World Famous Anecdotes
(Sukdev Prasad)
THE LIGHT IS WITHIN
You must have read about Prince Siddartha, who later came to be known as Buddha, ?the Enlightened One.? Born into a princely family, Siddartha was deeply affected when he saw a sick man, an old person and a dead body. He left his palace, his young wife and one year old son, to live the life of a mendicant and find out the way to Nirvana. After undergoing many fasts and penance he realised that the only way to alleviate one?s misery is to follow the eight-fold path of righteousness. From the day of this realization, he came to be known as Gautam Buddha. He laid great stress on truth and nonviolence.
The Enlightened One lay on his death bed. He was being looked after by his ardent disciple, Anand. Bhadrak, another devotee came to see the master. He could not help weeping loudly at the thought that Gautam would be passing into eternity soon. Buddha heard his sobs and enquired from Anand, ?Who is weeping??
?Tathagat, Bhadrak is here to see you,? said Anand.
?Then call him,? replied the compassionate Buddha.
Bhadrak fell at his feet and burst into loud sobs. Buddha asked him the reason for his sorrow. ?O Master, who shall now show us the light when you are gone. That is why I weep,? Bhadrak replied in a voice choked with emotion.
Buddha lovingly placed his hand on Bhadrak?s head and said, ?Bhadrak, the light you seek is within you, Do not search for it anywhere. Only the ignorant seek it in the temples, holy places, caves and forests and thus wander aimlessly. On the contrary, those, whose thoughts, speech and deeds are pure and in harmony with each other, find the light within their own self.?
?Be your own light,? should be the guiding motto.
This was the last message of Gautam Buddha and he had devoted his entire life to its preaching.
Resumos Relacionados
- Siddhartha
- What Is Right To Believe?
- The First Buddhist Nuns
- Awakening The Buddha Within
- Basics Of Buddhism - The Buddha
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