portion for ever in any thing that is done under the sun."
So said Solomon, or whoever wrote those words. [7]
And this is what the Indian wisdom tells:
Sakya Muni, a young, happy prince, from whom the existence of sickness,
old age, and death had been hidden, went out to drive and saw a terrible old
man, toothless and slobbering. the prince, from whom till then old age had
been concealed, was amazed, and asked his driver what it was, and how
that man had come to such a wretched and disgusting condition, and when
he learnt that this was the common fate of all men, that the same thing
inevitably awaited him -- the young prince -- he could not continue his
drive, but gave orders to go home, that he might consider this fact. So he
shut himself up alone and considered it. and he probably devised some
consolation for himself, for he subsequently again went out to drive, feeling
merry and happy. But this time he saw a sick man. He saw an emaciated,
livid, trembling man with dim eyes. The prince, from whom sickness had
been concealed, stopped and asked what this was. And when he learnt that
this was sickness, to which all men are liable, and that he himself -- a
healthy and happy prince -- might himself fall ill tomorrow, he again was in
no mood to enjoy himself but gave orders to drive home, and again sought
some solace, and probably found it, for he drove out a third time for
pleasure. But this third time he saw another new sight: he saw men carrying
something. 'What is that?' 'A dead man.' 'What does dead mean?' asked the
prince. He was told that to become dead means to become like that man.
The prince approached the corpse, uncovered it, and looked at it. 'What will
happen to him now?' asked the prince. He was told that the corpse would be
buried in the ground. 'Why?' 'Because he will certainly not return to life,
and will only produce a stench and worms.' 'And is that the fate of all men?
Will the same thing happen to me? Will they bury me, and shall I cause a
stench and be eaten by worms?' 'Yes.' 'Home! I shall not drive out for
pleasure, and never will so drive out again!'
And Sakya Muni could find no consolation in life, and decided that life is
the greatest of evils; and he devoted all the strength of his soul to free