In the Lap of the Buddha (eBook)

Chapter1: An Almost Perfect Dream

Twothousand andfive hundred years ago the Shakyan people lived in the foothills of theHimalayan Mountains in what is now Nepal. The tribe was ruled by its royalfamily, and the kingdom was prosperous and strong. When the queen becamepregnant, there was great rejoicing in the kingdom. Sixty-four holy mengathered at the royal palace and foretold that the infant to be born would growup to be either a powerful universal monarch or a great spiritual leader. Thefirst possibility delighted the king. The second prophecy disturbed him, for itwas the king's dearest wish that this child both succeed him on the throne andbe a conqueror of foreign lands.

Theinfant boy was born and named Siddhartha Gautama. A wandering ascetic namedAsita visited the palace and asked to hold the newborn child. While Siddharthawas in his arms, Asita began weeping.

Theking, concerned, asked, 'Why are you crying?'

Asitareplied. 'This child is going to be a great spiritual savior. He will be aBuddha, a fully enlightened being, and I'm crying because I'll be dead beforehe delivers his teachings.' Asita knew that it was a very rare privilegeto live in the time of such a unique person.

Theking, perturbed, resolved to prevent the outcome that Asita predicted. Hereasoned that if the child knew only the greatest luxury and abundance, and wasspared from all difficulty and heartache, the call to a spiritual destiny mightremain dormant in him.

Siddharthagrew into a handsome young man. His every whim and desire were addressed withgreat extravagance and abundance. During each season of the year the boyresided in a different palace best suited to his comfort. He was entertainedand served by a vast array of servants and courtiers. He had concubines for hispleasure, royal musicians to entertain him, and beautifully manicured gardensto bring him great delight and joy.

Theking was fiercely determined that no harshness, ugliness, discomfort, sadness,or suffering would touch the life of his son. At night, under cover ofdarkness, gardeners moved through the flower beds and removed all the deadblossoms, plants, and leaves.

Andso, within the palace walls, all was beautiful, delightful, and easy. The youngprince never ventured outside.

WhenSiddhartha was twenty-nine years old, he married Yasodhara. She was soonpregnant. Now, for the first time in his life, the prince felt stirred to gobeyond the palace walls and visit a neighboring grove to see the spring flowers.

Theparallels between the youth of Prince Siddhartha and the society in which welive are poignantly similar. The palace walls that shielded the young princefrom the knowledge of suffering have become the many mental, emotional, andbehavioral walls within which we try to protect ourselves from the challengingrealities of life. Insofar as possible, any discomfort or suffering is keptbeyond the threshold of our protected lives. Should something untoward ordifficult touch us, this is regarded as wrong and tragic.

Thebrushstrokes of television, movies, and the print media further embellish ourimage of the dreamlike life. Youth is sanctified in the beautiful and flawlessmodels that adorn the pages of magazines and television screens. Breathtakingvisuals of sleek sailboats in the Caribbean are dangled before us, withpicture-perfect couples sipping exotic drinks in balmy, perfect happiness. Fromour youngest years we are conditioned to aspire to the ideal home, the idyllicvacation, the perfect partner, and the desirable bank account. LikeSiddhartha's father long ago, our society invests much energy and time increating this palace and...