釋迦譜 1.89

1.89

At that time, King Śuddhodana thought to himself, 'Might the prince wish to go on an excursion?' He ordered that the roads be tidied and prepared, so that nothing impure or displeasing would be seen. At that time the prince went out through the eastern city gate. Manifested through the Bodhisattva's majestic spiritual power, the devas transformed into an old man: his hair white, his teeth fallen out, his eyes dim, his ears deaf, leaning on a cane with bent back as he walked. The Bodhisattva, knowing [already], inquired: 'What manner of man is this?' The charioteer replied: 'This is called an old man.' The Bodhisattva said: 'Human life passes swiftly, like a mountain torrent that can hardly run through a second time. It is not this man alone; it is thus with all under heaven.' He then turned his chariot and re-entered the palace, contemplating with compassion [the beings of] the ten directions. Later, the Bodhisattva went out through the southern city gate. On the road he saw a sick man: dropsical belly, emaciated body, lying by the roadside. The charioteer said: 'This is called a sick man. His life hangs by a moment; his remaining days are like a strand of hair.' The Bodhisattva said: 'All things are impermanent; having a body brings suffering. I, too, shall be like this.' Thereupon he returned to the palace. Later he went on another excursion out the western city gate, and saw a dead man, surrounded by his family wiping away tears and weeping bitterly. The Bodhisattva asked: 'What manner of man is this?' The charioteer replied: 'This is a dead man. Life must have death, just as spring has winter. All living things are alike in this: nothing that is born does not end.' The Bodhisattva said: 'Death is indeed painful; the spirit is dispossessed. When I look upon the dead, their form decays and their body dissolves, yet the spirit does not perish. I cannot again receive birth through death, coming and going in the five destinies to wear out my spirit.' He then turned his chariot and returned. Again on another day he went out through the northern city gate, and saw a śramaṇa, his robes neat and holding in his hand the Dharma vessel. The Bodhisattva asked: 'What manner of man is this?' The charioteer replied: 'This is called a bhikṣu. Having cast aside lust and desires, he is difficult to defile, like the sky; with a compassionate heart for all, he wishes to deliver [the beings of] the ten directions.' The Bodhisattva said: 'Excellent! This alone is joy; this is what pleases me.' The Bodhisattva thought to himself: 'If I were to leave home without taking leave of the king, that would be improper.' Thereupon, in the quiet of the night, he entered the king's palace; a radiance shone far and near. His father woke up and arose. [The prince] addressed his father the king, saying: 'The devas urge and aid me: now I must leave home.' The father king wept bitterly: 'What are your aspirations? When will you return?' The Bodhisattva said: 'I desire four wishes: first, never to grow old; second, to have no illness; third, never to die; fourth, never to be separated [from loved ones]. If my father the king can grant these four wishes, I will not leave home.' Hearing this, the king was overwhelmed with sorrow: 'These four wishes have never been attained by anyone in antiquity or the present.' The next morning he commanded five hundred brave and powerful Śākyas to guard the Bodhisattva through the night. The sound of opening and closing the four city gates could be heard for forty li. (The Ruiying benqi jing says: Qiuyi suspected in her heart that he wished to leave, and whether sitting or rising, she did not leave his side.)