Dīrgha Āgama, Volume I: The Twelve Nidānas

(1) Original text: The Buddha addressed the bhikkhus, "The prince, upon seeing the aged and the sick, understood the suffering of the world. Upon seeing the dead, his attachment to worldly sentiments ceased. And upon seeing the ascetic, he suddenly attained profound realization. At the moment he descended from the jeweled chariot, with each step he took, he grew increasingly distant from worldly afflictions and bonds. This was true renunciation; this was true detachment. At that time, the people of the kingdom, hearing that the prince had shaved off his hair and beard, donned the monastic robe, took up the alms bowl, and left home to cultivate the path, all said to one another, 'This path must be genuine, for it caused the prince to abandon his royal glory and position, to relinquish what was most valued.' Thereupon, eighty-four thousand people in the kingdom went to the prince, seeking to become his disciples, leaving home to cultivate the path." The Buddha then spoke this verse: "Having discerned the profound and wondrous Dharma, upon hearing it, they followed him into homelessness. Freed from the prison of love and affection, they are bound by no fetters."

Explanation: The Buddha told the bhikkhus, "When I was a prince, upon going out and seeing the aged and the sick, I understood the world is suffering. Seeing the dead, my craving for worldly sentiments ceased. Later, seeing an ascetic who had left home, I suddenly attained profound realization. When I descended from the jeweled chariot, with each step I took, my mind was distancing itself from worldly afflictions and bonds. At that moment, I truly renounced the world; I truly detached from worldly troubles. Then, the common people of the kingdom, hearing that the prince had shaved off his hair and beard, put on the monastic robe, took up the alms bowl, and left home to cultivate the path, all comforted one another, saying, 'The practice of the path must be supremely genuine, for it caused the prince to abandon the king's glory and wealth, to relinquish his heavy burdens.' Thereupon, eighty-four thousand people in the kingdom went to the prince, requesting to become disciples and leave home to cultivate the path." The Buddha then spoke a verse: "Encountering that profound and subtle Dharma leading to liberation, upon hearing it, they left home to cultivate the path, departing from the hell of worldly love and affection, no longer bound by the numerous fetters of birth and death."

Original text: "Thereupon, the prince accepted them and traveled with them, teaching everywhere. From village to village, from country to country, wherever they went, they were met with reverence and offerings of the four requisites. The Bodhisattva thought, 'I travel with this great assembly through various countries. The clamor of the human world is not suitable for me. When can I leave this crowd and find a place of quiet solitude to seek the true Way?' Soon he attained his aspiration, finding a secluded and tranquil place to concentrate solely on cultivating the path. He further thought, 'Sentient beings are pitiable. They constantly dwell in darkness and ignorance, possessing bodies that are fragile and imperiled. There is birth, aging, sickness, and death. Aggregations of many sufferings. Dying here, born there; dying there, born here. Clinging to this aggregate of suffering, they revolve endlessly in samsara. When will I ever comprehend this aggregate of suffering and extinguish birth, aging, and death?'"

Explanation: Thereupon, the prince accepted these disciples and traveled with them, teaching sentient beings everywhere, moving from one village to another, from one country to another. Wherever they went, the people were invariably reverent, making offerings of the four requisites (food, clothing, medicine, and shelter). The prince Bodhisattva thought to himself, "I travel with this great assembly through various countries. The clamor of the human world is like this; this is not the place I should be. When can I leave this crowd of people and go to a place of leisure to practice, in order to attain the true fruit of the Way?" Not long after, his wish was fulfilled; he found a place of solitude and tranquility, where he concentrated solely on diligently cultivating the path. He further thought thus: "Sentient beings are pitiable. They constantly dwell in dark obscurity, possessing bodies that are fragile and dangerous. There is birth, aging, sickness, and death, where many sufferings gather. Dying in this place, born in that place; dying in that place, born again in this place. Grasping at this aggregate of suffering, they revolve endlessly in birth and death. When will I ever be able to comprehend this aggregate of suffering and extinguish birth, aging, and death?"

From this account by the World-Honored One, it is evident that all Buddhas and Bodhisattvas, during their kalpas of cultivating the path, first practiced diligently alone in remote, uninhabited places, far from the clamor of crowds. Only after achieving realization through cultivation did they teach among people, liberating sentient beings. This is because the Way is realized in tranquility; tranquility gives rise to wisdom; tranquility leads to samadhi. Therefore, all those who achieve success in cultivation have undergone a stage of solitary, quiet practice, distancing themselves from worldly greed, hatred, delusion, and clamor, renouncing fame, gain, and offerings, purifying their minds before they could enter the path.