For the further cultivation in his spiritual journey Siddharth headed to the kingdom of Magadh. There he obstructed the path of some soldiers who were carrying a herd of cattle along with them. The animals were gathered for a ceremonial sacrifice. Criticizing, Gautama declared that to take their lives they first needed to kill him. When this news was taken to king Bimbasar, he was raged. He himself went to see that ascetic. Upon witnessing the sage’s stubbornness, he pulled out his sword to behead him. But as he went closer to the hermit, Siddharth’s face was revealed to him. Sword slipped from his hand for shock. King Bimbasar took his shoulders, and making him stand, he embraced him. Only a friend could explain how wrong he was, how evil his deeds were-
“What’s the fault of these innocent creatures that you got to sacrifice them majesty? Like us they too bear the energy of life. Which religion is this that says by sacrificing an animal dark time is averted? If these mute animals too had tongue in their mouth, they would utter that they’re being punished for someone else’s sin.”
The king declared animal sacrifices won’t be there anymore in the realm. He insisted Siddharth to come to his palace. But prince denied. He couldn’t. He had found the purpose of his life and was committed to dedicate his enitre life to it. Upon the request of his pal he made him a promise to visit him after he discovers what he sought. And then after this, Siddharth went on, on his journey.
Walking barefoot he finally reached the destination. There he saw some other yogis performing some kind of exercise. Upon looking at them Siddharth tried to ape those hermits. The one who led them noticed the unknown man. He and Gautama recognized each other. The yogi was Koundinya- his school teacher. Koundinya was dismissed by King Sudodhan for he led Siddharth more and more closer to Dhyana in his early age. Siddharth was amazed to see him there. While Koundinya spoke something unexpected, “You arrived. I was waiting for you only”.― Literally, this happens with us in our ordinary life as well. Sometimes we meet some people again and again in our life. Even when we presume it to be a forever separation. They come back to us when least expected.
Koundinya: Here begins the journey of our new identities. Until now we were teacher-student. Today we are Guru-bhai (Teacher-brothers).
Siddharth: So then, are you too the student of Udraka Ramputtra!?
He nodded
Siddharth: Please take me to him.
That amount of caliber is not in me that I can take you to him. You have to reach him on your own. Siddharth, think again. After this there’s no turning back.
Siddharth: I didn’t come this far to turn back.
Showing him the cave he said master resides there. Ramputtra had dedicated more than seventy year of his life to meditation. He stayed silent. If the student was worthy he used to give preaching to him in deep meditation (Through telepathy). Who could achieve the supreme focus only was granted with Guru’s audience.
Hence the former prince proceeded towards the cavern. The place was silent enough. And there he saw the sage, sitting still like a statue, meditating. Forth him he too sat in meditation. Very smoothly he did attain the ultimate focus. And so he saw in his mind himself sitting on snowy peaks of Himalayas, with his new master. There were trees around bedecked with flowers falling.
Ramputtra: Who invited you here?
Siddharth: My thirst
Ramputtra: What is it that brought you here?
Siddharth: Energy of life
Ramputtra: Not your thought?
Siddharth: Thoughts are like waves rising on the ocean. The sea remains untouched from the waves. I have this experience.
Then he took a pause
Siddharth: What’s life?
Ramputtra: Mystery… Beyond galaxy the same, and inside your mind also the same. To which, the time can neither alter nor wipe out.
Siddharth: Then why there’s sorrow?
Ramputtra: Life’s uncertainty is solely the cause of sorrow.
Ramputtra: By realization of that reality which is invariable, eternal, indestructible.
And he saw the master fading away. Same moment a band of rosary beads materialized over his wrist. The dream broke as he woke up from his meditation. And he saw guru sitting still with closed eyes. So, he stood up joining hands in front of the mystic, and silently walked out of the cave. Out there he met Koundinya.
Koundinya: [Looking at the band] Wonderful!
Siddharth: In deep meditation I met Guru Udraka Ramputtra at the peak of Himalaya. And he accepted me as his student.
Koundinya: Now when you will touch the pinnacle of the meditative state, Guru will come to meet you by his choice.
With these exchanging words of positivity, they were both contented. Siddharth was excited.
Siddharth: I’ll sit right now in meditation!
Koundinya: Wait Siddharth… Still that same thirst! Think of your body atleast. Come, have something.
* * *
At night Siddharth sat firm like a statue, absorbed in his Samadhi. And of course, he touched that pinnacle. And at the same spot he met Ramputtra in meditation again.
Siddharth: Master, if there is supreme reality, then where is it?
Ramputtra: Like at the core of every wheel there a nail affixed, which rotates it. But itself it never spins. It stays steady.
Siddharth: If there is no wheel, there won’t be any nail too.
Master laughed
Ramputtra: innumerable wheels are spinning. Every where there are infinite pivots. Hidden from our world, endless pivots. You may call the soul. Smaller than a seed, and larger than infinity. Like a blanket, covering all the Earths. Yet can get absorbed in this hand too.
Siddharth, surprised, began staring his palm.
Ramputtra: The answer to your question is in your palm itself.
Pointed at the tree guru spoke-
Ramputtra: Look at this flower. How does the flower know when it has to bloom? Far beyond thoughts there is the door to knowledge. First of all silent your wavering mind. Be empty, from thoughts, from the desire of liberation, from questions. And then in your desolate temple bring something for your own self. And sit still. Everything else wavers, you shouldn’t waver.
Gautama slowly closed his eyes. As Guru instructed he followed-
Ramputtra: Inhale air with your whole body- hold- watch, what is happening.- From your entire body, exhale.- Open your palm- whatever comes, with an attribute of acceptance, let it come- focus should be on the breath- go deeper- drown Siddharth, being fearless.
With his mind he penetrated through his palm. He witnessed all the biological processes occuring, like his bloodstream. And then, slowly and gradually he opened his eyes. He looked left and right, he was at Himalaya.
Ramputtra: Now you have yourself experienced, eternity solely is perpetual. And in every atom of the body there is a Universe hidden.
Siddharth: If eternity solely is perpetual, I didn’t see that. I saw only impermanence.
Ramputtra: That you did choose. The profoundness in which you are, you are able to see only that. But, duality actually doesn’t exist at all (duality: the concept of Yin and Yang, that indicates the opposites. Like day & night, masculine & feminine). After knowing this secret hidden behind the reality of life- birth, death, rebirth is just play.
Siddharth: But the energy of life that brought me in front of you, to which you call the soul, is it only behind this cycle?
Ramputtra: Yes
Siddharth: I couldn’t see that.
Ramputtra: You saw its dance. The dance of eternity. Or what you call as uncertainty, the dance of that. Now in your meditation go to that point where what you see and what is happening, that’s not two, but becomes one.
Siddharth joint his hands as a sign of reverence. And again wok up from his Samadhi. It was that same night. He recalled Koundinya’s words. And realized he had actually attained that peak of focus. And that is why he had a rendezvous with his master. So, he closed his eyes again. However, there had come a man sent by the king known by Gautama. His intention was to terminate Siddharth. Anyways his objective wasn’t achieved by him. As there came the master to protect his scholar. Ramputtra had acquired unfathomable mystical powers. From his palm itself he directed energy which bound man’s entire body. He couldn’t move, despite trying hard. As guru made him to fall, Siddharth woke up again. He recognized him. He was the general of Prasenajit, the king of Kosal. Lying down he begged dor his life.
Bhandul: PARDON ME PRINCE SIDDHARTH! I was just obeying the order. At the command of king Prasenajit I came here to execute you. This way he wanted to avenge you.
Then he spoke to Ramputtra
Bhandul: MUNIVAR, PARDON ME! Prince Siddharth please ask him to stop otherwise I’ll become blind!
Siddharth: Forgive him, master
Gautama joint his hands. So master did listen to him. And walked away. Bhandul was free now. He got up.
Siddharth: Now return to Kosal, Bhandul.
Bhandul sat down on his knees. And joint his hands forth prince.
Bhandul: You aren’t like us ordinary people. Twice I attacked you, and both the times you forgave my life. So immense mercy, on a man like me!
Siddharth: You could kill me Bhandul. But what cannot die, you couldn’t kill that. Now you must return.
General left. Siddharth spoke to himself in the solitude.
Siddharth: Today I realized- Guru is mother, and a father as well.
* * *
Next morning he returned to the cavern and sat forth the meditator.
Ramputtra: Still there is thirst?
Siddharth: Yes master. The perpetual reality that’s behind the play of life, can I see that? Can I unite with that? The cause of this sorrow will be found there only.
Ramputtra: I know the union with that perpetual reality is possible. But I haven’t experienced it. Beyond this, I don’t know.
Siddharth: Can any meditator take me to that final stage?
Ramputtra laughed
Ramputtra: If I knew, wouldn’t have I been sitting at his feet?
Siddharth: [joining his hands] Grant me permission master (to leave).
Ramputtra: Go Siddharth. What was mine is now yours. And what you will gain with that the door to liberation shall open not just for you, but for the entire mankind.
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