That Buddha, at 29 years old years left the palace and with that, his wife Yaśodharā and his just born son Rāhula too; is a story that has been told and retold and debated perhaps; irking some even on why he could abandon his family. I remember the late Australian monk, Reverend Abhinyana reasoning that he didn't leave them in abject poverty while I was thinking in terms of Buddha then as Prince Siddhārtha, a man just like us, looking for the meaning of life. While watching the Chinese TV series, Forever and Ever 一生一世, I remembered this incident, widely known as Great Renunciation or Great Departure being mentioned. The female lead had said that Buddha had done what he did due to his love for the masses. Now, perhaps I can understand why this Great Renunciation is regarded as a great sacrifice. Perhaps, like the male lead said, there are different perspectives to a subject and each may be right in its own way .
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