(Continuation from 1-5-2)
The prince entered the place of ascetic practice of Uddaka Ramaputta. This was where the first disciples of Buddha, including Kaundinya and the other five, were practicing their asceticism.
The prince sat in meditation and engaged in ascetic practices by the banks of the Neranjara River. On some days, he ate a single hemp seed, and on others, a single grain of rice. There were times when he spent an entire week surviving on just a single hemp seed or a single grain of rice. Kaundinya and the others practiced the same asceticism beside the prince.
The prince thought to himself:
“I have been practicing asceticism for six years, but I still have not attained the way. If I continue with this practice, grow exhausted, lose my life, and die without attaining the way, many people will only say that I died from starvation. Therefore, I should eat and pursue the way.”
The prince rose from his seat, entered the Neranjara River, and bathed.
Statue of Shakyamuni Practicing Asceticism, Gandhara, Lahore Museum
Even after the bath, his body was so exhausted and emaciated that he could not leave the river. A celestial being appeared, placed him on a branch, and helped him to the shore. On the riverbank stood a large tree named Arina (it was customary in India to name trees like pets). The tree had a deity residing within it. The tree spirit greeted the prince with arms adorned with necklaces and bracelets. The prince took the deity’s hand and crossed the river.
After eating the hemp seed and rice he had with him, the prince threw a golden bowl into the river and headed toward the Bodhi tree.
In a nearby forest, there was a pasture where a girl named Sujata lived. The divine beings spoke to her:
“The prince is in the forest. Go and offer him food.”
Upon hearing this, the girl was delighted. At that moment, a lotus flower with a thousand leaves appeared in the pond. The leaves held rice porridge made with milk. The girl, amazed, thought, “Such miracles exist,” and she took the porridge and offered it to the prince.
The prince received the offering, and radiant light emanated from his body, filling him with vitality.
Sarnath (India), Muruganda Kuti Temple Wall Painting
The five monks who had been practicing with the prince saw this and were astonished. They thought to themselves:
“If we accept offerings, all the ascetic practices we’ve done will have been in vain, and we will fall into degeneration.”
Each of them returned to their own place, distancing themselves from the prince.
It is said that the prince then went alone to the Bodhi tree.
Neranjara River. A tributary of the Ganges. It is now called the Phalgu River. The river only flows during the rainy season. Phalgu River at Gaya.
[Translation]
Siro Inuzuka
This text was created by using ChatGPT-4o to translate a modern Japanese translation into English, and then making some modifications. There may be errors in the English expressions. Please correct any mistakes.
[Explanation]
Shinichi Kusano / Siro Inuzuka
“If I continue fasting, I will die.
If I die, it’s all over.”
The prince thought this to himself.
So, he ate.
The people who had been practicing with him left because of this.
At the same time, they must have thought:
“He’s weak.
He lacks willpower.
He’s a failure.”
To stop fasting meant to be despised by his companions.
This was very painful.
“I have something I must accomplish while I’m still alive.”
It was this conviction that allowed him to stop fasting.
Later in life, the elderly Shakyamuni is said to have looked back and said,
“When I tried to grasp my belly, I ended up grasping my spine.”
He is also said to have stated that the six years of asceticism were completely meaningless.
I don’t agree with that.
The process of asceticism was necessary to reach the conclusion that it was “meaningless.”
Moreover, after attaining enlightenment and becoming the Buddha, Shakyamuni spoke to many people, including ascetics (his first sermon was given to Kaundinya and the others who had practiced with him).
Such people would undoubtedly have said,
“You’re speaking so arrogantly, but you never practiced asceticism, did you? How can we listen to someone like you?”
In order to give his words convincing power, asceticism was necessary.
[Cooperation]
Shinichi Kusano
●Japanese
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