Week 10 Reading Diary B: The Life of Buddha Sacred Texts

The Crane and the Fish-lesson learned: cunning does not always succeed. Buddha tells this to his followers before he leaves to visit his father.

Once Buddha returns to his old home, everyone is surprised to see this transformation from a flashy prince in a chariot to a humble monk begging for food. He gains a following of people, "for he is more beautiful now than ever"
       -it's not all about material riches

Kind Sudddhodana snaps at Buddha for begging and Buddha tells him of his past life where he gladly had is own feet and head cut off and his body impaled and fed to the birds, because he knew he would become Buddha one day. The moral of the story is that living a holy life will bring you peace and no worry. King Suddhodana fully believes in Buddha after this.

Buddha goes to see his wife, Gopa, and she has given up all her luxuries too. She lives just as he does, not sleeping in a bed and only eating once a day. Buddha then commends her, and then goes on a rant talking about how bad women are. Strange.

Buddha's brother, Nanda, is set to be king in his absence. However, Buddha approaches him and calls him out for his worldly/material happiness and Nanda soon falls at his brother's feet and becomes his disciple-leaving the throne and his beloved future wife behind.

King Suddhodana is sad that his whole family is leaving him, and he tells Buddha. Again, Buddha calms him down and then leaves  Kapilavastu and returns to Rajagriha.

A young, very poor, girl in Cravasti gave up her only possession to the Buddha as a donation-a course dress she had saved up for. Upon giving this humble gift she died and became a Goddess of Indra.

Nanda is still grieving about having to leave his wife. Buddha then sends him into the heavens and he sees an Apsara who is far more beautiful. He remains pious because of this Apsara and is shunned by the disciples because of it.
      -Doing the right thing for the wrong reason is still wrong.

Nanda eventually conquers his desires, but then wears the same robe as Buddha and claims to have equal virtue. This again gets him criticized, this time for his pride.

King Suddhodana dies.

Buddha with the Group of Five: Wiki Commons