Myths of the Hindus & Buddhists

""The Temptationabandoned this life and again took regular food; hesacrificed this reputation, and his disciples deserted him.The TemptationIn this time of loneliness and failure there came to himthe great temptation, symbolically described as presentedto him by Mara, the evil one, in the form of material temptation and assault. Unvanquished, however, Gautamawandered along the banks of the river Nairanjara andtook his seat under a bo-tree (Ficus religiosa),and therereceived a simple meal from the hands of Sujata, daughterof a neighbouring villager,who at first mistook him fora sylvan deity. During the day he sat there, still assailedby doubt and the temptation to return to his home. Butas the day wore on his mind seemed to grow clearer andclearer, his doubts vanished, a great peace came over himas the significanceof all things made itself apparent. Soday and night passed till by the dawn came perfect knowledge; Gautama became Buddha, the enlightened.With perfect enlightenment there came upon the Buddha asense of great isolation ;how could it be possible to sharethis wisdom with men less wise, less earnest than himself? Was it likely that he could persuade any of thetruth of a doctrine of self-salvation by self-restraint andlove, without any reliance upon such rituals or theologiesas men everywhere and at all times lean upon ? Suchisolation comes to all great leaders but love and;pity forhumanity determined the Buddha at all hazard of misunderstanding or failure to preach the truth he had seen.The Buddha accordingly proceeded to Benares to "turnthe wheel of the Law," i.e. to set rolling the chariotwheel of a universal empire of truth and righteousness.He established himself in the Deer Park near Benares,247