and brought me liberation."

What is liberation?

"Bliss."

The ultimate bliss is when a person breaks free from the bondage of Maya, escapes ignorance, and reaches a state of oneness with Brahman. The Upanishads state that 'joy is Brahman.'

"But how can one escape suffering and achieve ultimate liberation?"

"What you call suffering, I do not perceive as suffering. I rejoice in practicing in my own way, and will attain liberation."

"If ascending to heaven is my Fate, how can I save those beings who have lost themselves in this world of endless suffering? What should I do?"

"... Your thoughts are profound; I cannot answer them for you. May you be blessed."

After being rejected by the Rishi Uddaka Ramaputta, Siddhartha walked away somewhat dejectedly.

After a while, he suddenly said to Kavia:

"Teacher, where do you think the waves of the Ganges come from? They must come from the sea, but why is the seabed so calm and still?"

"On the path to knowledge, asking questions is the first step; my Answer may not resolve your confusion."

"But I'm still far from the finish line."

"Now that you've reached this point, you'll have to go alone from now on."

Although Siddhartha looked utterly dejected, Kavia said so nonetheless.

"Teacher, I've come so far, I've never thought of turning back."

"In that case, go and Meditation, and speak with the Rishi Uddaka, who understands the Dharma in this present moment."

After Kavia finished speaking, he immediately grasped Siddhartha's hand, and in the next instant, the green-haired youth fell into a Meditation state. In that instant, his soul traversed many regions and finally arrived at a Snow Mountain.

When Siddhartha opened his eyes again, he saw an old man with White-Haired Goddess looking at him.

Who invited you here?

"My longing."

Although he did not know his Teacher's intention, Siddhartha followed his heart and said so.

What has brought you here?

"Life is all the life energy that does not wish to suffer."

Did you not bring your thoughts with you?

"Thoughts rise like waves on the sea, yet the sea remains unmoved. I have felt this: What is life? —Uddaka Rishi."

"Fan."

The old man surveyed the vast white landscape around him, "Walking with the Milky Way, dwelling in thoughts, time remains unchanged, and I cannot leave."

"And what about the bitterness?"

Siddhartha asked again.

"The impermanence of life is the cause of suffering."

"Then how can we transcend impermanence?"

"Feel that truth, that eternal existence, that immovability, that immortality, that eternity."

As he spoke, a golden light emanated from the Rishi Uddaka's hand and shone upon Siddhartha, then a beaded bracelet appeared.

The old man then said:

"In the past, the Teacher of the Six Schools told me that as time passed and the flowers bloomed, he would descend into the world and become the King of Dharma. O Wheel-Turning King, it is my honor that you chose me."

"Master Uddaka, if the Supreme Being truth exists, where is it?"

"At the center of each cycle, like the axle of a wheel, the disc revolves around it, yet it remains perfectly still."

Upon hearing this, Siddhartha was slightly puzzled.

"But if there is no reincarnation, where is the axis?"

"Countless cycles of rebirth come and go, countless quantities surround you, hidden within nature; you may call them 'I'."