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The Holy Hermit

             Over five and twenty centuries ago was he born of Maharani Maya, “pure as a water-lily”. His father, Suddhodana, was a king.

           In the royal Lumbini grove, midway between Kapila-vastu and Devadaha, Queen Maya brought forth her child, Gautama. Born of the royal family of the Sakyas, Gautama came to be called Sakyamuni (the Muni or Sage of the Sakya Community). He has been named, also, Siddhartha (he who achieved or attained the Goal). Yet another name given him is Tathagata,— one who “came in the same way”, i. e. like the Buddhas before him. But the name by which he is known to millions of mankind is Buddha,— the “Enlightened One”, the “Awakened One”, the Master of Wisdom.

           The royal father, radiant with joy, distributed alms among the poor and the helpless: and streets and bazars and houses and temples were decorated.

           Asita was a yogi,— a holy hermit of the Himalayas, a grey-haired saint who lived near Kapilavastu. Wondrous was his knowledge of the Ancient Wisdom. He was a man of fasts and prayers. His ears heard, we read, in the hour of his meditation beneath the peepul-tree, the songs the Gods did sing at Buddha’s birth. Asita came to see the new-born babe. The King saluted the Yogi and Queen Maya in reverence did lay her babe before his holy feet.

             Holy Asita took the Prince in his arms, touched the dust and said:— “O Babe! I worship thee! Thou art Divine! In thee I see the Light such as never was on earth or sea! I see the marks on thy foot-sole, and I exclaim:— ‘Thou art the Buddha foretold of ancient times! Thou art the destined Preacher of the Law (Dhamma)! And thou art he who Cometh to help and heal!”

            Then, turning to the King, the Saint said “O King! but once in many myriad years doth appear in the Garden of Humanity a flower such as he,— a flower whose fragrance filleth the world from end to end.”

            Once again, Asita looked into Gautama’s eyes, then sighed and wept.

          “Why weepest thou, holy Hermit? Art thou not famed for wisdom and saintliness?” the King asked him.

         And Asita answered thus:—“I weep, o King, because I shall not live to see the day that is to come,— the day when he, the Buddha, will teach the ‘Good Law’ and bless the Nations of the Earth. I am old and I know my end is near!”

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