THE RENUNCIATION

Siddhattha Gotama had his horse, Kanthaka, saddled tightly for a long journey. Siddhattha Gotama asked Kanthaka to help him flee his royal life in the palace. With his horseman, Channa, hanging on to the horse’s tail, they rode out into the night. 

Kanthaka was a strong horse. When he stamped his hooves, the sound was so loud that it spread throughout the city. The deva gods heard the sound and used their powers to muffle the sound of his neighing, placing their hands under his feet to silence them as he ran. 

At midnight, they reached the city gates. To protect his son, the King had made the gates so heavy that a thousand men were needed to open them. Siddhattha Gotama, Kanthaka, and Channa each secretly thought to themselves that they would leap up and carry the others over the city wall if the gates would not open. But the gods helped and opened the gates for them. 

Just then, Mara approached. As the ruler of the highest heaven of sensual pleasure, he was the Buddha’s natural enemy. He stood in the air and held up his hand, trying to get Siddhattha Gotama to turn back by tempting him to become King. 

The future Buddha was unswayed and told Mara that he did not care to become King. Mara swore to catch him and followed him like a shadow, waiting for the future Buddha to think a bad thought. But Siddhattha Gotama rode on, protected by deities on all sides.