Chapter 3 Gotama

In Savati City, every child knows the name of the living Buddha Gotama, and every household is ready to receive Gotama's disciples, those silent beggars, and fill their rice bowls with food.Gotama's favorite place to live is not far from the city, called Yettawana Forest Garden. The wealthy businessman Anata Pindika is a loyal admirer of the Living Buddha, and it was a gift he gave to the Living Buddha and his disciples. The two-year-old ascetic monk searched for Gotama's residence and came to this area following the introduction and answers of others.After they arrived at Savati, they stopped in front of the first house to ask for alms and received a meal of hospitality.They took the food, and Siddhartha addressed the woman who gave them:

"Thank you, you are very kind. We really want to know where the living Buddha lives, because we are two Samanas from the forest, and we want to meet him and listen to his lectures." The woman said: "Samanas from the forest, you have found the right place here. The Living Buddha lives in Yetavana, in the forest garden of Anatapindika. You two worshipers can go to Overnight there, because there is room enough for the large crowds that come to hear him." Govinda was very happy and exclaimed full of joy: "It's great, we have reached our destination, we have finally come to an end! But, aunt of the worshipers, please tell us, do you know the Living Buddha? Have you seen it with your own eyes?" him?"

The woman said: "I have seen him many times. I have seen him in many days. I saw him wearing a yellow monk's robe silently walking through the streets and alleys, silently stopping in front of each house, and handing him a bowl. And departed with a bowl full of food." Govinda was fascinated and wanted to find out more, but Siddhartha reminded him to move on.They thanked them and left, hardly needing to ask for directions, because many pilgrims and disciples of Gotama were on their way to Yetawana.Arriving there at night, they saw a steady stream of people looking for lodgings arriving, howling and talking.The two Samanas, who were accustomed to living in the forest, quickly found a shelter and slept soundly until the next morning.

When the sun rose, they were surprised to find that there was a huge group of believers and curious people staying here overnight! On all the paths in this beautiful forest garden, there were monks wearing yellow monk robes walking around.They sit under the trees in groups here and there, devoting themselves to spiritual practice, or having religious discussions.Those shady gardens looked like a city, thronged with people swarming like bees.Most of the monks are heading out with their alms bowls, going to the city to collect their one-a-day lunch.Even the Living Buddha himself usually goes out to alms in the morning.

Siddhartha saw the Tulku and recognized him immediately, as if guided by a spirit.He stared at the Living Buddha, an unpretentious man in a yellow monk's robe, holding an alms bowl in his hand, and walked over quietly. "Look over here!" Siddhartha whispered to Govinda, "This man is the living Buddha." Govinda looked carefully at this monk in yellow robes, and felt that he seemed to be indistinguishable from hundreds of other monks.However, Govinda soon recognized it: this person was the Living Buddha.So they followed him, watching him carefully as they walked. The living Buddha walked his way humbly, lost in thought, and his calm face, neither happy nor sad, seemed to smile at them.With a faint smile on his face, the Living Buddha was calm and serene, just like a healthy child, walking calmly, wearing a monk's robe, following the same strict rules as all the monks who followed him.His countenance and steps, his still eyes, his still hands, and every finger on them, expressed peace, expressed perfection.He seeks nothing, he imitates nothing, but breathes softly, in an indestructible tranquility, in a light that cannot fade, in a peace that cannot be violated.

Gotama walked towards the city like this, to ask for alms.The two Samanas recognized him simply by his peaceful perfection, the composure of his manner, which had no pursuit, no desire, no imitation, no trouble, but only light and peace. "We can hear him preach today," said Govinda. Siddhartha didn't answer.He was not very curious about the lectures, and he did not believe that the lectures could teach him anything new.Like Govinda, he had heard the teachings of this living Buddha many times, even though they were all from second-hand and third-hand reports.He gazed intently at Gotama's head, his shoulders, his feet, and his solemnly lowered hand, and felt that every finger and every joint of this hand had knowledge, could speak, breathe, and emit fragrances. , all shining brightly.This person, this Living Buddha, is sincere in every gesture from the whole body up to the little finger.This man is holy.Siddhartha respects him more than anyone else, loves him more than anyone else.

The two followed the living Buddha to the edge of the city, and then returned silently, because they planned to abstain from food that day.Later, when they saw Gotama come back, they saw him eating in the circle around which his disciples sat. He could hardly feed a bird. They saw him return to the shade of the mango tree. In the evening, when the heat had subsided, everything in the forest became active, and everyone gathered together to listen to the teachings of the Living Buddha.They listened to the voice of the Tulku, and the voice was perfect, showing perfect calm, full of peace.Gotama talked about the knowledge about afflictions, the origin of afflictions, and the way to eliminate afflictions.His deep speeches were smooth, smooth, and clear.Life is troubles, the world is full of troubles, but you can find a way to get rid of troubles: whoever walks the path of the Living Buddha will be free.

The living Buddha spoke in a soft and firm voice, teaching four main principles and teaching eight paths.Patiently following his customary pattern of reasoning, exemplifying, and repeating, his voice echoed loudly and calmly over the heads of his listeners like a ray of light, like a starry sky. It was already late at night when the Living Buddha finished his lecture, and several worshipers stepped forward, asking to join the group and willing to take refuge in the Living Buddha.Gotama accepted them and said: "You have all listened carefully to my lectures and have gained something, then join in, enter the holiness, and end all troubles completely."

Look, the shy Govinda also stepped forward and said, "I would also like to believe in you and your doctrine." Govinda asked to become a disciple of the Living Buddha, and was accepted. Then the Tulku retired to sleep, and Govinda turned to Siddhartha and said earnestly, "Sitdhartha, I have no right to blame you. But we have both listened to the Tulku's lectures and his words. Teachings. Govinda has believed in the living Buddha after listening to the teachings. But what about you, my respected person, don’t you want to take this road to salvation? Don’t you still hesitate and wait?”

Siddhartha woke up like a dream after hearing Govinda's words.He gazed into Govinda's face for a long time, then whispered, without irony in his tone: "Govinda, my friend, now you have taken the first step, you have chosen this path. Oh, You have always been my friend, Govinda, and have always followed me. I have often wondered: Will Govinda one day take a step alone, of his own free will, without me? See, now You are a man, and you have chosen your own way. May you carry it to the end, O my friend! May you be saved!" Govinda did not quite understand, and repeated his question impatiently: "Say it, I beg you, my dear friend! Tell me, why can't it be otherwise, you, Does my learned friend also believe in this venerable Living Buddha?"

Siddhartha put his hand on Govindahu and said, "You didn't catch my wish, Govinda. I repeat, may you make this way to the end! May you be rescued!" It was only when Govinda realized that his friend was leaving him that he began to cry. "Sitdhartha!" he yelled complainingly. Siddhartha said gently: "Don't forget, Govinda, you are now a recluse who has converted to the Buddha! You have abandoned your hometown and parents, your birth and property, your will, and your friendship. . Faith requires this, the Living Buddha requires this, and you are willing to do this. Tomorrow, O Govinda, I will leave you." The two friends wandered in the woods for a long time, and they still couldn't fall asleep for a long time after lying down.Govinda pressed his friend repeatedly to explain why he did not want to follow Gotama's doctrine, and what flaws he found in it.But each time, Siddhartha replied, "Forget it, Govinda! The teachings of the Living Buddha are outstanding, how can I find a flaw!" Early the next morning, a disciple of the living Buddha, an elderly monk, ran all over the forest, calling all the newly converted disciples to his side, asking them to wear yellow monk clothes, and explaining the basic knowledge to them. and responsibilities commensurate with their status.Govinda then ran back, embraced his friend once more, and joined the ranks of the new monks. Siddhartha wandered out of the garden in thought. At this time, Gotama happened to meet him head-on.He greeted the Living Buddha in awe, and seeing that the eyes of the Living Buddha were full of kindness and serenity, he plucked up the courage to ask the Living Buddha to talk to him.The Living Buddha silently nodded in agreement. Siddhartha said: "Living Buddha, I had the honor to listen to your wonderful speech yesterday. My friend and I came from afar to listen to your lecture. Now my friend has stayed by your side, Converted to you, but I have to start my journey again." "As you wish." The Living Buddha said politely. "My words may be too arrogant," Siddhartha continued, "but I don't want to leave before I tell the Tulku my thoughts frankly. Tulku, can you please listen to me for a while?" The Living Buddha silently nodded in agreement. Siddhartha said: "Most venerable living Buddha, there is one thing I admire most about your teaching. Everything you say is very clear and sure. You treat the world as a circle of perfect, never-ending Show you the broken chain, an eternal chain connected by cause and effect. No one has ever explained it so clearly and irrefutably. Brahmans listened to your teachings and saw the world as a perfect interconnected body , without flaws, as transparent as a crystal, not dependent on chance, not subordinate to the gods, his heart will beat more solidly in the body. Whether this world is good or bad, whether life in this world is trouble or joy, is a matter of fact. It may well be up in the air, it may be unimportant - but the harmony of the world, the interconnectedness of all things, the large and the small are contained in the same current, all follow birth, development and death These are all clarified by your great teachings, Tulku. However, according to your teachings, this unity and coherence of all things is broken in one place, something strange, something new Something, something that was not there before, that cannot be shown and cannot be proved, poured into this unified world through this slit. That is your teaching about transcending the world and being saved. Through this slit, because of this slit With a small break, the entire eternal and unified world law is broken and disintegrated again. Living Buddha, I hope you can forgive me for taking the liberty to express such different opinions." Gotama listened to him quietly, without moving, and then the Tulku said in his kind, courteous and clear voice: "Oh, son of Brahmin, it is rare for you to think so deeply after listening to my lecture. You find A crack, a defect. I hope you can continue to think about it. But, studious, beware of opinions and arguments. The point is not that there are opinions, they can be beautiful or ugly , but wise or stupid, everyone can stand for or against them. What you hear from me is not my opinion, and its purpose is not to explain the world to the studious. Its purpose is something else , in order to get rid of pain. This is what Gotama said, what else!" "Oh, Living Buddha, I hope you don't get angry with me." The young man said, "I didn't mean to argue with you just now, to engage in meaningless verbal disputes. What you said is indeed reasonable. The problem is not that there are different All kinds of opinions. But let me reiterate this point: I never doubted you. I never doubted that you are a living Buddha, that you have achieved your goal, that which thousands of Brahmins and Brahmins are pursuing. The highest goal. You have got rid of death. This is due to your own exploration, according to your own way, through thinking, through meditation, through understanding, through comprehension, and then you have obtained it, not through preaching! Oh! , Living Buddha, this is what I think - no one can gain liberation through preaching! Oh, respected Living Buddha, you cannot use words and lectures to tell others what happened when you became enlightened! The teachings of the fully enlightened Living Buddha It contains a lot of content, it teaches people to live uprightly and not to do bad things. However, there is one thing that is not included in such a clear and respectable lecture: it does not contain the secrets of the living Buddha himself. The secret that he experienced alone among thousands of people. This is what I thought and knew when I listened to you. This is the reason why I want to continue to roam. It is not to seek another better doctrine, because I Knowing that there is no such doctrine, but to put aside a doctrine and teacher, to achieve my goal alone, or die. But I will often think of this day, Tulku, of this moment, because I have seen a a sage." The living Buddha's eyes are calmly watching the ground, and his mysterious face shows a perfect tranquility. The living Buddha said slowly: "I hope your ideas are correct, I hope you can achieve your goal! But please tell me, have you seen my large group of believers, my many brothers, and they have believed in my teachings?" Doctrine? O Samana, stranger, do you believe that it would be better for all of them to abandon the doctrine and return to worldly and sensual life?" "Such an idea is too far from me!" cried Siddhartha. "May they all follow your teachings, and may they all achieve their goals! I have no right to judge other people's lives! I just need to make a judgment on myself, on myself. I have to choose, I have to choose. We ascetics seek self-liberation, living Buddha. If I were one of your disciples, respectable living Buddha, then, I would worry about what happened Such a situation: my ego is only falsely liberated from peace on the surface, but in fact it continues to exist and grows, because then I will have doctrine, and followers, and my love for you, so that the monks collectively become My ego!" With a half-smile, Gotama looked the stranger in the eyes with unshakable lucidity and friendliness, and with a barely perceptible gesture, he bid him farewell. "You are very clever, Samana," said the Tulku. "You speak very cleverly, my friend. Just be careful not to be too clever!" The Living Buddha is gone, but his gaze and half-smile expression are forever engraved in Siddhartha's memory. He thought, I have never seen anyone who can look at people and smile like this, sit and walk like this.I really hope that I can look at people and smile like this, sit and walk like this, so free, so awe-inspiring, so deep, so frank, so simple and full of mystery.Only those who have entered into the depths of themselves can really see people and walk like this.Well, I'm also going to try to get into the deepest part of myself! At last, Siddhartha thought, I've met someone, someone before whom I have to roll my eyes.I will not lower my eyes in front of others, never will, because not even this man's teachings have attracted me, let alone others'. This Tulku has deprived me, Siddhartha thought, the Tulku has deprived me, but at the same time he has given me more.He has taken away my friend who listened to me and now believes him, who was my shadow and is now his shadow.However, he gave me Siddhartha, which is myself.