The Lives Of Confucius And Guatama Siddhartha — страница 2

soon returned back to Lu to find more disorganization and more fighting. The ruler, Duke Chao, fleed for refuge and Confucius followed. Here Confucius thought that he could become ruler but there was great envy that suppressed his advancement. Soon after, Confucius was appointed governor of Chung Tu. Here is where Confucius had success. In such a short time, he reformed this state. It became a model for many other states to follow. After four years of government and a disagreement with a Duke, Confucius went into wandering for 13 years. Confucius traveled about trying to help reform different states. But no one really needed his help so at the age of 67 Confucius returned back to his home state of Lu. His wife, son, and two of his favorite disciples all died in a short time span.

He spent his last years editing the classical texts and continuing teaching to his students. Confucius knew his life was not worth much anymore and that it was coming to an end. In 479 B.C. Confucius died. The Life Of Buddha The Buddha, otherwise known as Guatama Siddhartha, had a very different life than that of Confucius. The Buddha was born in 566 B.C. to Queen Maya and King Suddhodana. He was given the name ?Siddhartha? which means which means ? all wishes accomplished?. Seven day’s after the birth, his mother, Queen Maya died. Queen Maya’s younger sister, Mahapajapati, took the responsibility of raising Guatama and the King made her his second wife. Right from the birth of this prince, his father, mother, second mother, and the whole kingdom knew that he was bound to be

an important figure in the Chinese society. From a very young age Guatama Siddhartha was cared for extensively. Starting at the age of seven, Prince Siddhartha began taking lessons on how to read, write, and reckon. The prince also took astronomy and archery. He took his courses seriously and also excelled in them. Anything and everything that he wanted was gotten for him. Guatama Siddhartha never had to work. He had slaves that would take care of everything for him. In addition, the slaves that worked for him were fed rice and meat, while any other average slave-servent working for an average man were fed broken rice and sour gruel. This is just how well treated the prince and the princess’s servants were treated. The prince always had women surrounding him, shelter over his

head in any type of weather and a different palace for different seasons. In short, the prince was spoiled. Around the age of eighteen the prince got married and within the first year a son was expected. Before the birth of the son, the prince asked his father for permission to wander outside of the palace gates. The father agreed but let everyone know beforehand that the prince was leaving the palace and that nothing should be in his view that might disturb him. The prince wandered outside the gates four different times. In these trips he saw an old man, an ill man, a funeral procession and a reclusive man. The first three incidents upset him greatly. The prince never thought that man could become so horrifying. But the forth encounter intrigued him. Upon his encounter with the

recluse man he asked: ? ?What gain is there in the life of a recluse?? the person answered and said: ?I depart from the impermanence of age, illness, and death, and gain the freedom of deliverance. I forsake the illusive love of life, walk the path of Right Dharma, and save living beings with compassion.? The prince exclaimed: ?What could be more noble than the path of a recluse.?? (Takakusu, 15) Soon after this incident, his son was born. The palace celebrated and so did the town. The kingdom had yet another son. The kingdom was proud, the palace was proud, the King was proud but yet the prince was still troubled. Why was he so troubled? What was the prince thinking so much about? The prince, after seeing and knowing that he was no longer pleased with his palace life, decided to

leave the castle and flee into the country. Upon his call, the charioteer Chanda arrived, and the prince told about his plan to leave. The charioteer brought a horse. The prince, Chanda and the horse left. The prince left everything behind him. His father, wife, son and riches were now of the past. Upon entering the countryside, Guatama Siddhartha began to take off his clothes and talk to his charioteer. He talked how not to be sad, that he was going to search for Enlightenment and to go tell the palace that he was not coming back. With this, Chanda received the princes clothes and jewels, and with sadness in his eyes rode away back to the palace knowing that he was the messenger of bad news. The prince, who for 19 years was looked after with great detail and who could have