The Life of the Buddha 18
King Suddhodana kept adding treasures, beauties, and noble youths to attend to the prince, hoping to change his world - weary attitude. But nothing could shake the prince's resolve. The prince sat alone under a tree in the garden, lost in thought. He deeply felt that the world was filled with suffering, life was impermanent, and old age, illness, and death were the great misfortunes of life. He was determined to overcome these hardships and seek the way to liberation. At this moment, the appearance of a shramana further strengthened the prince's intention to renounce the world. The shramana's words enlightened the prince, filling him with joy. He regarded the shramana as a guiding light in the darkness, leading him towards liberation.
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