Lanka Daily News, Colombo - More than two thousand five hundred years ago, one resplendent dawn; the golden light of the skies reached down to touch the infinite flowers of Lumbini.
They opened gently - shimmering like jewels - to herald the birth of a prince. A wonderous child, - destined to rule the world. But not with the might of the sword, nor wilful force, but with love and compassionate words of Truth.
He grew and lived, a prince; until one day, the cruel spectres of life - disease, old age, denial and death - besieged his way.
That night he shed the splendours of his life, and set forth towards an unknown world. Pledged to an unknown, daunting quest.
He had come through numberless births, and aeons of years, cultivating an unfaltering determination to become a Buddha. Thus He unerringly searched to find the way, to become one, and end the weary torment of birth and death.
Alone and wearied he sat, intent; enclosed in the blackness of one awesome, turbulent, night. He grappled with the friends of evil, that came before him - passion, hate, fear, ignorance, and pride - and overcame them all. He had found the way to end all sorrows....
A new day began, lost in the hazy, rose-hued glow of Gaya. He rose victorious; enlightened; resplendent. - the Buddha! The Wisest, the Noblest, most Holy being - Blessed, exalted, all Knowing.
Filled with an all encompassing need to share this most profound knowledge with all, The Buddha traced His footsteps toward Sarnath; the great park where deer roamed in its shadows.
There the Buddha encountered the five wise ascetics, and disclosed to them the four Truths - so noble, and pure, so invincible....
Sorrow, He said is like a shadow; moving where life moves. Fraught with the agony from birth to death! Caused by delusion of the impassioned thirsts of life alone; - desire, envy, hate and anger. Cessation of sorrow comes only when the inward strife is stilled.
The Way to cessation is to live by shunning all offences. With goodwill towards all that lives, Tranquil and courteous words; and love through good deeds.
To abide with purity and right thoughts, quiet contemplation and simple joy.
From that day onwards, bound with a ceaseless compassion and love, the Buddha in all the hours, the days, and years of His life, awakened all men, and led them on the Way, to where all the sorrows of birth could end. He called it Nirvana.
Many years passed. The light faded and chilling grey winds of despair, blew over Kusinara. The Buddha lay, aged, subdued, at peace. Awaiting death!
He glanced once more at His silent, sorrowing, disciples. "Be an island and a refuge, unto yourself. Seek no other refuge, but yourself....Make the Dhamma, your island and refuge, and never seek another refuge".
He then turned to the weeping Ananda, "Transient alas! are all conditioned things, try to accomplish your aim with diligence."
He died then; passing unto Nirvana, the place which He endowed. The place where all delusion ends!
Century upon century has passed since the Parinibbana, the passing away of the Buddha, but His compassion for us remains, in the realistic grace of His request.
'Make the Dhamma your only refuge'.
But day after day, it is the Buddha who is sought after as the foremost refuge with great reverence and gratitude.
With temple altars laden with myriad flowers, and softly flickering lamps.
And thus the Dhamma, and its all pervading truth, of life's futility, it seen and understood, when the lamps burn out, and the flowers fade and die....to nothingness!
