The Buddha’s Renunciation of Secular Life
During his previous trips outside the palace gates, Siddhartha had gained insight into the four basic and unavoidable sufferings afflicting human kind. He reflected deeply on these four kinds of suffering, namely birth, aging, sickness and death. He sought ways to overcome all suffering. Outside the northern palace gate, Siddhartha glimpsed a way to overcome suffering in the quiet dignity of a mediating monk. Siddhartha resolved to leave the palace and his princely duties behind. He decided on an austere and disciplined life in his search for a way to overcome human suffering.
In the middle of the night, Siddhartha secretly left the palace to begin his new life as a wandering ascetic. He left behind his beautiful wife and young son when he slipped out of his father’s luxurious palace. Only the faithful charioteer Chandaka and his trusted horse Kanthaka accompanied Siddhartha in his escape. Chandaka tried to dissuade Prince Siddhartha from sacrificing his splendid palace life for the miserable existence of a wandering monk. Siddhartha, however, remained resolute.
After riding through the night, Siddhartha dismounted from his horse, He handed the reins over to Chandaka and changed his fine robes for the rough ragged garb of a mendicant. He shaved off his long flowing locks and cast them into the wind. It is said that both Chandaka and Kanthaka shed tears over the prince’s departure. Siddhartha resolved not to return to his family or visit his homeland, Kapilavastu, until he discovered a way to overcome human suffering. Thus, he began his long journey to enlightenment.
When the King Suddhodana, learned of his son’s departure from the palace, he sent men to retrieve the young prince. Chandaka, however, eventually dissuaded Suddhodana from further pursuit. “You will not succeed in bringing Siddhartha back,” Chandaka explained. “The young man is firm in his courage and resolve. He will not return to Kapilavastu until he has attained perfect and complete wisdom.” In this way, Siddhartha left the comforts and pleasures of the palace for the grueling harsh life of an ascetic.
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