釋迦譜 1.417

1.417

At that time, the prince heard the royal preceptor's words and answered him in a deep and resonant voice: "How could I not know that my royal father's affection for me is deep? It is only that I fear the suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death; therefore I have come here in order to sever and eliminate them. If worldly attachments could cease and we could remain united all day long, and if there were no suffering of birth, old age, sickness, and death, why would I have come here? The reason I now part from my royal father is precisely for the sake of future union. Though the great fire of my royal father's sorrow burns brightly now, my parents and I have only this single life with such suffering; in the future, we will certainly be forever rid of this affliction. If, as you say, I should remain in the palace and cultivate the Way, it would be like a house of seven jewels filled with blazing fire—could anyone dwell in such a room? It is like food mixed with poison; even a starving person would ultimately not eat it. Since I have abandoned the kingdom and left home to cultivate the Way, how could you have me return again to the palace city to study the Way? Worldly people, amidst great suffering, for the sake of minor pleasures still become so indulged that they cannot temporarily let them go. How much less could I, in this place of ultimate serenity and free from all afflictions and suffering, cast this aside and return to evil! When ancient kings entered the mountains to study the Way, none ever returned midway to indulge in desires. If my royal father insists on having me return, it would be contrary to the ways of former kings." At that time, the royal preceptor said to the prince: "It is truly as the prince now says. However, of the former sages, one said that in the future there are definitely karmic retributions, while another said there definitely are none. Even these two former sages could not know with certainty whether there is or is not an afterlife. How can the prince wish to abandon present pleasures to seek uncertain future retribution? When it cannot even be determined whether the retributions of birth and death exist or not, how can you seek the fruit of liberation? We pray only that the prince will return to the palace." The prince replied: "Those two ṛṣis spoke of future results, one saying they exist and the other saying they do not, but both were speaking with doubtful minds, not with certainty. I shall never follow their teachings, nor should you challenge me with this. Why is that? I did not come here yearning for karmic retributions. Because of the birth, old age, sickness, and death that I saw with my own eyes, which must inevitably be undergone, I seek liberation to be free of this suffering. Before long, you will see me accomplish the Way. This resolve of mine can never be turned back. Return and report this to my royal father."