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Gotami, his aunt, thenceforth took (13) Hebrew writers enlarge on this, for Luke tells us that a multitude of angels appeared at Jesus* birth. (Luke 2, v. 10 to 15.) ao A QUESTION OF MIRACLES and nourished the child as her own. When old enough, teachers were assigned to him; but at one sitting, he surpassed them all. (14) His father, remembering meanwhile the predictions of Asita that the son was destined to forsake home and kingdom, become an ascetic, and establish the law of love and charity for mankind, sought to divert him from his purpose with every possible worldly allurement. Therefore, at the early age of nineteen, he caused Siddhartha to marry his cousin Yasodhara, the beautiful daughter of a neighboring prince. Repressing all giddy conversation, he lived with her a restrained, virtuous, and religious life. It is said, "he bathed his body in the waters of the Ganges, but cleansed his heart in the waters of religion." The years flitted rapidly by, and the old king was overjoyed when Rahula, his grandson, was born; for he reasoned that Siddhartha would now abandon the thought of becoming an ascetic, and devote himself to the succession. Thus would the scepter be safely handed down, and the glory of the kingdom be en- larged. Now if there be such an ungodly thing as predesti- nation, or £xed fate, then, in Buddha's case, that doctrine had a firm root and grew and blossomed, as never before or since. For at every turn his royal father sought to allure him from his ascetic notions; (14) Jesus, at twelve, disputed with the scribes in the temple. (Luke, ch. 2, v. 46 to 50.) It must not be forgotten that Asita and Simeon are both ascetics; and both are represented as being inspired. A QUESTION OF MIRACLES 21 and to that end fixed beautiful gardens for him to stroll in, musicians to charm his senses, and attendants to anticipate his every want. But accident, or fate, easily overcame all this ; for one holiday, w^hile riding in his chariot, he saw at the roadside an old man, bent and worn, clutching a stick to support his tot- tering frame. (15) On reflection he knew, as all do know, that life's journey, from romping childhood to wrinkled age, is but a steady tramp to an open grave. Later on he saw a sick man, then a dead man; and those objects chained his thoughts effectively. He might well have said, "All flesh is as grass; and all the glory of man, as the flower of the grass." (16) The king, knowing well that the beauty of woman and her lustful arts, had brought many a proud spirit to her feet, now enlisted that powerful auxiliary. Graceful forms flitted about the prince, sweet faces smiled upon him, and ravishing looks met him at every turn. But the Prince remained obdurate. Then some arranged their light drapery to catch his eye; while others, half modestly, half amorously, with all the little crafty arts that beauty is mistress of, strove to move him. The prince looked on all this with a clouded brow. Then came Udaya, smooth of tongue, with argu- ments unctuous yet deceptive, and urged him to get pleasures from dalliance ; for, said he. "Pleasure is the (15) This supposed old man was a deva (an angel) with changed form to exhibit to the prince the certain lot of all flesh. (16) 1st Peter, 24. aa A QUESTION OF MIRACLES foremost thought of all; the gods themselves cannot dispense with it." (17) And he cited many cases where great seers who had undergone long periods of discipline, yet had been overcome by woman's wiles. "If I were to consent," replied the prince, "I should defile my mind and body. It would be a hollow com- pliance, and a protesting heart. Such methods are not for me to follow." Section 4, The king, learning from Udaya that all his arguments were unavailing, forthwith set about devising other means to whet the prince's appetite for pleasure. The chariot and prancing steeds were again brought forth; and, with a train of nobles, his father sent him beyond the city to see if cool breezes and charming scenes might not call away his thoughts to lighter subjects. It was a fatal mistake. For directly he saw the farmers working in the fields, their bodies tired and bent, sweat streaming from their faces, the oxen lashed to compel them to draw heavy loads, and even young boys and girls struggling to force from the earth a scanty subsist- ence. Forthwith he dismissed his retinue ; and, under the shade of a Gambu tree, contemplated the whole painful scene. The prince beheld in miniature a picture of what is transpiring in every part of the earth. Man, confined on these dark shores, is a prisoner, doomed to trouble (17) Fo-Sho-Hing, Section 295, A QUESTION OF MIRACLES 23 and death the day he is born. Neither pleadings nor prayers will change that inexorable law. With here and there a glint of temporary sunshine, the whole world is pervaded with misery and sorrow. While Gotama was thus pondering his course, it is said an angel of the pure abode, transforming himself into the likeness of a Bhikkhu (18) appeared before him and said, "My name is Shaman, and being sad at the thought of age,* disease, and death, I have left my home to seek some way of rescue. I therefore search for the happiness that ncv£r perishes, that heeds not w^ealth nor beauty." And. while he thus spake, there in the presence of the prince, he gradually rose in the air and disappeared in the heavens. This is now the second time this unusual occurrence has happened, and the reader will no doubt demand some explanation of it. It is truly unique and un- precedented; yet in Palestine people frequently as- cended to heaven, but they generally had some means of conveyance. Elijah was provided with a chariot of fire, and horses of fire; and, moreover, he had a whirlwind to give him a good fair start. (19) (18) After Buddha's enlightenment, and when his church was established, he made a rule that anyone desiring to become Bhikkhu must first have his hair and beard cut off and put on a yellow robe; he must then salute the feet of the Bhikkhus and sit down squatting; then raise his joined hands and say, "I take my refuge in Buddha, I take my refuge in Dhamma (the law), I take my refuge in the Samgha (the church)." -This he repeated three times. Buddha, the law, and the church, were called the ' ' holy triad. Afterwards this threefold declaration was abolished, and the Samgha voted as to whether or not an applicant should receive the ordination or be admitted therein. (19) Kings, ch. 2, v. 11. 34 A QUESTION OF MIRACLES And when the angel came to tell ManoaU about Samson, although he had no vehicle to make the ascension in, the flames from off the altar (20) carried him up without any mishap. In a very early affair, all we have of the record is: "Enoch was not, for God took him." (21) In Shaman's case, and in these others, just how they overcame the law of gravitation I cannot tell ; and as Newton was not born ' to expound that law until two thousand years later, the law does not seem to have been in operation, at least in India and Jeru- salem. I leave this matter here at present, but will examine it further along. Section 5. The prince, after seeing Shaman arise and disappear in space, returned to the palace and sought his father's presence ; from whom he begged permission "to leave the world." "Stop," said the father; "stop! you are too young to lead a religious life. Take this kingdom's government. Let me be- come an ascetic. You should first win an illustrious name, and when life's flame burns low, seek the soli- tudes, and devote the remnant of your years to relig- ious duties." {22) "I will remain," replied the son, "if you will grant me life without end, no disease, nor withered age, and the kingdom's permanence." (20) Judges, ch. 13, v. 20. (21) Gen. 5. (22) It had long been the custom in India for the aged to "leave the world" — in other words, to close their lives as ascetics. A QUESTION OF MIRACLES 25 "To ask such things provokes derision," replied the father, "for who is able to grant them ?" And forth- with he ordered every avenue of escape guarded ; and sent for the nobles and all the illustrious of the king- dom, to hasten and explain to his son the rules of filial obedience. All this, however, was of no avail. The decisive hour in the prince's career had struck. His doors had been securely bolted, lest he escape; but a deva of the pure abode, we are told, descended and unfastened them.