Part A: Favorites from the Buddha Unit
Maya's Dream
I just find it really interesting how much I can interrelate so many of the different mythologies. This story was about the conception (immaculate) of Buddha, which, of course, made me think of the virgin Mary. Maya, Buddha's mother, and the king are given visions concerning the importance their son will have in the world, not unlike when the angel Gabriel told Mary that she was giving birth to the savior. In this story however, Maya is praised, not ostracized for her immaculate conception like Mary is and the mere essence of her unborn son allows Maya to heal the sick and suffering.
The Birth of Siddhartha
This story tells about how the birth of Maya's son, who is given the name Siddhartha, brings about joy and peace throughout the land. There is such great joy at the child's birth that all bow to him and praise him.
Asita's Prediction and Siddhartha at the Temple
Both of these stories really emphasize the view of Siddhartha as a god. See Buddha was a real person, and I think I've heard before that he never wanted anyone to think of him as a god. These two stories set the tone for the stereotypical "god" vision most of us have concerning the gods. At one point, the gods actually bow down to Siddhartha. It is said over and over again that this child is the hope of breaking the cruel cycle of reincarnation. I would imagine this is where a lot of the myth that we have based on the life of Buddha comes from.
First Encounter
This is where we begin to get into the part of Buddha's history in which he begins to travel outside the sheltered walls of his palace, and what he sees on the outside causes him great distress and suffering. This marks a great turning point in the life of Buddha. The gods, jealous of the praise afforded Siddhartha, create an old man so that he will cross the path of Siddhartha (His father had ordered that only the young and beautiful be out on the streets on his son's path). Upon seeing the old man - he has never seen an old person - Siddhartha is greatly distressed, especially when he learns that this fate is inevitable. This is a perfect illustration of the way people become isolated in their own lives and remain clueless about what is happening in their own backyard.
Two More Encounters
This is also an important part of the turning point to the life of Buddha that is really what shaped the Buddha we recognize today as a religious figure. Siddhartha travels outside his palace once again and this time he sees a man ravaged by sickness as well as a corpse, two things he had never seen before due to the attempts of his parents to shelter him from disquietude. I like the portrayal of the Buddha's parents who are just like any other parents, concerned for their child's happiness and well meaning, but sometimes that well-meaning protectiveness can prove detrimental to the child. In this case, Siddhartha is extremely disturbed by these things he has seen - death, sickness, old age - and the inevitability of them all because he has never before encountered them. Imagine how traumatizing it would be to be college age and not knowing that you will eventually get sick, you will eventually grow old, and you will eventually die. It may not be something we dwell on daily, but at least we are aware of it, whereas Siddhartha had no idea.
The Fair Maidens and Gopa's Dream
This story illustrates the magnitude of the disquietude felt by Siddhartha at his discovery of death and sickness. He is tempted in a wood by a group of beautiful maidens but for all their charms and loveliness, they cannot stir poor Siddhartha for all he can think of is how their youth and beauty will be taken from them as well as himself. It must be difficult to come to terms with one's mortality because suddenly, everything could seem pointless. If we are all going the same way, then what is the point of doing anything? So in the story, Siddhartha begins to shun all types of pleasure and his father becomes quite worried.
The Great Truths
It's at this time that we see Siddhartha's life really begin to take shape into the life of Buddha. He wants to leave the comforts and pleasures of his home in order to gain a sense of the greater truths of the world. His father is distressed and begs him not to leave, but Siddhartha says that unless his father can promise that he will not become sick, or old, or die, he must leave. His father, or course, cannot promise any of these things so Siddhartha leaves. And this is where the real journey of the Buddha will begin
Part B:
Siddhartha Leaves
Siddhartha has become determined to enter into the life of the hermit. His ultimate goal is to conquer old age and death. Whether he means to metaphorically or literally conquer death. I cannot be sure. In this episode, we see the strength of Siddhartha's resolve - he claims that he will never return to his kingdom - yet he has peace and joy due to his decision. He is leaving his family behind, yet feels no regret. Sometimes, it seems, decisions made in faith bring about the greatest feelings of peace.
Siddhartha the Hermit
We gain, in this episode, and understanding of some of Siddhartha's reasons for leaving home. It must be unfathomable to someone who lived in the midst of the caste system, someone like Siddhartha's attendant, Chandaka, that a prince, especially one that is esteemed to the degree at which Siddhartha is esteemed (it is seen in the following story the great lamentation that ensues once it is discovered that Siddhartha has gone), would sacrifice that position for anything.
Arata Kalama
I found this very interesting. Siddhartha, in this story, is seeking knowledge of the great truth from a hermit, Arata Kalama. Siddhartha's apparent knowledge of the great truth seems, at least to Arata Kalama, to have matched or even surpassed that of his own. Arata Kalama asks Siddhartha to take part in teaching Arata's own disciples. Interestingly enough, Siddhartha begins to ponder Arata's Kalama real understanding of great truth and ascertains that Arata knows nothing. It is because through denying themselves sustenance, per the doctrine of Arata Kalama, they are only contributing to the cycle of rebirth (which Siddhartha hopes to break) by trying to receive a good position in the next life. This really made me think about what might our motivation to do anything be. To be rewarded, to get ahead?
Siddhartha and King Vimbasara
I think it is interesting how now matter how he tries to be a hermit, to go unnoticed and live simply, the world does not seem to want Siddhartha to do that. It has even been said that he would be horrified to see that he has been elevated to the status of god. Even as a beggar, Siddhartha's inherent radiance transcends his beggar costume and he gains the notice of a king who desires to make Siddhartha his companion. Siddhartha gently refuses - here I though sure that this would be someone who would find fault in Siddhartha, or be offended by his rejection, yet he is praised for his piety. It is strange how, those who have the most effect, often are not trying to do so.
Mara's Defeat
Here I found yet another parallel I can draw between this mythology and bible - the attack on a holy, pious, man from the Evil One. However, unlike in the story of Job, the bible story which comes to mind in conjunction with this story, the assaults of the Evil One do not even land on Siddhartha. It is his essence that protects him from the attack of the Evil One and his army - Siddhartha himself doesn't even seem to register the attack. Once the Evil One is put into his place, Siddhartha ascends to the role of the Buddha.
No comments:
Post a Comment