Buddha wandered for six years, he visited all the sages, saints, scholars, all kinds of gurus, but nothing happened. Asceticism, fasting, yoga - all in vain.
One day Siddhartha tried to ford a small river, the current was strong, and he was so weak from constant deprivation and malnutrition that his head began to spin, he fell into the water, and was carried downstream. It is unknown how all this would have ended if he had not grabbed a long root. He was washed ashore.
In this position, without the strength to get out, he clearly realized: “Life is like an ocean.” And if life is an ocean, then everything I do is wrong. If I have brought myself to such a state that I cannot even cross this river, then how am I going to cross the ocean of life? My path is not correct. I have become weak, and in order to rise to God, enormous energy is needed.”
He managed to get out of the river, he lay down under a tree and relaxed. That evening there was a full moon, and for the first time in six years of wandering he slept well, he no longer had to rush anywhere, had nothing to achieve; no practice, no exercise. For the first time he felt complete freedom. Without hurrying anywhere, lying under a tree, he watched the sunrise. He watched the last morning star melt away. It is said that when she disappeared, Siddhartha also disappeared. In an instant, six years of wandering flashed before his mind's eye, like a nightmare, but that was already the past. Buddha became enlightened!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru