Ramana Maharshi stories

Gautam Buddha

During a conversation on non-attachment, Bhagavan said, “In this part of the country, one of our ancients wrote, ‘O Lord, thou hast given me a hand to use as pillow under my head, a cloth to cover my loins, hands wherewith to eat food, what more do I want? This is my great good fortune’! That is the purport of the verse.

Is it really possible to say how great a good fortune that is? Even the greatest kings wish for such happiness. There is nothing to equal it. Having experienced both these conditions, I know the difference between this and that. These beds, sofa and articles around me – all this is bondage.”

“Is not the Buddha an example of this?” asked a devotee.
Thereupon Sri Bhagavan began speaking about Buddha. “YES,” Said Bhagavan, “when the Buddha was in the palace with all possible luxuries in the world, he was still sad.

To remove his sadness, his father created more luxuries than
ever. But none of them satisfied the Buddha. At midnight he
left his wife and child and disappeared. He remained in great
austerity for six years, realised the Self; and for the welfare of
the world became a mendicant (bhikshu). It was only after he
became a mendicant that he enjoyed great bliss. Really, what
more did he require?”

“In the garb of a mendicant he came to his own city, did
he not?” asked a devotee.

“Yes, yes,” said Bhagavan. “Having heard that he was coming, his father, Suddhodana, decorated the royal elephant and went out with his whole army to receive him on the main road. But without touching the main road, the Buddha came by side roads and by-lanes; he sent his close associates to the various streets for alms while he himself in the guise of a mendicant went by another way to his father.

How could the father know that his son was coming in that guise! Yasodhara (the Buddha’s wife), however, recognised him, made her son prostrate before his father and herself prostrated. After that, the father recognised the Buddha.

Suddhodana however, had never expected to see his son in such a state and was very angry and shouted, ‘Shame on you! What is this garb? Does one who should have the greatest of riches come like this? I’ve had enough of it!’

And with that, he looked furiously at the Buddha. Regretting
that his father had not yet got rid of his ignorance, the Buddha
too, began to look at his father with even greater intensity. In
this war of looks, the father was defeated. He fell at the feet of his son and himself became a mendicant. Only a man with
non-attachment can know the power of non-attachment”, said
Bhagavan, his voice quivering with emotion.