Real Freedom comes with a price – the price of letting go of all attachments – mental, emotional and material.
Prince Siddhartha was prevented to see any sorrowful situation of life, sick persons, old persons, poor people, beggars and dead bodies – it was all kept way from his eyes. And then one day while moving in his chariot outside the palace, Prince Siddhartha saw a sick person, an old person, a dead person’s body. Siddhartha asked his charioteer why were they like that. He was told that every human being has to face sickness, old age, and death. Prince Siddhartha was full of sorrow at this. As they moved along Prince Siddhartha saw a Monk in robes with a glow that was impossible to miss. When he asked his Charioteer, the Charioteer replied saying that he was a wise sage, who had seen the ultimate truth and thus was always in a state of bliss.
Siddhartha who was very much overwhelmed by the sorrow of seeing sickness, old age and death now knew he had to find a way to know what the sage knew. One night leaving his wife and son in sleep, renouncing princely life he went out of his palace. He went to many places, met various teachers, masters; asked the cause of sorrow and suffering to many learned people but he still did not know the Truth. He knew that he had to overcome the strong identification to mind and thus started fasting with the idea of mortifying the body. Surviving of three leaves and some water, meditating, attempting to train his mind, his body eventually started to become weak. Over a period of time, he became weak to an extent that all his bones had become visible. Then one day, whilst trying to quench his thirst, moving with great difficulty towards the water, he fell almost unconscious and the thought that he is going to die without being enlightened crosses his mind. As he falls, he hears a girl singing the song and playing the Veena ( a violin kind of music instrument) “Don’t stretch Veena’s wire so much that it breaks. At the same time don’t loosen it so that no music can be played.”
They say that it was this pivotal moment that led to Prince Siddhartha finally becoming the Buddha. It was that moment that gave birth to the Middle path. For Buddha finally understood that his attachment to his idea of overcoming the mind by punishing his body had almost killed him. He realized that if an indulged body is not fit for enlightenment, similarly a weak / punished body defeats the purpose.
It’s the same principle that’s been shared in the ancient scriptures of the Vedic era of the ancient Indian culture. Just like a bird needs two wings to fly, our human life is a fine balance between the spiritual wisdom and materialism.
Remember, your experience of life is based on your perception, your ideas and your attachment to those ideas of how things should be. As you go along today, practice non attachment to ideas which are self limiting or restrictive and strip one off love, happiness and bliss. Keep an open mind for an enriching life experience. Live life with open palms – feel grateful for whatever comes and bless whatever goes out.