Buddha’s Four Encounters at the Palace Gates
It is said that during his youth, the Buddha lived entirely within the walls of his father’s palace. As the young Prince Siddhartha, the Buddha was shielded from all types of illness and suffering. He was taught the respected arts of the day and enjoyed a large company of adoring concubines as well as many other pleasures befitting his royal status.
When he was twenty-nine years old, the Buddha left the palace for an outing. Driven by his faithful charioteer Chandaka, Prince Siddhartha exited secretly through the eastern gate of the palace. Much to his surprise, Siddhartha encountered a decrepit old man just outside the gate. Siddhartha was puzzled having never witnessed the ravages of old age before. “Who is this man?” he asked Chandaka. Chandaka explained the inevitabilities of old age to the young prince. With this first encounter, the Buddha began to awaken to the sufferings of humankind.
On his second trip outside the palace, Prince Siddhartha exited through the southern gate. There he saw a man stricken by disease and shaking with fever. Puzzled, Siddhartha once again asked his charioteer Chandaka for an explanation. Chandaka told of the pains of illness. Upon hearing Chandaka’s reply, the young Buddha became immersed in thought. He realized that both the beauty of youth and the vigor of good health are illusions which vanish like deceptive dreams.
However, it was not until his third trip outside the palace gates that Siddhartha became aware of the true brevity of human life. Accompanied once again by the faithful Chandaka, Siddhartha left the palace this time exiting through the western gate. Once outside the gates, Siddhartha spotted a dead man stretched out on a funeral bier along the side of the road. With this third encounter Siddhartha learned that human afflictions like age and illness lead ultimately to death and decay. Siddhartha realized that everyone born into this world could not avoid suffering.
The young Prince Siddhartha was in anguish over the inevitability of human suffering. He could neither sleep nor enjoy the intoxicating pleasures of palace life. With a heavy heart, Siddhartha resolved to venture outside the palace gates once more. He left with Chandaka’s help through the northern gate. On this fourth outing, Siddhartha saw a sight which soothed his troubled mind. He encountered a man sitting calmly in meditation wearing the simple garment of a monk and carrying an alms-bowl. Impressed by the quiet dignity of this meditating monk, the young Buddha decided upon his future course of action.
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