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refuge in me and so it is mine." The argument grew fierce and the two boys finally took their dispute to the king. The king listened to both arguments and pronounced that the one who protects the life of a creature has the right to that creature. This was a great disappointment to Devadatta. He became envious and bore malice towards Siddhartha.
In the midst of all the comforts and luxuries in the palace, Siddhartha still loved solitude. This concerned the father who had planned to insulate Siddhartha from the harsh realities of everyday life. He succeeded in doing this until the day Siddhartha expressed a desire to take a walk in the forest outside the confines of the palace. Siddhartha set out for the forest riding in a beautiful chariot. The crowds of the city were eager to catch a glimpse of their prince who had been virtually cloistered for
many years.
Four Passing Sights
While going through the crowd on the way to the forest the prince saw a man who was very old and feeble. The old man walked with the help of a cane and exerted a great effort. His body shook from old age. The prince asked the charioteer: “What kind of man is this?” The charioteer replied: “This is an
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