THE GREAT QUEST

A story about the Buddha

by

Steve Weissman

Copyright © 2020 Steve Weissman

Illustration copyright © 2020 Rosemary Weissman

All rights reserved.

ISBN: 978-0-6487941-0-3

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction

Prologue

Chapter 1 - Unlike anyone

Chapter 2 - Kondanna

Chapter 3 - King Suddhodana

Chapter 4 - Siddhartha

Chapter 5 - Denial

Chapter 6 - A luxurious jail

Chapter 7 - The Dilemma

Chapter 8 - Priest Anupanita

Chapter 9 - Ruchi

Chapter 10 - The Plan

Chapter 11 - Yasodhara

Chapter 12 - Marriage

Chapter 13 - It's time

Chapter 14 - Preparation

Chapter 15 - The real world

Chapter 16 - Roses

Chapter 17 - Sages

Chapter 18 - Destiny

Chapter 19 - Stay balanced

Chapter 20 - Escape

Chapter 21 - Lessons begin

Chapter 22 - It's Kondanna's fault!

Chapter 23 - Yasodhara needs to be ready

Chapter 24 - Weirdest idiot

Chapter 25 - Jataka

Chapter 26 - Patience

Chapter 27 - Little girl teacher

Chapter 28 - The boy king

Chapter 29 - Don't believe

Chapter 30 - Mara

Chapter 31 - Dog-man

Chapter 32 - Arada Kalama

Chapter 33 - First meditation

Chapter 34 - The Priests

Chapter 35 - Courageous

Chapter 36 - Yasodhara's ready

Chapter 37 - The Five

Chapter 38 - Nothingness

Chapter 39 - First village

Chapter 40 - Mara rules

Chapter 41 - Roadside house

Chapter 42 - Bigger than all of us

Chapter 43 - King Barisampa

Chapter 44 - Fourth village

Chapter 45 - Mara and Ruchi

Chapter 46 - Charnel grounds cemetery

Chapter 47 - Freedom...

Chapter 48 - Kondanna finds Siddhartha

Chapter 49 - Mara surrenders

Chapter 50 - Beat the body

Chapter 51 - Madness complete

Chapter 52 - I'm so sorry, Yasodhara

Chapter 53 - Yasodhara's fear

Chapter 54 - Tears

Chapter 55 - The Middle Path

Chapter 56 - Recovery

Chapter 57 - Final Battle

Chapter 58 - Enlightenment

Chapter 59 - Special gifts

Chapter 60 - Done

Chapter 61 - Priest Anupanita defeated

Epilogue

About the Author

Steve's 13 stories

* * * * *

Introduction

* * * * *

There have been dozens, if not a hundred or more biographies of the Buddha. So why add another?

The many biographies, that I've read, have basically been the historic facts of his life, with some trying to "humanize" these basic facts, with added fiction. But, for me, something has always seemed to be missing. The drama, the inner struggles anyone would go through wrestling with the big questions of life, the immediacy of the human dilemma we each face, the struggle to understand and find a path to inner peace.

Having been a meditator since 1972 and a Buddhist meditation teacher since 1987, I wanted to add a perspective of his life that an experienced Buddhist meditator may have. To add these fictional parts, required me to imagine the many unrecorded parts of the Buddha’s epic journey to Enlightenment. In this way, as you read, I encourage you to also use your own imagination to come along on the journey.

To dramatize the bare historic facts required me to create some fictional situations and dialogue, as of course we cannot know everything the Buddha went through and said. Hopefully this will be understood as you imagine these situations yourself. This story is not meant to be taken as a totally factual account, but rather portray similar conflicts the Buddha may have faced in his Great Quest.

I believe "The Great Quest" presents something different coming from my personal meditation understanding. My wish is that this book will enhance the reader's own understanding of such a wonderful man.

I hope you enjoy "The Great Quest".

* * * * *

Prologue

* * * * *

India of the Buddha's era (623-543 BC) was a somewhat feudal society, with small kingdoms scattered throughout the land. Frequently these kingdoms would wage war against each other, sometimes provoked by their spiritual advisors, the Brahmin priests.

The Brahman religion was a predecessor to today's Hinduism. Although the main religion at that time, it was not universally liked by the people. Animal, and often human sacrifices were regularly preformed.

The Priests held authority and few were prepared to voice any opposing views. A caste system was firmly intact with the Priests on the top.

Yet Siddhartha Gautama knew things needed to change...

Outwardly... and inwardly.

* * * * *

Chapter 1 - Unlike anyone

* * * * *

Blackness.

We hear the sound of breathing intermittent with a man's voice.

"Unlike anyone."

The breathing gets stronger and longer.

"Before him."

A small white light appears.

The breathing sound stops.

"Or after him."

The light grows larger.

A perfect circular disc.

Smashed into a horizontal oval.

Stretched wide and thin like a rubber band.

Tall.

Short.

Back to circular.

It breaks apart into five discs.

They spin clockwise.

Counterclockwise.

Faster.

Faster.

They stop.

They break apart into hundreds of discs.

They rotate clockwise slowly.

Quicker.

Fast.

Super fast.

The lights flash across the blackness like shooting stars.

"This is the story of the Great Quest."

* * * * *

Chapter 2 - Kondanna

* * * * *

Clusters of shooting stars spray the night sky, above tall forest trees.

Kondanna, a young, 20 year old sage, bald head, yellow-gold robes, sits meditating in front of a small cave.

We hear his old teacher's voice, firm and strong, yet with an obvious bit of excitement.

"Kondanna!"

Kondanna slowly opens his eyes.

"Today!"

Kondanna smiles.

* * * * *

Chapter 3 - King Suddhodana

* * * * *

The Royal Army training field.

King Suddhodana, 35 years old, muscles rippling, oversees his troops. His long hair swings back, revealing large earrings that signify nobility.

Swords clash, arrows fly toward targets, men wrestle, knives flash in the sunlight.

King Suddhodana yells at his troops, "Train well. You must defeat your enemy or he will defeat you!"

An arrow wings past the target into the woods.

The King scowls, rips the bow away from the soldier, "No, no, like this."

He places an arrow, lets it fly – straight into the target's center.

The soldier humbly bows.

King Suddhodana strides over to others sparring, "Weaklings!"

He pushes one man out of the way and taunts two others, "Attack me!"

The soldiers hesitate.

He bellows, "You heard me! Attack!"

The three attack.

In lightning speed, the King throws them down. "Train like that, or you will die on the battlefield."

An excited servant hurries over, "Sire! The Queen has a son."

The King smiles broadly, raises his arms in 'victory', "An heir! – Summon the sages."

* * * * *

Chapter 4 - Siddhartha

* * * * *

The Royal Throne room. Luxurious.

Royal Brahmin Priest Anupanita, 45 years old, the King's religious advisor, looks on with contempt as three old sages and young Kondanna examine the newborn baby who lies on a sheep skin.

Surrounded by royal elegance, King Suddhodana and his beautiful Queen Prajapati, 32 years old, sit regally yet with eager anticipation.

The semi-inebriated King gulps more wine, as he enjoys his new fatherhood, "I'm sure you will see many great marks. Do tell us what they mean."

The four sages admire the golden skin, touch the infant's head, gently look over the little one.

The oldest sage stands, "King Suddhodana, Sire, if your son so chooses, he will become a world-ruling monarch."

The other two elders stand as Kondanna continues to examine the baby.

The King smiles, motions to the other two elders.

One speaks, "I agree."

The other nods his consent.

The delighted King springs up, staggers, stands proudly, "Yes, yes, wise sages. We will name him Siddhartha, the one who has come to achieve. He will be a great king, thank you so much."

Kondanna intentionally coughs, disturbing the King's joy.

King Suddhodana frowns.

The Priest's eyes narrow in with daggers on Kondanna.

Kondanna, "Sire, he will achieve wondrous glory, but not as a king. Venerable teachers, please look at this hair."

Kondanna points between the babe's eyes.

He stands as the three older sages bend down to look, "When Siddhartha sees the signs of death, illness and old age, he will renounce the kingdom and embark upon the Great Quest."

King Suddhodana rages, "What do you say! We are the noble Warrior caste! He is my first son and will follow me as King!"

He smashes his glass to the floor, "Be gone, all of you."

The sages humbly leave.

The King collapses in his chair as Prajapati looks compassionately at him. She speaks softly, "Suddhodana, dear–"

The arrogant Priest butts in between them, his haughtiness strong, "Do not worry, Sire. The caste system is the law, he will become King. That young sage Kondanna's not long past sucking the breast."

The King's face hardens.

Priest Anupanita looks toward the leaving sages as Kondanna takes one last look back at the baby.

The Priest smirks, "I know what must be done."

* * * * *

Chapter 5 - Denial

* * * * *

Royal Gardens.

Satisfied, the Priest watches angry King Suddhodana march around untidy gardens. The timid Royal Minister, 40 years old, and many servants struggle to keep up with the King.

Prajapati sits on a palace balcony with baby Siddhartha, who struggles to stand on her lap and look over the balcony toward the King. Siddhartha giggles.

King Suddhodana charges at bushes, "Look at this mess, dead leaves, dead flowers, dead branches."

He spots a dead branch and rips it off, "Get rid of it, all of it! Siddhartha must never see any of this!"

The Minister points up at Siddhartha, "But Sire, he's only a baby."

The King throws the branch at the Minister, "And babies have eyes to see!"

Although they sit high above the ground, a man's shadow passes across Prajapati and rests on Siddhartha.

Siddhartha cries.

Prajapati comforts him but he cries louder.

The Minister drops his head, "Forgive me, Sire."

King Suddhodana bellows, "Clean the gardens every day. Siddhartha must not see any sign of death and decay! Never allow him out of the Palace grounds nor let any sick person come near him. Do you hear me! Now get on with it!"

The Minister bows, "Yes, Sire." He waves to the servants who then hurry around removing all signs of decay.

Feeling a heavy weight on his shoulders, King Suddhodana's voice lowers, "And get him toys, playthings, music, everything to please him."

The Priest smiles.

The King looks up at Prajapati and Siddhartha, crying in her arms.

The man's shadow surrounds Siddhartha.

Full of anxiety, the King grimaces.

Prajapati shakes her head compassionately, and takes Siddhartha inside.

The shadow follows them.

* * * * *

Chapter 6 - A luxurious jail

* * * * *

18 years later.

Village food markets. Stalls loaded with food and utensils.

The Royal Minister strolls past customers who huddle around a merchant.

The merchant packs some fruit, "They say he's better looking than the King."

He hands the fruit to a customer, "Too bad we never get to see him."

* * * * *

A house construction site.

Both squatting, a young man hands mortar to an older worker, "I hear he's very bright."

The Royal Brahmin Priest Anupanita struts by with a haughty expression.

The older worker shrugs, "But only what the priests teach."

The young man spits in the Priest's direction, "So he'll stay stupid like them."

The older worker stands, "Maybe one day he'll meet the sages."

* * * * *

A wooded hermitage area.

Kondanna stands tall as a younger sage, Baspa, 25 years old, sits. Further away, three other young sages meditate under trees.

Kondanna's eyes sparkle as a deer approaches. He pets it and smiles, "With the thirty-two marks of a Great Man, he's gifted beyond all. When the predictions come true, we will be his humble students, he will be our great teacher.”

* * * * *

Army stables.

Two soldiers groom a horse.

The Private questions, "Think the King will ever let him out?"

The Officer strokes the horse's tail, "Not while he's alive."

The Private shakes his head, "Eighteen years in a luxurious jail, girls, music, games, so what?”

* * * * *

Chapter 7 - The Dilemma

* * * * *

The King and Queen's bedroom.

Prajapati sits on the bed.

Dismayed, the King paces, "I will tell him when it's time."

Prajapati shakes her head, "He's almost a man. What if the time comes and you haven't told him yet?"

King Suddhodana stops, "Prajapati, please."

She stands, hugs the King, "He'll never be able to follow you as king if he doesn't know about life... and death."

The King steps away, then turns back to her, "My love, have I been a good husband? A good king? Am I not a good father? Siddhartha's destiny lies in my hands."

Prajapati pleads, "But what if his destiny is not to become King?"

The King walks out.

A tear slides down Prajapati's cheek.

* * * * *

Chapter 8 - Priest Anupanita

* * * * *

Palace gardens.

Prince Siddhartha, now 18, tall, strikingly handsome, large royal earrings, flowing long hair, royal outfit, steps out of the palace into the sun.

He blinks in the light, looks up at a soaring golden eagle. He smiles, spreads his arms as if to fly away.

He sighs, his shoulders slouch, his arms drop like heavy weights.

Five beautiful, young maidens dance and play music in the gardens. One girl strokes her body and calls to Siddhartha, "Siddhartha, want to fly with me?"

The girls giggle.

With a blank face, Siddhartha looks at them, says nothing, walks off.

The young maiden starts to cry, "But Siddhartha–"

He's gone.

The girls console themselves, "He doesn't want us anymore.”

* * * * *

Inside the high palace wall.

Siddhartha wipes sweat off his brow as he stealthily creeps next to the sheer smooth wall. His hand slides along the wall as he regularly glances over his shoulder.

He reaches a Mango tree, loaded with ripe mangoes, twenty feet in from the wall. He looks in all directions, hoists himself up.

He perches on a branch, looks over the wall toward rolling hills and a far off village.

He looks longingly at youths playing sport in a field.

Sad, Siddhartha frowns, stands and reaches for a higher branch.

Priest Anupanita's voice, "Siddhartha!"

Siddhartha grimaces.

With angry defiance he climbs higher.

Again the Priest's arrogant voice, "Shall I call the guards?"

Like a caged lion, Siddhartha peers down at his captor.

Caught but pride intact, he drops down, confronts the Priest.

Priest Anupanita gloats, "So, you dream in your tree... Your father wants you."

Siddhartha glares.

The Priest exerts his authority, "Now."

Siddhartha's defiant but can't do anything, "Enjoy your power while you can, Priest. You will be tamed."

Priest Anupanita laughs, "Ha, upstart Prince, going to conquer the world, eh?"

Siddhartha strides off.

The Priest claps his hands. Two servants hurry over holding axes.

* * * * *

The King's chamber.

A knife slices a mango. King Suddhodana sits, eating.

Siddhartha stands nearby.

King Suddhodana puts down his knife, "No, I did not call you."

Siddhartha fumes, "You are the King, why do you let the Priest run–"

King Suddhodana cuts him off, "Siddhartha, you have the pride and bearing of a future ruler. Good. But you must understand the Brahmin Priests are born the highest caste to be our spiritual advisers and appease the gods. That is how it is and will always be."

Siddhartha walks toward a painting of a village, "When am I going to see the kingdom?"

King Suddhodana looks down, "Do not worry, Son, as soon as–"

Siddhartha screams, "Father! I'm tired of being cloistered here in the palace!"

King Suddhodana stands, casually glances out a window, "A king needs patience. Princes need to learn this virtue, also."

Siddhartha stomps out.

The King spins around, "Siddhartha!"

The King stares.

Saddened, he drops his eyes.

* * * * *

Mango tree area.

The Priest laughs as servants swing their axes hard into the tree.

Woodchips fly.

Mangoes shake and fall.

* * * * *

An inside palace staircase.

Siddhartha tears down stairs two at a time.

* * * * *

Rose garden.

Siddhartha steps out of the palace into clusters of perfect rose bushes.

The chopping echoes.

He sprints to the Mango tree as a servant takes the last swing, "Stop! Stop!"

Crack.

An anguished Siddhartha watches the tree fall.

He stands, dazed.

The servants look at him with concern, but nod to the Priest and leave.

The Priest sneers, "Never, ever will you be able to stop my power. Do you understand?"

A long moment as Siddhartha's eyes narrow on the Priest's angry glare.

Everything around the Priest dissolves into blackness.

Siddhartha shuts his eyes, shakes his head.

He opens his eyes. The blackness is gone.

Siddhartha, "No."

Priest Anupanita waves his hand in front of Siddhartha, "I have told you over and over, little Prince. I am the highest caste, a Royal Brahmin Priest. The gods' wrath will be on anyone who interferes with my wishes."

He moves close to Siddhartha, inches from his face.

Siddhartha sees fires in the Priest's eyes.

Priest Anupanita, "You must remember who I am and who you are."

Siddhartha matches the Priest's stare, "I will remember."

The Priest struts away.

Siddhartha walks close to the Mango stump.

* * * * *

Chapter 9 - Ruchi

* * * * *

A male arm appears, the hand pats Siddhartha's shoulder.

Siddhartha responds, "Ruchi, my only true friend, how can I get out?"

Ruchi's voice, "You know the walls are impossible to climb."

Siddhartha frowns.

"And the gates are–"

Siddhartha, "Ruchi!"

Siddhartha walks away from the arm.

He picks up a mango.

"Siddhartha, how many times have we gone through this? You're just one person. Rebellion isn't the answer. If you play their game and become King, then you can break free from the priests and their tyranny."

Siddhartha turns, looks at his best friend, world-wise Ruchi, 24 years old, royal clothes, medium height, plain facial features, shoulder length hair.

Siddhartha, "I'd rather be a commoner with freedom."

Ruchi, "Do you really believe they have any more freedom than you?"

Siddhartha, "Fine for you to say, you've been outside."

Ruchi shrugs, "He's your father.”

* * * * *

Chapter 10 - The Plan

* * * * *

The King and Priest stand near a window in the King's chamber.

King Suddhodana gazes out the window. He appears to be watching someone walk from off in the distance to below the window.

The Priest clears his throat.

The King looks down at Siddhartha standing in the Rose garden, "My love for him tears at my heart. Do I keep him protected or do I risk losing him?"

Siddhartha holds a mango in one hand. With his other hand, he reaches out to a rose bud, sweeps his hand to a rose half open, continues to a rose in full bloom.

Priest Anupanita, "A wife. If he falls in love, then he'll stay and become King."

King Suddhodana, "He's had lovely maidens around him all day, for years."

Priest Anupanita, "But not the right woman yet."

Siddhartha looks upward to darkening clouds.

A storm brews.

His hand moves from bud to flower and back again.

King Suddhodana, "Will there be a right woman?"

Priest Anupanita, "I am certain there is."

Lightning clashes.

Heavy rain.

Siddhartha takes no notice.

King Suddhodana signs, "Make an announcement, on the full moon of next month Siddhartha will give gifts to all the maidens of the Kingdom.”

* * * * *

Chapter 11 - Yasodhara

* * * * *

The Royal gardens. Decked out in splendor.

Siddhartha stands next to his personal servant, Channa, 18 years old, who holds a basket of jeweled necklaces as the Minister arranges hundreds of young women.

One radiantly beautiful young woman, Yasodhara, also 18, sits peacefully while all other women fidget about.

The Priest stands behind the King and Prajapati who sit close by and watch the first maiden approach.

Siddhartha takes a necklace from Channa, smiles politely, places it over her head.

She steals a desirous glance at him.

He looks away.

Another woman, the same.

Another and another.

Each nervous maiden meets with the same indifferent smile.

On the outer edge of the crowd stands a man in a black, full cape that covers his body and head, hiding his face.

An hour passes and no change.

The King frowns, whispers to Prajapati. She strokes his arm, trying to comfort him.

He glances at the Priest anxiously. Stone-faced, the Priest stares at Siddhartha.

Weary, Siddhartha places a necklace over another respectful maiden. Though beautiful, no spark of interest registers on Siddhartha's face.

Only Yasodhara, sitting calmly, remains.

She rises, approaches Siddhartha. Her graceful, confident walk gives her a breathtaking elegance and beauty.

Unlike the other anxious maidens, Yasodhara looks Siddhartha directly in the eyes.

She smiles, "Is there a gift for me?"

Siddhartha smiles and can't take his eyes off her.

A few moments pass as if it were an eternity.

Finally he replies, "Of course."

He motions to a red-faced Channa who holds an empty basket, "Lord, I'm so sorry, I'll–"

Siddhartha, "No need, Channa.

He turns back to Yasodhara, "The necklaces are gone."

Yasodhara's smile stays radiant.

Without breaking eye contact, Siddhartha undoes his jeweled belt and places it around her waist.

* * * * *

Chapter 12 - Marriage

* * * * *

Rose garden.

Whistling, Siddhartha picks red roses.

Ruchi races over, "Siddhartha, good news, I know how you can escape the Palace."

Siddhartha's perplexed, "Escape?"

Ruchi, "That's what you wanted, right?"

Siddhartha looks at his roses.

Ruchi, "Well, I thought you–"

Siddhartha laughs, dances around a bush, "Before, Ruchi, before my lovely Yasodhara! I'd be out of my mind now. Listen, I've given more thought to your other advice and–"

Ruchi, "You want to become King?

Siddhartha, "I must. Only the best for Yasodhara, my beautiful, future queen. We're destined."

Ruchi, "So you're content–"

Siddhartha, "Content? Elated, thrilled, ecstatic!"

Ruchi smiles wide, "Good for you!"

A dark, fuzzy shape of the man, in a full cape covering the head, passes behind some bushes.

* * * * *

Royal ballroom.

A majestic marriage. The loving couple shine. Proud parents beam. Priests chant. Hundreds share in the joy.

An elder hangs wedding garlands over Siddhartha and Yasodhara.

Siddhartha breaks sweet cake and throws rice around.

Siddhartha and Yasodhara stroll off the platform to be greeted by their parents.

The crowd includes Ruchi who cheers with everyone throwing rice at the happy couple.

* * * * *

Time passes with Siddhartha and Yasodhara deeply in love. She always wears his jeweled belt.

Palace pond.

Siddhartha and Yasodhara wander amongst gazelles and peacocks grazing, as servants slink in the bushes. Parrots and doves flitter from tree to tree. Siddhartha tickles Yasodhara. They laugh and kiss.

* * * * *

Ballroom.

Musicians entertain while Siddhartha and Yasodhara watch the merriment. He pops a sweet sensuously into her mouth. Ruchi waves from across the room. Siddhartha smiles broadly in return.

* * * * *

Royal chamber.

In a flowing silk nightgown, Yasodhara surveys the room, making a cute face. She peeks behind the bed mischievously. Siddhartha springs from behind a couch, picks her up and they fall into bed.

* * * * *

Chapter 13 - It's time

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's bedroom.

Siddhartha lies next to a very pregnant Yasodhara.

His face assumes a far away look.

He nudges her awake, "My dear Yasodhara..."

They kiss.

Siddhartha, "Your grace and gentleness exceed anything I experienced before we met. How did it come to be? Teach me of the world you came from. I wish to know about how you grew up."

Yasodhara, "My life began with you."

Siddhartha, "I would love to visit your home."

Yasodhara, "My home is here with you."

Siddhartha, "Please, my dear, tell me this time."

An anxious Yasodhara can't hold his gaze. She looks away, "You know I can't. Your father–"

Siddhartha springs up, "My father!" He storms out.

Yasodhara's eyes tear.

* * * * *

Palace courtyard.

King Suddhodana and the Minister ride in, dismount near marbled chairs and tables under a canopy. Servants take their horses.

The King's hair shows touches of gray.

A frustrated Siddhartha steams toward them, "Father!"

King Suddhodana, "Not yet!"

Siddhartha, "So you want me to stay a little baby even when my wife–"

King Suddhodana, "Siddhartha, listen–"

Siddhartha, "To the same thing you've been telling me my whole life. Why? Why should I listen?"

Unseen by the King, Prajapati approaches.

King Suddhodana, "We will get you more maiden musicians, dancing girls–"

Siddhartha, "For what reason, when you swear the one woman I love to silence!"

King Suddhodana, "The reason is because I say so!"

Siddhartha, "Then I will listen no longer."

King Suddhodana, "Siddhartha–"

Siddhartha, "What? What can you say that makes any sense?"

Prajapati steps between them, looks long at the King, "Siddhartha will be a father soon, he needs to know the world."

King Suddhodana, "I can not have this!"

Prajapati, "Suddhodana."

King Suddhodana, "But Prajapati, what if–"

Prajapati shakes her head.

King Suddhodana, "What... if..."

She smiles compassionately.

Resigned, King Suddhodana nods to Siddhartha, "Yes... it's, it's time."

* * * * *

A lake in the woods.

Kondanna and Baspa stroll past deer grazing. Birds land in Kondanna's hand to eat grains.

Kondanna, "It's time, good."

Baspa, "But the King's obsessed in his denial. There's nothing we can do."

Kondanna, "Wrong, we'll just bring some reality into his dreams."

Baspa, "I don't like this. Maybe it's you who's living in a dream."

Kondanna, "Baspa, throw away your doubts. Has there ever been a time when old age, sickness and death did not rule over humans?"

Baspa, "But a Prince? How can he who has known only pleasure understand?"

Kondanna, "Because his ignorance will make him even more sensitive to that which he has never seen."

* * * * *

Chapter 14 - Preparation

* * * * *

The Indian village outside the palace.

The King, his Priest and soldiers ride around, commanding everyone to clean up the run down village.

The King points at a dead tree and haggard bushes, "Get rid of this mess! The Prince will visit in two weeks."

They pass by exhausted workers repairing a building.

Priest Anupanita, "Hurry, there are many buildings."

The workers vigorously resume their work.

* * * * *

One week later.

Villagers busily rip off dead flowers, gather leaves, spruce up gardens. Tired men flatten a road.

The King canters up, "Faster, it must be done in time!"

Rakes speed along the ground, shovelfuls of dirt fly.

* * * * *

The palace pond.

Siddhartha and Ruchi stroll.

Ruchi, "Siddhartha, you may not understand everything you see on the outside."

Siddhartha, "Don't worry. I'll be fine."

Ruchi, "Well, just remember to heed my advice. I've been out there, I know what it's like. There's an explanation for everything."

Siddhartha puts his hand on Ruchi's shoulder, "You're right, of course. Thanks, Ruchi, my best friend, and you always will be."

Ruchi smiles.

* * * * *

The village outside the palace. Another week later.

Flower wreaths deck each door of the immaculate village. Flags flutter everywhere.

The King and Priest ride along.

The Priest bellows, "Tomorrow the Prince visits. No sick people out, no one old, no dead. Keep them indoors. Do you hear?"

The King eyes the village anxiously, "May the gods help me if anything... anything..." He trails off lost in his own worries.

* * * * *

Chapter 15 - The real world

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's chamber.

Yasodhara rests on a day couch, while Siddhartha dresses.

He stops, smells a fully bloomed red rose in a crystal vase, "The Palace, my beautiful wife... heavenly days of joy and wonder."

He strolls to the window, breathes in deep, "But today, I expand my horizons. The Kingdom beckons. I am ready to sacrifice some bliss to bear the noble duties of my birth..."

He walks back to Yasodhara, pats her nine-month belly, "...as you, my lovely Yasodhara, bear our child. Are you sure you don't want to come?"

Yasodhara smiles, puts her hands on his, "I will wait... for you to come back."

They kiss.

* * * * *

Palace courtyard.

Siddhartha and Channa climb into a golden carriage, pulled by two snow-white steers.

From his second story window, the solemn King watches Channa guide the carriage out the gate.

He swings around only to be confronted by Prajapati with her hands up, indicating him to stop. She gives him a hug.

* * * * *

Outside the palace gate.

Brightly dressed villagers cheer and wave thousand-colored flags as Siddhartha and Channa emerge. Hundreds line the road, toss flowers everywhere. A juggler dances before the carriage while music plays.

Villagers, "Jai! Jai! Welcome, the Prince!"

Siddhartha beams and waves to everyone, "My Kingdom, it's beautiful."

They ride along leisurely. Lovely girls skip forward, throw flowers at Siddhartha. A beautiful maiden hands him sweets.

Siddhartha soaks in the attention and gaiety, "My subjects, so playful."

Ruchi, "Hurray, Prince! Hurray, Siddhartha!"

Siddhartha looks behind. A joyful Ruchi races up, throwing flowers. Siddhartha laughs and waves at Ruchi.

Siddhartha, "Life here is wonderful!"

Face aglow, Siddhartha catches flowers from the girls and tosses them back, enwrapped in the festival frenzy.

Up ahead amongst the crowd, Kondanna supports a very old sick man, in torn clothing.

The old man edges through the oblivious cheering crowd, to the road.

Kondanna slinks off.

The old man's bent over body, bald head, shriveled skin and missing teeth contrast vividly to the other villagers.

He steps into the road and waves as Siddhartha gets closer.

Siddhartha, "Channa, stop!"

Channa pulls the reins, glances anxiously at two soldiers.

Shaking, the old man looks up at Siddhartha.

Everything around the Old Man dissolves into a murky blackness.

Soft lighted figures seem to dart here and there around the Old Man.

Siddhartha shuts his eyes, shakes his head.

He opens his eyes, everything is back to normal.

Old Man, "P-prince, wel-welcome."

He coughs, spittle slides down his chin.

The soldiers race past the carriage, grab the old man and cart him off.

Siddhartha watches, frozen, "Channa, what? What was that?"

Channa, "Lord, I'm sorry, uh, I'm not sure."

Siddhartha, "It looked human, but it wasn't."

Maidens throw more flowers and distract Siddhartha.

Ruchi comes alongside the carriage, "Siddhartha, don't worry about that now. Today's for having fun."

Siddhartha stares blankly at Ruchi, who smiles.

Subdued, Siddhartha waves forward, "Continue."

The crowd cheers as before, but Siddhartha only half-heartedly smiles.

Channa takes a turn.

The crowd thins. Yet many gather off to the left, not giving Siddhartha any attention.

Kondanna sneaks away from the small cluster.

Siddhartha peers toward the group, "Channa, is my father over there?"

Channa, "I don't know, Lord."

Siddhartha frowns, "It must be him, otherwise they would cheer me, right?"

Channa, "Um, yes, Lord."

Siddhartha, "Stop, I wish to talk to my father."

Siddhartha alights, strides toward the group, smiling. A worried Channa follows.

Siddhartha, "Father! Father!"

The villagers step aside.

Siddhartha stops short, stunned.

No father, rather a small funeral procession for a dead young woman who lies on a stretcher.

Her vacant left eye gazes from her bloated face. The swelling forces the right eye shut.

Ruchi races up, grabs Siddhartha's arm, pulls him away, "Siddhartha, please come back to the carriage, the others want you."

Siddhartha looks questioningly at Ruchi who smiles gaily.

Siddhartha, "What is this?"

Ruchi, "Not now, later's fine."

Behind Siddhartha, Channa tries to move the funeral procession away, "Off, all of you, be gone."

Siddhartha turns, grabs Channa, "What is this?"

Channa and the fearful villagers dart anxious looks at each other.

Siddhartha, "Channa! What... is... this?"

Channa, "Lord, I, uh, I don't–"

Siddhartha grabs Channa, shakes him hard, "Tell me!"

Trembling, Channa drops his head, "Lord, this is death."

Siddhartha, "Death? What is death?"

Channa's eyes plead.

Siddhartha rivets his attention back to the corpse.

His hand moves towards her, stops an inch away.

He scans the villagers whose faces reveal their pity for his ignorance.

He places his hand on the dead girl's face.

His eyes open wide in shock.

He pulls his hand back quickly, "She is no more."

Siddhartha turns to Channa for confirmation, "Is this death?"

Channa nods.

Siddhartha looks at solemn Ruchi, who nods, indicates he's going to the carriage and leaves.

Siddhartha turns back to Channa, "Is... is this for all of us?"

Channa and Siddhartha's eyes hold.

Siddhartha, "Death will come to Yasodhara, also?"

Silence.

Subdued, Siddhartha walks to the carriage, "Take me home."

Everyone watches. Even soldiers stand, confused.

Siddhartha scans the crowd, waves solemnly as he gets in the carriage.

Ruchi stands nearby, "It's okay, Siddhartha, I'll explain everything later."

Emotions numbed, Siddhartha nods to Channa.

They ride back towards the Palace.

Another group huddles twenty yards to the side surrounding Kondanna, teaching on a platform.

Siddhartha, "Who is that?"

Channa stops, "Kondanna, Lord, a wise sage."

Siddhartha listens intently.

Kondanna, "When an untaught, run-of-the-mill person, himself subject to aging, illness and death, sees another who is aged, ill or dead, he must reflect that he, too, is subject to aging, not beyond aging, subject to illness, not beyond illness, and subject to death, not beyond death."

Kondanna pauses, focuses toward Siddhartha, "But there must be a way to transcend illness, aging and death."

Siddhartha, "Is there a way?"

Siddhartha turns to Channa who shrugs.

Siddhartha glances up at wispy clouds.

Kondanna, "Siddhartha."

Siddhartha looks questioningly at Kondanna approaching.

Kondanna, "Good luck on your quest."

Siddhartha, "My quest?"

Kondanna nods, "And beware of Mara."

Siddhartha, "Who's Mara?"

Kondanna, "Mara is the evil one who keeps us all in ignorance. You must respect Mara, he is within you. Yet you must defeat him."

Kondanna bows, walks away.

Siddhartha motions for Channa to continue.

They pass an unknown saffron robed sage carrying his alms bowl. Siddhartha watches the sage as they ride by.

Siddhartha turns back at the crowd dispersing.

He spots the man dressed in a full black cape, covering the head.

His face in shadows, he stands tall, staring back at Siddhartha.

Around the man appear small fires.

Fuzzy figures of people dance softly around the fires.

The man holds a thick cane horizontal in front of him.

He snaps it in two, drops the pieces by his side.

Siddhartha shuts his eyes.

Opens them.

Everything is back to normal.

The man is gone.

* * * * *

Chapter 16 - Roses

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's chamber.

Yasodhara naps.

Siddhartha enters, plunks down in a chair.

A yellow rose bud adorns the vase.

He picks it up, scrutinizes the rose.

Yasodhara stirs, "Did you enjoy the outing?"

His eyes stay focused on the bud, "It... expanded my horizons. Tell me, when I left there was a fully bloomed red rose. Every few days, we get new budding roses and the full ones are gone."

Siddhartha looks at Yasodhara. Tears appear, slide down her cheek.

He puts the vase down, goes to her, wipes her tears, "Are the full ones dead?"

Yasodhara, "Your father told me not to–"

Their eyes meet, she nods, "Not yet, but soon."

Siddhartha, "Is there a way the rose won't die?"

Yasodhara, "I wish there was."

They embrace. Siddhartha strokes Yasodhara's hair.

* * * * *

Chapter 17 - Sages

* * * * *

Inside the high palace wall.

Siddhartha's hand slides on the wall as he walks with Channa.

He rubs his royal attire and pulls at his jewels as if they are uncomfortable.

Siddhartha, "Tell me about the sages."

Channa, "Lord, uh, I can't."

Siddhartha pounds his fist into the wall, "Channa! Tell me!"

Channa bows his head.

Siddhartha tenderly raises Channa's jaw to see his glistening eyes.

Siddhartha, "I need to know their world."

* * * * *

Chapter 18 - Destiny

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's bedroom.

Siddhartha sleeps unmoving, as Yasodhara tosses and twists.

* * * * *

Yasodhara's dream.

Yasodhara dashes through a deserted palace courtyard, screaming, "Stop him! Oh, please stop him!"

A splendid white bull with long horns and a bright gem shining on its forehead marches steadfastly toward the gate.

She grabs the bull by the neck, tries to restrain it, "Help me! Help!"

A voice, "It must be."

A Celestial Being manifests in front of the bull. His translucent human like form glows a bright golden hue, his clothing and ornaments glitter.

The bull raises his head, acknowledging the Celestial Being.

Yasodhara, "Why?"

Celestial Being, "He has his destiny... and so do you."

The Celestial Being and bull disappear.

Yasodhara looks out the gate.

The bull stands on a hill facing her.

It raises its head and bellows.

It disappears down the other side.

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's bedroom.

Yasodhara tosses and turns, screaming, "No! No!"

Siddhartha wakes, "Yasodhara, wake up, it's all right."

She opens her eyes, hugs Siddhartha tightly.

Yasodhara, "Yes..."

She pulls back, strokes his face, "It's... it's all right."

They kiss. Then hug as tears run down Yasodhara's cheek.

* * * * *

Chapter 19 - Stay balanced

* * * * *

Palace gardens.

Musicians play under an open pavilion as a very tipsy King dances with a young maiden.

Seething, Siddhartha approaches.

King Suddhodana, "Siddhartha, join the fun."

Siddhartha, "Father! Why did you hide the realities of life from me?"

Briefly stunned, King Suddhodana breaks out of it and covers his anxiety in joviality, "Dine, drink, dance, my son. And one more..." He laughs loudly, "But it doesn't start with a 'd'."

Siddhartha, "Don't you understand it makes everything more painful now? That my lovely Yasodhara and–"

King Suddhodana, "Yes, painful. You're right. Pregnant wife. You'll get over it once your son is born. Then you'll understand!"

Siddhartha, "Father, listen! I must–"

The King shakes off his drunkenness momentarily, "Siddhartha, enough! Think of the greater pain Yasodhara has to bear to give you an heir. And our subjects whose welfare depends on us. It's time for you to grow up!"

He relaxes again and slaps Siddhartha on the back, "Not to worry, my son, it'll all be fine. Believe me, you'll rule the Kingdom and have nothing but happiness! – More drink!"

Siddhartha angrily strides away.

* * * * *

Royal archery field.

Alone, Siddhartha paces the field, "I'll have nothing but happiness."

He picks up a stone.

His face tight, he hurls it at a target.

It misses.

He picks up another stone, "Dine, drink, dance, my son."

He hurls.

It misses.

He grabs another, "The fourth one is death, my father."

He hurls.

It hits a perfect bulls-eye and remains stuck.

Yasodhara approaches, "Siddhartha."

Siddhartha, "Dear, you should be resting."

She shakes her head lovingly.

Siddhartha, "Yasodhara, when I was out–"

Yasodhara, "I know."

A long moment.

She pats her tummy, "We will be fine in the palace."

Siddhartha, "I don't know how long."

Yasodhara, "We are linked throughout time, nothing can separate us. When we met–"

Siddhartha, "It was as though I'd known you for all eternity."

Yasodhara, "Keep your strength, my love. Stay strong, stay balanced."

Siddhartha, "I will."

Yasodhara, "It is a wonderful gain for me to be married to one whose destiny is bound for greatness. You must discover the answers to life and bring them back for all of us."

They embrace, kiss.

* * * * *

Chapter 20 - Escape

* * * * *

Rose gardens.

Siddhartha walks amongst the roses.

He spots one, which has a single brown leaf.

Anxious, he looks around and back at the dying leaf.

He touches it.

It breaks, falls.

He picks it up.

Channa, "Lord, Lord..."

An excited Channa sprints over, "Yasodhara's given birth, a son!"

Siddhartha, "Are they both well?"

Channa, "Yes, Lord."

Siddhartha looks upward to a golden eagle soaring against a sunset streaked sky, "Not much time left in the day."

Channa, "But, Lord–"

Siddhartha holds out the dead leaf, drops it to the ground, "Tonight."

* * * * *

Palace ballroom, entrance foyer.

Music and laughter echo from the ballroom where a jubilant crowd celebrates the birth.

Alone, Prajapati paces, holding a rose.

A solemn Siddhartha walks in.

She holds the rose out for him.

Focusing on the rose, he stops, "I know now that roses die."

Prajapati, "Your father and I have known it only too well. Please don't be upset with his overbearing love."

Siddhartha, "The burden of secrecy you've had to bear is over."

Prajapati's eyes tear, "Whatever your destiny holds, from this moment on, it's your decision."

Siddhartha takes the rose, "Thank you, Mother," and hugs her.

* * * * *

Palace ballroom.

Siddhartha and Prajapati enter.

The King's face beams, "Siddhartha! Siddhartha, you're a father! Happiness will reign!"

Siddhartha forces a smile as the King gives him a bear hug.

King Suddhodana, "More drink! More food!"

Contemptuously, the Priest approaches, "Congratulations, Siddhartha. Now you must provide for your son."

The Priest struts off.

Siddhartha surveys the happy faces as he sits with the King and Prajapati.

King Suddhodana whispers to Prajapati. Smiling to each other, they leave.

Siddhartha watches them depart.

Maidens offer him sweets.

He brushes them off, strides out, leaving everyone bewildered, with no royalty to entertain.

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's chamber.

The full moon shines in from an open doorway as Siddhartha enters the room. Moonlight casts an aura around him.

Yasodhara sleeps with her baby nestled against her breast. The sheet lies partly over him, hiding his face.

Siddhartha nears the bed, his hand moves towards Yasodhara's hair, stops an inch away.

His eyes reveal his anguish.

He paces slowly around the bed and bows his head long near Yasodhara's feet.

He rises, hesitantly reaches for the sheet hiding his son's face.

His hand halts in mid-air.

He nods, "I will return with more than the riches of a palace for both of you."

His face determined, he walks out.

Yasodhara opens her eyes, kisses her babe, and looks toward the open door, "God-speed, Siddhartha, my love throughout time."

* * * * *

Open Palace foyer.

Siddhartha exits the bedroom into the moonlight, spots Ruchi, waiting.

Ruchi, "I'll meet you at the river."

Siddhartha nods.

* * * * *

Palace grounds.

Siddhartha and Channa lead their horses quietly to a gate where guards sleep. They stop, eye the Guards.

Channa's horse neighs.

The Guards wake, jump up and draw their swords, "Halt!"

Siddhartha, "Sssh, it is I, the Prince."

Guard, "My Lord, but you can't–"

Channa, "Guard, we have urgent business."

Doubtful, the Guard eyes Channa over, "My Lord, I have my orders."

Siddhartha draws his sword. The fearful Guards step back.

Siddhartha raises it to his own throat, "If you do not allow us to pass, I will slit my throat right here."

Channa, "Lord!"

The Guards drop to their knees, "Please, my Lord, you may pass. We will take your father's wrath."

Siddhartha hands each guard a diamond ring, "Do not tell my father until morning or I shall die."

Stunned, the shaking Guards peer at the rings.

Siddhartha and Channa lead their horses out.

The gate closes.

Channa, "Lord, would you really have slit your throat?"

Siddhartha gazes long at the full moon, "No one should ever doubt my resolve."

They mount, gallop off in moonlight.

* * * * *

River bank.

Siddhartha and Channa ride over a rise.

They dismount at the water's edge.

Channa opens a large bag.

Siddhartha, "Do you have everything?"

Channa, "I wish I didn't."

Siddhartha, "You've been a good servant."

Siddhartha takes off his royal clothes while Channa gives him saffron robes, a wandering sage's garb.

Siddhartha fondles his long hair's curling ends, "Blade."

Channa, "I'll do it for you."

Siddhartha, "No, after you're gone."

Channa gives Siddhartha a shaving blade and a large alms bowl, packs his royal clothes and jewelry into the bag, "You know without hair, people will recognize your royal earlobes."

Siddhartha shrugs.

Channa, "What should I tell Yasodhara?"

Siddhartha, "She knows."

Channa looks at him, questioningly.

Siddhartha, "The precious gems I seek will be for everyone."

Channa, "And how will you discover the gems?"

Siddhartha, "I must find an enlightened teacher. He will teach me the answers."

Channa, "What if you don't meet one?"

A long moment.

Siddhartha, "Then I'll find the answers myself."

Channa climbs up on his horse, takes Siddhartha's horse's reins.

Siddhartha's horse nudges its head against Siddhartha. He gives it a good hug and stroke.

Siddhartha, "Now be off, I have much work to do."

Channa, "Watch out for tigers."

Siddhartha, "The fiercest ones lie within."

Siddhartha watches Channa ride off, disappear back over the rise.

Surrounded by moon lit trees and shadows, he holds the shaving blade in one hand.

A wild dog howls close by.

Siddhartha, "Yes, tigers, wild dogs, snakes..."

He looks at the moon.

A cloud blocks the moonlight.

Siddhartha, "...and Mara."

On the rise where Channa disappeared, a whirlwind blows out of a cluster of trees into the clearing.

As the whirlwind stops, the bright light shows Mara, in his black cape.

Siddhartha looks down from the moon, and up the rise.

He spots Mara.

Mara drops his cape to the ground.

His strong-built body is clear, wearing a regal, gold trimmed, purple outfit, as it will now always be.

Shadows cover his face.

He spreads his arms wide with clenched fists.

He shakes his arms, thunder booms.

Fires erupt around him.

He raises his arms high.

Lightning strikes him.

He disappears.

The fires burn out.

Siddhartha stares.

* * * * *

Chapter 21 - Lessons begin

* * * * *

River bank, dawn.

Siddhartha lies asleep on dew covered grass. His pristine silk robes wrap tight around him and over his head.

A squirrel scampers in the tree above, shaking branches, which drop leaves over Siddhartha.

The squirrel jumps down, scours on the ground for breakfast.

Another squirrel darts towards the first one, which zips over Siddhartha, the second one close behind.

Siddhartha, "Aggh!"

Siddhartha's shaven head pops out to see the second squirrel leap straight at his face, "No!"

He rolls over, breathing heavy as the squirrels scamper off.

Ruchi, shaved head, wearing tattered, patched rough hemp robes, holding a large alms bowl, leans against another tree, straw in his mouth. He laughs.

Siddhartha's expression changes from fear to mirth, "Oh..."

He springs up, brushes himself off, "Guess I have some learning to do."

Ruchi, "I'm glad you said it."

Siddhartha picks up his bowl.

Ruchi, "Ready?"

Siddhartha, "For anything."

They stroll to the road.

Ruchi, "Okay, first lesson, you don't have some learning to do, you have lots of learning."

Wide-eyed, Siddhartha takes in the countryside as they walk, "Fine, so what's my second lesson?"

Ruchi, "You've never walked barefoot before. Be careful."

Siddhartha glances at his feet but returns his gaze to the hills, "Pretty mundane, you call that a lesson?"

He stumbles on a rock, "Oh!"

He hops, inspects his bleeding toe.

Ruchi laughs, "Lesson number three. The mundane is important, even if your quest is for ultimate wisdom."

Siddhartha smiles sheepishly.

Ruchi, "Always take my advice."

Siddhartha nods. He points at Ruchi's robes, "Why such rotten robes?"

Ruchi, "You'll find out."

They resume walking and come to a muddy area.

An ox cart with three rough young men jolts along toward them.

Ruchi, "I have to relieve myself."

Siddhartha stops as Ruchi goes behind some bushes.

A huge bearded leader holds the reins of the cart. Seeing Siddhartha, he sniggers, tugs the earlobe of a thin fellow.

He pulls up close by.

The thin fellow jumps off, swaggers to Siddhartha. The others follow. The three surround him, fondle his robes.

Thin fellow, "Nice new robes, eh? Benare's silk?"

Leader, "Which palace ya come from? Not the king's who took our farmland, eh?"

Thin fellow, "Maybe he was the king."

Siddhartha takes a step away.

The big leader blocks him.

Siddhartha, "I... I don't know what you're talking about. Excuse me."

Leader, "Didja hear, he said ''cuse me'?"

They all laugh.

Leader, "Stub ya pretty little toe, eh?"

Siddhartha looks at his bloody toe.

Ruchi calls from the bushes, "Siddhartha, they won't let you go. Such men only understand force."

Siddhartha, "No."

Leader, "Never you mind, royal boy, we'll help ya look like a true wanderer."

Gleeful, the three men grab handfuls of mud, whack it onto Siddhartha's robes and smear it around.

Ruchi, "Well, hit back!"

The men push Siddhartha into the mud.

He's had enough, "Stop!"

He shoves one away, jumps up and throws the leader down.

The leader puts his hands up, surrendering.

Leader, "Ha! Big peaceful sage, eh? At least now ya look authentic."

Laughing, they climb back on their cart.

A dismayed Siddhartha watches them depart.

Ruchi walks over, "Good, Siddhartha, you fought well. I knew you could easily beat those men without my help."

Siddhartha, "But I'm a sage now, I don't think I should hit anyone."

Ruchi, "Sage or not, if you aren't tough, you'll never defeat Mara."

Siddhartha picks up his bowl, heads to the nearby river, "Do I defeat Mara with physical strength?"

Ruchi, "Physical and mental, I will teach you all you need."

Siddhartha, "But just who or what is Mara?"

They stop at the river.

Ruchi, deadly serious, looks at Siddhartha.

Ruchi, "The worst, most horrifying enemy you will ever have."

Siddhartha's eyes widen.

He nods, bends down to the river, splashes water on his face.

* * * * *

Chapter 22 - It's Kondanna's fault!

* * * * *

Palace hallway.

Hands dip a rag into a water urn. A servant lifts the dripping rag, wipes a wall near a closed door.

A loud smash.

The servant jumps with fright, looks at the door.

* * * * *

The King's chamber.

A vase lies shattered, roses tossed about.

King Suddhodana holds a glass of wine, glares out the window. He mumbles to himself, "Why? Why did I let him out?"

He downs the drink, "He'll be a father, they said. He needs to know, they said."

Nearby the Priest sneers at the Minister.

King Suddhodana, "But I told them not to have any old, sick or dying people about."

Priest Anupanita, "Sire, you will recall, I said years ago the sages should be banished."

The haughty Priest gives the Minister a challenging stare.

King Suddhodana, "I should have gone. I should have gone myself, and prevented anyone coming close to the carriage."

Minister, "Please, Sire, the people revere–"

The King spins around, screams, "It's Kondanna's fault! I want Kondanna!"

The Minister dashes off with others.

* * * * *

A wooded hermitage area.

A wild wind blows, leaves and small branches drop from trees.

With swords raised, soldiers charge out of woods into the deserted area, "Kondanna! Kondanna!"

They kick open the door to a hut.

Empty.

They bust open the second hut.

No one.

They run back into the woods.

The wind dies down.

From another cluster of trees, Kondanna and Baspa emerge slowly.

Baspa, "He wants your head."

Kondanna remains unperturbed.

Baspa, "This is all mad."

Kondanna, "Baspa, listen–"

Baspa, "I listened to you enough!"

Kondanna, "I will talk with him."

Baspa, "He'll kill you!"

The wind blows.

Kondanna catches a falling leaf, "Wrong. Inside, he knows."

* * * * *

The King's chamber.

Anxious, King Suddhodana stands vigil at the window, with the scowling Priest close by.

Soldier, "He's nowhere, Sire."

The King turns with daggers in his eyes.

Furious, the Priest charges at the soldier, "Go again, he must be found!"

Prajapati enters.

King Suddhodana, "My lady, please no–"

Priest Anupanita, "This is not women's work."

Prajapati glances at the Priest, shrugs disdainfully.

She walks to King Suddhodana, as he turns to the Priest.

King Suddhodana, "Leave us."

Indignant, the Priest strides out.

The King flops in his royal chair, "Oh, Prajapati, my love..."

Prajapati sits at his feet and takes his hands, "We've known for twenty-nine years."

King Suddhodana, "I did whatever the Priest advised. Was I so stupid to try to protect Siddhartha from the pains of life?"

Prajapati, "He's a noble warrior. He will battle with the deepest questions we all have, yet are afraid to ask."

King Suddhodana, "But he knows nothing about the world. He's as naive as a two year old... and it's my fault."

Prajapati, "Which proves his courage. He's strong and smart. He'll return with riches unknown, the answers to life for all of us."

Kondanna, "Sire."

King Suddhodana keeps his gaze on Prajapati, who smiles.

Kondanna, "Sire, it's I, Kondanna."

The King looks up at Kondanna, standing with a dismayed Baspa.

The King tightens. He jumps up, threatens, "Why did you give my son an impossible dream! You deserve to die!"

Baspa pulls back, but Kondanna stays, fearless.

Kondanna, "How can we as mere mortals argue with Siddhartha's destiny proclaimed by the gods?"

King Suddhodana, "How can you, as a mere mortal, know what the gods proclaim!"

Kondanna, "So why did you seek the Sage's predictions if you believe it is not possible?"

Anger drains from the King.

Kondanna, "All of us see the signs that sparked Siddhartha's flight. How many of us can respond as he did? Could you?"

A rare humbleness appears in the King's face.

Kondanna, "Siddhartha has his destiny. I am linked to his, as is Baspa."

King Suddhodana, "How long, Kondanna?"

Kondanna, "I don't know. It will not be easy."

Prajapati rises, hugs King Suddhodana. He nods to Kondanna, "Talk to Yasodhara."

* * * * *

Chapter 23 - Yasodhara needs to be ready

* * * * *

Siddhartha and Yasodhara's chamber.

Yasodhara sits, cuddling her son, as Kondanna stands nearby. On a side table Siddhartha's jeweled belt lies next to an empty rose vase.

Yasodhara, "Kondanna, teach me before you go."

Kondanna, "I have never taught a woman."

Yasodhara, "Is the spiritual life only for men? You are a sage, not a priest. Do you really accept the proclamations of the Brahmins?"

Kondanna, "I... uh, of course not. But I must go and help Siddhartha."

Yasodhara, "Kondanna."

He avoids her eyes.

Yasodhara, "You mustn't join him so soon. He needs time alone."

Inquiring, Kondanna looks back at her.

She strokes her son, "He's been overprotected for too long, treated like a baby. He must explore the world on his own, to gain strength and independence. And you must teach me. I need to be ready when he comes back."

* * * * *

Chapter 24 - Weirdest idiot

* * * * *

Approaching a village.

A boy chases straying sheep across a field, "Come back... come back."

Siddhartha and Ruchi stand on a hill, look down at the village.

Life abounds as the sun shines from overhead. Women, with urns on their heads, stroll to the river, where others wash clothes or themselves. Traders yell to draw buyers. Meat sellers endlessly wave rags to shoo off flies.

Siddhartha, "Are you sure?"

Ruchi, "Yes, you go alone, it'll be good experience. I'll meet you in the next village."

Siddhartha watches Ruchi leave.

Limping, he walks down, enters the village.

A cane woven ball zooms past his head. Boys kick the ball to each other.

Wide-eyed, Siddhartha stops, watches the bustling town folk.

Two burly farmers pass him, "You're late, friend."

A young sexy woman eyes him over. She smiles seductively and strokes his muddy robe, "Want me to wash your robes?"

Siddhartha, "No, uh, thank you. Do you have some food?"

Sexy woman, "Lots."

Uncomprehending, Siddhartha holds out his bowl.

She slaps the bowl from his hands, "Fool," and struts off.

An old man, bald and wrinkled, sits on a bench close by. He opens his toothless mouth, bellows, "Ho, ho! Aren't you a new one! Come here, young fellow."

Siddhartha picks up his bowl.

Head down, he ambles over.

He raises his head and stops cold.

A vision of the old sick man he saw with Channa flashes over the new man's face.

Old man, "Welcome to the real world. First day, eh?"

The vision fades.

Siddhartha blinks, looks away.

Old man, "Humor, young fellow, humor."

Siddhartha, "I'm a bit hungry."

Old man, "Didn't you hear the farmer?"

Siddhartha spots a family eating a meal. He licks his lips.

Old man, "Daybreak, right after sun's up. That's your time to come."

Siddhartha, "But, I–"

Old man, "Now you look clever, you're well built, you really want to wander?"

Siddhartha looks back at the old man's missing teeth.

Siddhartha, "Are you a man?"

Stunned, the old man's mouth drops open further.

Siddhartha, "What happened to your teeth, your hair, your skin?"

Old man, "Young fellow, you better go home."

Siddhartha rubs his stomach.

Resigned, he limps away from the village.

He stops, looks back at the bustling people.

Siddhartha, "Welcome to the real world."

Inquisitive villagers gather around the old man.

Old man, "Weirdest idiot, he won't go far."

Siddhartha turns, walks away, "It's only day one."

* * * * *

Chapter 25 - Jataka

* * * * *

Woods.

The sun hangs low.

Siddhartha hobbles to a tree, collapses.

He checks over his toe and blistered feet, looks wearily around.

Despondent, he lies down, closes his eyes.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's dream.

Palace dining room.

A lavish meal. Siddhartha, long hair and royal clothes, eats with Yasodhara, King Suddhodana and Prajapati.

King Suddhodana offers Siddhartha cooked carrots, "Here, Siddhartha, nice and soft."

Siddhartha, "Delicious, absolutely–"

A loud tiger's roar.

Siddhartha looks up to see the room empty.

His face turns white.

A huge tiger crouches in the doorway about to spring.

* * * * *

Woods.

Siddhartha jolts awake, eyes wide.

Another loud tiger roar. He jumps up.

Thirty yards away, a fierce tiger growls, stalking Siddhartha.

A man's shadow passes over the tiger.

A deep, haunting voice, "Siddhartha!"

The tiger changes into two.

The two tigers change into four.

The four change into eight.

A frozen Siddhartha watches the tigers edge toward him.

The haunting voice, "Die! Die!"

Ten yards away, the tigers crouches, ready to pounce.

The man's shadow crouches.

Jataka, "Nicch, nicch."

The shadow disappears.

The tigers change to just one.

An old wanderer, Jataka, in worn patched robes, strolls through the woods toward the tiger.

The tiger spots Jataka, moseys to him. He pets the tiger, and gently sends it off.

He approaches a stunned Siddhartha.

Siddhartha, "What you did... so hard to believe."

Jataka, "If we have hearts full of love and compassion, animals won't hurt us."

Jataka reaches into a small pouch, "Judging by your feet – here."

He hands Siddhartha a raw carrot, "Extra, I was going to feed the rabbits."

Siddhartha, "What is it?"

Jataka walks back into the woods, "Bright, aren't you?"

After a moment's hesitation, Siddhartha follows, gingerly biting the hard carrot, "Wait, who are you? How did you tame the tiger? Are you enlightened?"

Jataka, "My name's Jataka. Enlightened? Do you think freedom from greed, aversion and ignorance is easy?"

Siddhartha, "Well, no, but you and the tiger–"

Jataka, "Outward tigers are like kittens compared to inner ones."

They arrive at a cave that serves as Jataka's home.

Jataka, "Sit down, I'll fix your feet."

He enters the cave, returns with a pot and bandage. He takes balm from the pot and rubs it on Siddhartha's feet.

Siddhartha, "Jataka, your name means birth. What can you tell me about death?"

Jataka, "Birth and death are inseparable. We live, die and are reborn. Over and over. To have one, we have both."

Siddhartha, "Can we ever be free from pain and sorrow? Is that enlightenment?"

Jataka, "I can only tell you what I've been taught. If you purify your mind from greed, aversion and ignorance, you will go beyond repeated births and deaths to ultimate freedom. You will be free of all sorrow, all pain and have supreme happiness."

Jataka takes the cloth, bandages Siddhartha's toe, "But you must defeat Mara. Do you know who he is?"

Siddhartha, "No, not really. My friend says I'll probably meet him soon."

Jataka, "Well, Mara already knows you. And you must fight him all the way to the end. He'll try anything to stop you. He's devious and an imposter. We each have our own Mara, our most formidable enemy. But some say freedom's possible – I've been battling most of my life."

Siddhartha, "Is there anyone who is free?"

Jataka, "Maybe Arada Kalama."

Siddhartha, "Where does he live?"

Light dims as sunset begins.

Jataka, "East, two days, possibly three with your feet."

Jataka secures the bandage.

Siddhartha gets up to leave, "Thank you so much."

Jataka, "Wait, it's late."

Siddhartha, "Yes, it is."

Siddhartha hobbles off.

Somewhere, the tiger roars.

Siddhartha stops in his tracks, "Maybe it's too late."

* * * * *

Cave.

Morning birds sing as Jataka steps out.

Siddhartha follows, rubbing his back, "Are all caves so hard?"

Jataka laughs.

Siddhartha, "Are you going with me?"

Jataka, "No, today's fast day.

Siddhartha, "Fast? Are some days slow?"

Jataka grins at the naive Siddhartha.

Jataka, "Too much for now. Remember true sages accept whatever food is offered so don't fuss. And avoid the priests."

Siddhartha, "If only everyone could avoid the priests."

Jataka, "And if you get enlightened, you come back and tell me, right?"

Siddhartha looks upward at a streaked sky.

A vision of Yasodhara lights up amongst the colors, "Yes, I'll come back."

Siddhartha lowers his head, smiles, "Your robes are very worn."

* * * * *

Chapter 26 - Patience

* * * * *

Second village.

Wearing Jataka's patched robes, a smiling Siddhartha limps into the sleepy town. Roosters crow and birds flitter about. A thumping sound, somewhere a cook beats herbs in a crock.

Angry woman, "Get up, ya sleepy fool!"

Siddhartha glances toward a window of one house. Curtains open abruptly, showing the angry woman, who glares at Siddhartha, "And what are ya looking at!"

Siddhartha drops his eyes, walks further to another house, stands near the door.

Nothing.

He takes a few steps away.

Kind woman, "Patience is golden."

Siddhartha turns back. A kind woman holds a pot.

He smiles, "Day one was humor."

She removes her shoes, bows to Siddhartha.

He holds out his bowl. She puts a huge spoonful of rice in it.

Siddhartha, "Thank you."

Kind woman, "No, no, what you do is very important. I thank you."

She shuts her door.

Siddhartha looks at the rice.

Ruchi strides up with his bowl, "Nice robes."

Siddhartha smiles, "Thanks."

Ruchi looks in Siddhartha's bowl, "Plain rice, eh? Getting food on alms round can be a tough lesson."

Siddhartha, "It's okay, there's more doors."

He walks to the next house. Ruchi follows.

Siddhartha waits at the door.

Nothing.

Ruchi shakes his head.

Siddhartha, "I just need patience."

A bleary eyed farmer staggers out from next-door, passes by, "Nobody lives there."

Ruchi laughs. Siddhartha grins.

Jovial, Ruchi puts his arm around Siddhartha's shoulders as they walk to another home.

An old woman, bent over and wrinkled, steps out with a pot.

* * * * *

Chapter 27 - Little girl teacher

* * * * *

End of village.

Leaving the village, Siddhartha and Ruchi carry their bowls to a tree and sit.

Siddhartha looks in his bowl: ninety percent rice, pea curry, fried chicken feet, one banana.

Hesitant, he lowers his face, breathes in for a good smell.

He pulls back, scrunches his face in distaste.

Ruchi, "Do you want some help?"

Siddhartha, "I can do it."

Siddhartha puts in his hand, rolls rice in a ball, rubs it into the curry and brings it to his mouth.

He pauses.

Ruchi, "Fine, but it's fit for a pig."

The ball goes in his mouth.

Ruchi, "Probably give you diarrhea for weeks."

Siddhartha chews, "Aggh!" He spits it out violently.

Little girl, "My mommy says I should always eat my food."

Siddhartha wipes his mouth and looks up to see a little girl in tattered clothing, holding a small water urn and cup, "She says I should be thankful to have something to eat."

Siddhartha, "Yes, uh–"

Little girl, "There are other little children who don't have any."

Siddhartha, "I'm sorry, I –

Little girl, "My daddy says rich people can't eat our food, but we can eat theirs. He says that's because poor people are smarter than rich people."

Siddhartha smiles, gazes in amazement at his little teacher, "Could I please have some water?"

Little girl, "Are you going to throw it up?"

Siddhartha, "Not ever again like I just did."

She gives him some water.

He looks over at Ruchi, who nods approvingly.

* * * * *

Chapter 28 - The boy king

* * * * *

Road path.

Siddhartha and Ruchi walk along, reach a fork in the road.

Siddhartha, "So, which way to Arada Kalama?"

Ruchi, "I'll try south, and we'll meet wherever he is." Ruchi heads left.

Siddhartha nods, takes the other path.

* * * * *

Siddhartha walks past a couple of farm houses.

A boy's voice, "I am the King, bow down!"

Siddhartha stops.

"Bow down, I say, or I shall cut off your legs!"

Siddhartha turns slowly, looks over at a threatening 12-year-old in a colorful cape, standing high on a large boulder, brandishing a wooden sword.

Siddhartha, "Why do you want to be a king?"

The boy waves his sword, "To be rich, to have everything!

Siddhartha, "Do you think kings are always happy?"

The boy jumps down and struts, "I would be happy if I was rich."

Siddhartha points at his ears, "I was a Prince."

The boy eyes Siddhartha, questioningly, "Did you get conquered by another king?"

Siddhartha, "No."

Confused, the boy walks around Siddhartha, checks him over, "Did you get afraid in battle?"

Siddhartha, "No, I am still in battle."

The boy shakes his head, "But you are dressed like that?"

Siddhartha, "It is my warrior’s clothes."

The boy jumps around, waves his sword, "Who are you fighting?"

Siddhartha, "Mara."

The boy jabs his sword as if killing someone, "I will kill Mara. Where is he?"

Siddhartha, "I'm not sure."

The boy frowns, "You don’t make any sense. Why are you a wanderer if you could be a Prince?"

Siddhartha, "I believe there is something more important to do."

The boy races up on his boulder, "Well, I’m going to be a king."

Siddhartha nods compassionately, walks off.

The boy stands tall on his rock.

* * * * *

Chapter 29 - Don't believe

* * * * *

Roadside house.

Siddhartha walks along, spots an old farmer pulling his bull out of a fenced yard. With deep red lips, the man chews Betel Nut, not unlike a huge wad of tobacco.

Siddhartha, "Can you please tell me, does Arada Kalama live around here?"

Old farmer, "What you want him for?"

Siddhartha, "He's going to be my teacher. He's enlightened, right?"

The farmer eyes Siddhartha over, spits out some red goo, "Eh?"

Siddhartha, "He's going to be my–"

Old farmer, "I heard that."

Stuck, Siddhartha drops his head, "Maybe I should cut off my ears."

Old farmer, "Then nobody'd know why you're so dumb."

Siddhartha smiles.

Old farmer, "I like your smile. – Now let me tell you. Some folk are blind, some ain't blind. Don't you blindly believe a single thing. – Next town."

The Farmer walks off with his bull, "And don't you blindly believe me neither."

* * * * *

Chapter 30 - Mara

* * * * *

Road.

Water buffalo lie in a soggy field. Siddhartha perseveres despite a limp. Wiping sweat from his brow, his eyes squint at the blazing sun sinking lower towards the horizon. Dark foreboding clouds pass across the sun.

Siddhartha, "All right, cave time or bath time.

He heads for a slope, climbs, passes through a thicket of trees.

He finds a rock outcrop but the closest thing to a cave would only house a rabbit at best. To one side in the little cave, a hole tunnels deep in the ground.

A strong wind blows, leaves fall as the light fades.

He rests his bowl down and wraps his robes around himself.

Siddhartha, "Maybe it'll blow–"

Lightning strikes.

Thunder booms.

Siddhartha, "...over."

He crouches near the "cave".

A frog jumps in front of him.

Soft rain falls.

Siddhartha, "Not bad, only a–"

A snake slides out of the hole toward the frog.

Siddhartha, "No!"

Siddhartha jumps up, scoops the frog and steps away.

The snake ignores him, slithers off as the storm escalates, lightning and thunder all around.

Siddhartha puts the frog down, he squats further from the hole.

Soaking wet, he shivers.

He grabs his bowl, puts it over his head.

Mara, "How dare you challenge me."

Siddhartha takes off his bowl, peers up at Mara, no whirlwind. Mara stands tall yet wears an executioner's head covering.

Despite the rain, the woods now blaze with fires.

Siddhartha, "So, you're Mara."

Mara, "I have ruled forever. I will always rule."

Siddhartha, "Are you ugly, Mara? Is that why you're hiding your face?"

Mara, "You will soon know how ugly you are."

Siddhartha, "Show me your face, coward."

Lightning flashes.

Siddhartha springs up, lunges at Mara, "Show me your face!"

Siddhartha reaches for the head covering.

Mara sidesteps, as Siddhartha stumbles.

Mara guffaws.

Siddhartha grabs Mara, locks his arms.

Mara elbows Siddhartha hard, breaks loose.

A wild battle ensues, both skilled in all types of martial arts.

Kicks, blocks, punches, dodges. To the head, to the body.

Mara clearly shows the advantage.

He rises up in the air, taunts Siddhartha, "Did they teach you this one?"

Siddhartha gazes, confused.

Mara dives down at him, whacking him hard.

He flies back up, "Ugly... ugly... you want to see your ugliness!"

Mara reaches for his head covering.

Slowly pulls it off.

His face – a perfect twin of Siddhartha.

Shocked, Siddhartha stares.

Mara screams, "Ugggggllllyyyy, Siddhartha!"

Mara dives down, pounds Siddhartha again.

Again and again, Mara attacks unrelenting.

Siddhartha wearies as Mara belts him over and over. He wobbles.

Mara laughs, kicks Siddhartha in the head.

He's down on his stomach, defeated.

Siddhartha looks up at Mara who gloats.

Mara, "Think you can overcome me?"

Thunder roars.

Mara, "Defeating a thousand enemies a thousand times, single handedly, is easier than defeating me!"

Spinning in a flourish, Mara disappears.

The fires burn low and extinguish.

Dazed, Siddhartha staggers up.

* * * * *

Chapter 31 - Dog-man

* * * * *

Arada's village.

Siddhartha enters on alms round, looks all around at early risers and bustling activity.

Dog-man, "Arrf! Arrf!"

He spots a filthy, skinny, naked man who acts like a dog. On all fours, the dog-man barks in front of a house. Siddhartha's eyes fixate on the creature.

Dog-man, "Arrf! Arrf!"

The dog-man pants and wags his behind.

The door opens. A husky man throws out a bone.

The dog-man grabs the bone in his mouth, lies down, chews on it.

Husky man, "You want food, too?"

Siddhartha can't tear his eyes away from the dog-man.

Husky man, "You hear me?"

Speechless, Siddhartha points at the dog-man.

Husky man, "Ask him, he talks."

The husky man shuts his door.

Siddhartha crouches, "What are you?"

Dog-man, "Arrf! Arrf!"

Springing up, the dog-man gnashes his teeth, threatens.

Siddhartha backs off, "The man said you can talk, I thought you–"

Dog-man, "You thought, that's your problem."

Siddhartha, "What?"

Dog-man, "Arrf! Act, don't think. Act like me and you'll be free."

The dog-man curls up with his bone.

A gentle woman comes out with curry, "The poor man ate too many wild mushrooms years ago."

Siddhartha, "But he thinks he's enlightened."

Gentle woman, "A lot of people think they're enlightened doing foolish things. Would you like some curry?"

She spoons some in his bowl.

* * * * *

Chapter 32 - Arada Kalama

* * * * *

Siddhartha heads to another house. He spots five sages, neatly dressed with long combed hair. Their eyes rest downcast as they walk mindfully in line for alms.

Siddhartha rushes to them, "Excuse me, do you know Arada Kalama?"

The elderly 80 year old, leading sage, Arada Kalama smiles. He points to the end of the line.

Confused, Siddhartha approaches the young 12 year old sage at the end, "Are you Arada Kalama?"

All the sages laugh, except for Arada, as Siddhartha drops his head in embarrassment.

Arada coughs, indicating authority.

Chastised, the other sages humble themselves.

The Young Sage points at Arada, "Please meet Arada Kalama."

Siddhartha's eyes go wide, "I... I'm sorry. I did not–"

Arada, "What is your name, young man?"

Siddhartha, "Siddhartha, Sir."

Arada, "Siddhartha, are you a hard worker?"

Siddhartha, "Yes, Sir."

Arada, "Then you may join us. At the end, please. Eyes down, walk slowly. We are spiritual seekers."

Siddhartha follows the five on alms round. Walking as instructed, he looks more like a well trained monk.

* * * * *

Arada's hermitage.

Disciples sweep an open courtyard in the center of many buildings. Others carry water urns to and fro.

Arada, his four followers and Siddhartha enter.

Kapul, a senior, 40 year old student, respectfully takes Arada's bowl and washes his feet.

Arada, "We have a newcomer, Siddhartha. Take him to the small cave."

Kapul, "Yes, Venerable Sir."

Siddhartha, "But Sir, I wish to know–"

Arada, "What you cannot know if you do not produce the right conditions. Go with Kapul."

Kapul leads a disappointed Siddhartha through the courtyard. They pass by disciples sewing their robes. Others draw water from a well. Two shine the wooden floor of a hall with half coconut shells.

They arrive at a small cave.

Siddhartha, "When can I talk to Arada?"

Kapul, "When he decides. Don't be impatient. It blocks deeper learning."

* * * * *

Siddhartha settles in the hermitage.

He sweeps leaves in the courtyard.

Some students show him how to sew his robe.

He and others clean the hall. Arada watches.

* * * * *

Chapter 33 - First meditation

* * * * *

Siddhartha's small cave.

Sitting on the ground, Arada teaches Siddhartha, "It is far easier to be a victorious warrior or a World ruler. The spiritual path is not for lazy people. To uncover the human potential is the hardest thing in the world to do. Through meditation, you will find the answers you seek."

Arada helps Siddhartha sit in a meditation posture, "Keep your back straight, but not too tight. Concentration is the key to wisdom. Focus on the sign as I've explained. If your concentration reaches the highest level, enlightenment will naturally follow. Now continue on your own. Tomorrow you will learn more."

Arada leaves.

Nervous, Siddhartha closes his eyes, breathes deep.

Black.

The sound of Siddhartha breathing.

A small white light appears.

His breathing becomes short and erratic.

The light disappears.

Siddhartha opens his eyes, frowns.

He closes his eyes, breathes deep.

Black.

A soft light blinks.

Hundreds of skeleton bodies race around, screaming.

Siddhartha opens his eyes in fright.

* * * * *

Chapter 34 - The Priests

* * * * *

Arada's village.

Siddhartha follows Kapul and two others on alms round.

Siddhartha, "Kapul, do you ever have problems meditating?"

Kapul, "Of course."

Siddhartha, "But you've meditated for thirty years."

Kapul, "Siddhartha, you have much to learn."

Untouchable, "Help! Help!"

Siddhartha spots priests holding an untouchable man, while a fat priest beats him.

Kapul and the others continue walking without looking.

Siddhartha hurries to help, "Stop! Stop!"

Kapul, "Siddhartha, no!"

Siddhartha stops, turns to see Kapul pointing at him.

Fat priest, "Tell Arada to train your new ones well, Kapul, or you will suffer dearly."

Siddhartha looks back at the gloating Priest.

Siddhartha, "He is a man as we all are men. He feels pain as we all feel pain. Why are you beating him?"

Fat priest, "He's scum – untouchable. Take heed, you impetuous minion."

Kapul, "Siddhartha! Back to the line."

Siddhartha bows his head, walks meekly back.

Kapul, "We cannot interfere with the priests. Their birth dictates that they can do as they wish, especially with the untouchables."

Siddhartha, "It's a human's duty to stop them."

Kapul, "We would all like that, but there is no way. They have always been in charge, that is how it will stay."

Siddhartha, "Arada could stop them, right?"

Kapul pauses long, holding Siddhartha's gaze.

Villagers, "Sadhu, sadhu, Venerable Arada."

Siddhartha turns to see Arada surrounded by many villagers fifty yards away. He runs toward Arada.

Kapul, "Siddhartha, not now!"

Siddhartha ignores Kapul, shoves his way through the crowd.

Siddhartha, "Arada, I just saw the priests beating an untouchable. You can–"

Arada raises his hand, shakes his head, "Be careful. Are you judging what you see outward as more important than what you see inward? Come, you must observe what happens when ignorance and power unite."

They walk out of the village.

Kapul and four other disciples follow.

They approach a large gathering in a field.

Priests chant on a platform.

A man's corpse, wearing rich clothes, lies on a pile of logs, next to a rock staircase.

A wealthy looking woman sits close by, lamenting. A hefty priest towers over her.

Hefty priest, "You will do as you must!"

Rich woman, "No, please, please..."

Siddhartha whispers to Arada, "What must she do?"

Arada, "Do not interfere."

The woman dashes off, only to be grabbed by the hefty priest and thrown down.

Hefty priest, "You are his wife."

Rich woman, "No, I was his wife, he's dead now."

Hefty priest, "You are his wife, now and always! You will go with him."

The priest kicks her hard.

Siddhartha, "Arada, stop them!"

Arada, "Time to go."

Kapul grabs Siddhartha who stares at Arada unbelievingly.

Kapul, "Come, do as you're told."

Siddhartha yanks away, speeds to the woman and priest.

Siddhartha, "What is wrong with you priests? You beat poor people, you beat women."

Kapul, "Siddhartha!"

Arada, "Let him go."

Arada sadly shakes his head.

The priest glares at Siddhartha and yells to four thugs.

Hefty priest, "Beat this fool."

They attack Siddhartha who fights back as a royal warrior.

Punches fly, feet kick.

Siddhartha knocks two out cold, but three others join in.

They outmatch Siddhartha.

Arada and his disciples can only watch. Arada's eyes water.

The thugs beat Siddhartha brutally, drag him off, away from the woman who watches, astonished. They throw him on the ground.

The sages go to him.

Hefty priest, "Prop him up to watch! He must learn who he is and who we are."

The sages support Siddhartha.

Arada puts his hand on Siddhartha's shoulder.

They all look over at the ceremony.

Priests light the logs.

As the fire consumes the man's body, the hefty priest pushes the woman up the staircase.

She gets close to the fire, stops, looks over toward Siddhartha.

She bows to him.

The priest shoves her into the fire.

* * * * *

Arada's hermitage.

Kapul helps badly bruised Siddhartha to a resting spot under a tree. Siddhartha sags to the ground.

Kapul, "No one can stop the priests."

Siddhartha, "One day it must change."

Kapul leaves.

Ruchi races up, "Hey!"

He gently touches Siddhartha's bruised face, "I heard. Sorry I wasn't there. Try using your father's army next time."

Siddhartha, "I had no idea."

Ruchi, "If you want to destroy the priests, let's return to the palace. Become King and invent another religion."

Siddhartha, "But I would have to quit my quest."

Ruchi, "It's one or the other. Conquer the priests or continue, you won't be able to do both."

Siddhartha, "Maybe."

Ruchi, "I'll get some water and balm."

Ruchi runs off.

Arada, "Siddhartha."

Arada approaches, sits next to disillusioned Siddhartha.

Siddhartha, "Why didn't you stop them?"

Arada, "If only I could... Despite what we see externally, our biggest enemy lurks within. We must train our minds to find inner peace and freedom."

Siddhartha, "Freedom?"

Arada, "Yes, freedom from anger, jealousy, fear, every negative thought. And when we think of the priests, can we be free of anger toward them? Can we have compassion not only for those who are oppressed but also the oppressors?"

Siddhartha, "Is it really compassion to allow those who oppress to continue their harmful ways?"

Arada, "Compassion wishes to help everyone. But as long as we harbor anger, we cannot develop the wisdom to know whether we can help or not. Siddhartha, if you wish to change the world, you will have to achieve more than I have."

* * * * *

Chapter 35 - Courageous

* * * * *

Siddhartha's small cave.

Siddhartha and Arada sit together in meditation.

Arada, "You are very restless tonight."

Siddhartha, "I've been thinking of my wife."

Arada, "I did not know you had one. I imagine she is very lovely."

Siddhartha looks up as a cloud passes in front of the moon.

A vision of Yasodhara fills the sky.

Siddhartha, "More beautiful than any precious gem, with a heart and courage to match. I mustn't fail her..."

Siddhartha's face assumes a wistful expression, "...nor my son."

Taken aback, Arada looks long at Siddhartha, "You two have probably been married and helped each other develop through hundreds of lives."

Siddhartha, "Throughout all time."

Arada, "Siddhartha, the heart becomes truly courageous when motivated by compassion. I believe you are ready to master the meditation. Continue with your practice."

As Arada leaves, he passes by a firm-faced Mara, leaning against the cave wall, glaring.

Siddhartha adjusts a sitting cloth, sits in meditation, closes his eyes, breathes deep.

Black.

His breathing gets stronger.

A small white light appears.

His breathing stops.

The light grows larger.

A perfect circular disc.

The hundreds of skeleton bodies race around, screaming.

Siddhartha opens his eyes, shakes his head, "No, just a vision."

He shuts his eyes, "Try again, try again."

He nods, breathes deep.

* * * * *

Chapter 36 - Yasodhara's ready

* * * * *

Palace upper chamber.

Yasodhara sits in meditation on the floor of a near-empty chamber. Siddhartha's jeweled belt lies on a table close by. She opens her eyes.

Kondanna, "Always remember Siddhartha after your meditation periods. Wish him love and strength with his work."

Yasodhara, "Will he know? Will he feel my wishes?"

Kondanna sits opposite Yasodhara. He assents.

Yasodhara, "It's so difficult... when I wake in the morning, I... I long for him to be here with me."

A tear runs down Yasodhara's cheek, which she quickly wipes, "If only I didn't love him so much."

Kondanna, "And if only we were not subject to death. No matter how perfect the match, in time, we must all part."

Yasodhara, "He will find the answers. I'll do as you've taught me every day... for as long as it takes."

Kondanna rises, walks to a window, "Good, good. We are all linked in our destinies. I have no doubts, you must not have any either. Whenever doubts come, you must think, he will light the way to freedom, enlightenment for you, me, your son, all of us."

Yasodhara's face ignites with hope.

Kondanna, "It won't be easy, but we must never give up. We must encourage him to the end."

Yasodhara, "Kondanna, go now, find him, support him. Give him my love. Tell him to continue for me, and for everyone. He must find the Truth."

Kondanna bows long to Yasodhara. He leaves.

Yasodhara rises, strolls out to the balcony, gazes at an eagle soaring in the sky, "Siddhartha, my love, you never knew any freedom, even as a child. Your longing must be so great. May it give you the courage and strength to soar to the highest peak. "

* * * * *

Chapter 37 - The Five

* * * * *

Road.

An eagle soars in the sky.

Kondanna glances up at it as he, Baspa and three younger, enthusiastic sages, Asvajit, Bharika and Mahanama, stride along.

All dressed in sage robes, they carry their bowls.

* * * * *

Chapter 38 - Nothingness

* * * * *

Siddhartha's small cave.

The full moon light reflects off an alms bowl. Siddhartha sits with Arada. Ruchi sits, meditating, ten yards away.

Arada, "Siddhartha, it's a perfect night. I'm sure you can penetrate the highest mental absorption now."

Arada gets up, "Remember not to get lost in the colors and bright lights again. You must maintain the equanimity and go higher to the state of nothingness."

Arada leaves.

Siddhartha adjusts his posture, shuts his eyes, takes a deep breath.

Black.

The hundreds of skeleton bodies start to appear.

Siddhartha, "No."

The skeleton bodies disappear.

The sound of breathing.

His breathing gets stronger.

A small white light appears.

His breathing stops.

The light grows larger.

A perfect circular disc.

Smashed into a horizontal oval.

Stretched wide and thin like a rubber band.

Tall. Short.

Back to circular.

It breaks apart into five smaller discs.

Each one takes a different color.

They spin clockwise.

Counterclockwise.

They flip around like juggling balls.

Faster.

Faster.

They stop.

They break apart into hundreds of discs.

They rotate clockwise slowly.

Quicker.

Fast.

Super fast.

Lightning speed.

Gone.

Black.

Nothingness.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's small cave.

Sunrise.

Siddhartha sits motionless.

He opens his eyes. His facial expression reveals confusion.

Ruchi, "Do it?"

Siddhartha, "It's gone."

Ruchi, "But you did it, right?"

Siddhartha nods.

Ruchi, "Well done! You've achieved the highest inner happiness."

Siddhartha looks up, blinks. Ruchi steps in front of the sun, rays surround his body.

Siddhartha, "No."

Ruchi, "No?"

Siddhartha, "Amazingly serene. But as soon as I opened my eyes, it disappeared. It can't be the highest."

Ruchi, "But blissful enough to go home and teach Yasodhara, right?"

Siddhartha looks questioningly at Ruchi.

Ruchi shrugs, "I'll go fill the water."

He leaves.

Arada approaches, "Siddhartha, did you do it?"

Siddhartha, "Yes."

Arada, "Wonderful, you are now my equal. We can teach together."

Siddhartha, "Arada, is this all you know?"

Arada's face changes from joy to dismay, "It is. And you have obviously discovered what I've felt for many years. There must be more."

Siddhartha, "The state of nothingness is very calming, peaceful, but it's only temporary, it's not deep wisdom."

Arada, "I am very old now."

Siddhartha stands up, bows low.

Arada, "Be careful in your quest. Many will tell you things that aren't true."

Siddhartha, "Thank you, Arada. You have taught me much. When I find the rest, I will remember you."

* * * * *

Chapter 39 - First village

* * * * *

A streaked sky highlights Kondanna and the other four talking with the old toothless man sitting on his bench.

* * * * *

Chapter 40 - Mara rules

* * * * *

Fourth village.

Siddhartha and Ruchi approach a spectacularly adorned village. Colorful flags wave everywhere.

An old Brahmin priest rides up in a carriage behind them, "Out of my way, you swarthy menial offspring of a Kinsman's foot."

Ruchi steps off the road.

Siddhartha does not move.

Old priest, "Did you hear or are you deaf, scum?"

Siddhartha moves out of the way, looks up at the Priest.

A vision of a demon blurs over the Priest.

The vision disappears.

Siddhartha, "Are you busy today, Priest?"

Old priest, "Nothing that would interest the likes of you."

The old priest charges past, creating dust, obscuring him and his carriage.

Winds blow dust straight at Siddhartha and Ruchi, forcing them to shield their faces.

As the dust settles, they see three hefty thugs dragging a struggling young man down a hillside.

Ruchi, "That doesn't look good."

Siddhartha frowns.

They enter the village. A drum beats somewhere. Many people bustle.

Coming from a different direction, a middle-aged priest strides along with a young priest.

Siddhartha, "Anything special, Friends?"

Young priest, "Why, the gall of–"

Middle-aged priest, "Do not worry, hurry on."

Siddhartha watches them barrel off.

He changes his direction to follow them.

Ruchi, "Siddhartha!"

Siddhartha takes no notice.

Ruchi shrugs, follows him.

Villagers speed by, as Siddhartha walks, determined. One man bumps Siddhartha and charges with others down a side lane.

Siddhartha reaches a field decked out for a ceremony.

Headless goat carcasses lie strewn around and goat heads on spikes surround the blood soaked sacrificial platform.

Six gagged men and women are tied to stakes. The men's faces contort with rage and fear. They strain at ropes that bind them and cut into their struggling wrists. Blood drips down their hands. The weeping women utter piteous muffled moans.

Priests stand on a platform. Royals sit in eager anticipation. Hundreds of villagers watch.

Siddhartha scans the crowd.

Faces change into demons.

Demons change back to the faces.

Again demons.

Again faces.

Siddhartha shakes his head.

The old priest speaks to the crowd, "The Divine grants me the power to appease the Gods. Trust in my word and you will be saved. If not, the God's wrath will be upon you in this and all your future lives."

Siddhartha stands numbed.

He sees fires in the Priest's eyes.

Ruchi, "You still don't have an army."

Siddhartha, "This is worse than before."

Ruchi, "We shouldn't be here."

They watch the priests cut one man from a stake, drag him up to the ceremonial platform.

The man struggles wildly, kicks at a priest who whacks him across the head, throws him onto a table.

Two other priests hold the bound man down as he fights with all his strength.

The old priest walks forward with a large dagger.

Siddhartha enters the area.

Ruchi, "Siddhartha, no!"

Old priest, "Get rid of that fool!"

Soldiers run to Siddhartha. Their nervous commander bows, "I kindly ask you, Sage, in the name of my king–"

Siddhartha, "What about in your own name?"

Taken aback, the commander pleads, "I beg you, Sir, if you disturb the ceremony, the head priest will have you on the table."

Siddhartha glances at the old priest who smiles insanely, fondling his dagger.

He motions to Siddhartha, as if inviting Siddhartha to join the tied men and women.

Siddhartha's eyes move back and forth between the priest and the tied men and women.

He scans the bloodthirsty crowd, which grows weary of him delaying their fun.

Crowd, "Sacrifice the wanderer! Kill him! Hurry on, do it! Draw his blood!"

Again, the crowd's faces change into demons.

Demons change back to the faces.

Again demons.

Again faces.

Siddhartha shakes his head, defeated.

He walks away, "Ignorance is overwhelming."

Ruchi nods.

Old priest, "Believe or be damned like that wandering fool."

Ruchi, "Hurry, they may come after us."

Ruchi darts down the lane.

Siddhartha follows.

Fires erupt all around Siddhartha.

Haunting spirits dart to and fro.

Siddhartha looks for a way out.

Mara appears, blocks Siddhartha and shoves him in his chest. Siddhartha staggers.

Mara, "The priests rule and will always rule. You will never stop them."

Mara hits Siddhartha hard, knocking him down.

Siddhartha, "Mara–"

Mara kicks Siddhartha in the face.

Siddhartha rolls on his stomach.

Mara, "I could give you to those priests."

Mara sits on Siddhartha, talks closely to Siddhartha's ear, "The priests rule the outward. I rule the inward. You can not defeat me, ever."

Siddhartha, "Not yet."

Mara whacks Siddhartha's head.

Mara, "Never."

Siddhartha, "Not... yet."

Mara knocks Siddhartha unconscious, "Never."

Mara disappears, leaving Siddhartha lying on the ground.

* * * * *

Chapter 41 - Roadside house

* * * * *

A priest walks by Kondanna and the four, as they talk with the farmer holding his bull.

The farmer spits out red goo in the priest's direction.

Leaves swirl around them.

* * * * *

Chapter 42 - Bigger than all of us

* * * * *

Woods.

Leaves fall on Siddhartha, as he sits against a tree, watching stars. Ruchi rests next to him. Their hair lengths are two inches long.

Siddhartha, "I'm so tired and confused."

Ruchi, "Did you think it would be easy?"

Siddhartha, "I didn't really know."

Ruchi, "Welcome to some wisdom."

Siddhartha, "The priests have such a powerful grip on everyone. People are so afraid. And... Mara is so strong."

Ruchi, "Here's something to consider. Defeating the priests is possible. If we go back to the Palace, and you became king, I believe I could help you become a world ruling monarch. Then you can change the religious laws everywhere."

Siddhartha tosses a stone.

Ruchi, "The inward victory is not possible without an enlightened teacher. Arada didn't have the answers. He's the wisest there is, so no one else knows either."

Siddhartha, "Maybe."

Ruchi, "Ever think of Yasodhara?"

Siddhartha, "You know I do."

Ruchi, "I'm sure she misses you. And your son, you don't even know him yet. You might be trying to achieve too much. After you defeat the priests, then you can take on Mara. If you want, we can go home tomorrow."

Siddhartha, "But this is something bigger than all of us."

He looks up to the sparkling sky, "Can you understand, Ruchi? This is higher."

Ruchi, "Siddhartha, I watched you take your first step, helped you ride a horse, climb a tree–"

Siddhartha, "Yes, you've always been there for me."

Ruchi, "And I know you're destined, too, but I just don't think you're ready for Mara. Siddhartha, it scares me to think of what he may do to you."

Ruchi gets up. He struts, arms wide.

The entire Milky Way shines behind him, "But to be a world ruling monarch is within your ability. You can bring peace to everyone. No more wars, no more hunger, no more cruel sacrifices. Everyone will be happy. You can do it."

Siddhartha, "Yet illness, old age and death will still rule over Yasodhara, my son and us all."

Ruchi, "True, but if you can't find the deepest answers, then, even for a lifetime, wouldn't it be good to rule this earth with peace and goodness?"

Siddhartha, "I may have to settle for that. But is it possible to rule the earth with peace?"

* * * * *

Chapter 43 - King Barisampa

* * * * *

Small hill.

Shouts, screaming men, crash of swords from behind the hill.

* * * * *

Battlefield.

A strong hand pulls a dagger out of a soldier's stomach as the man falls dead. Young, 30 year old King Barisampa holds the dagger. He smiles a brutal, insane warrior's victory smile.

Dead bodies lie across the field. Defeated soldiers retreat up the hill.

Coming from the other direction walk Siddhartha and Ruchi.

Swarming over the crest, bloody swords flashing, enraged soldiers barrel towards them.

Ruchi, "Run, Siddhartha. They'll kill us!"

Ruchi runs off to the side, out of the soldiers' way.

Fear flashes across Siddhartha's face. Yet stoically he stands, bracing himself.

Ruchi, "Siddhartha!"

The soldiers run around him.

One angry soldier bumps him hard. Siddhartha falls. The soldier raises his sword, begins to lower it.

Another soldier pulls the angry soldier away, "Kill an unarmed sage, you'll burn in hell."

Siddhartha relaxes as the last of the soldiers pass.

Below the hill, in the body-strewn field, Barisampa raises his blood-soaked dagger in a victory cry, "Enough. We have won."

His soldiers cheer, "Long live Barisampa! Long live Barisampa!"

Barisampa's priest rides down from another slope, "Well done, true warriors!"

Siddhartha walks over the crest.

Shock.

Seeing the carnage, his face displays his pain.

Ruchi steps next to him, "Take more chances like that and you'll never live to fight Mara."

Siddhartha points to the valley, "You said last night I could rule the world without bloodshed."

Ruchi, "Yes, you can do it."

Siddhartha, "Yes..."

With a firm face, he turns to Ruchi, "I can... do it."

Barisampa mounts his jet-black stallion as his soldiers organize themselves, cheering and laughing.

A lead soldier rides off, up the road toward Siddhartha and Ruchi.

Lead soldier, "Out of the way, Sages. Our great King Barisampa approaches."

Siddhartha, "What type of man calls killing great?"

Lead soldier, "You sages do not understand the real world. He is famous, his empire grows!"

Siddhartha, "King Barisampa, would he be the son of King Ramada, cousin to King Suddhodana?"

Lead soldier, "Indeed he is."

Siddhartha points to one of his pierced ears, "Tell your "great" king, his distant cousin, Siddhartha, son of King Suddhodana, would like to talk."

The Soldier gallops back to the army and to Barisampa.

Lead soldier, "Sire, yonder is a sage with royal markings. He calls himself, Siddhartha, son of King Suddhodana."

Barisampa throws back his head in laughter, "Then he is my cousin."

His priest frowns as Barisampa whips his horse up the slope.

Siddhartha sees Barisampa approaching.

Siddhartha, "Ruchi, I want to talk to him alone."

Ruchi nods, walks off twenty yards.

Barisampa arrives, "Siddhartha?"

Siddhartha nods.

Barisampa alights, removes his sword, lays it on top of a stump. He takes his blood stained dagger, stabs it into the stump.

He pulls a scarf from his vest, places it on the ground.

He indicates to Siddhartha his reverence.

Siddhartha sits on the scarf, Barisampa rests on the grass, "So it's true, your father spread word, you've left his kingdom in search of–"

Siddhartha, "There's blood on your dagger."

Briefly startled, Barisampa regains his stuffed pride, "After I conquer the world, I will rule it with harmony and joy."

Siddhartha, "Do you think harmony and joy come from blood and fear?"

Barisampa, "My advisers say there's no other way."

Siddhartha, "You mean the priests?"

Barisampa, "I have heard you resent their power, but I believe in them. They understand this society and they ensure the gods–"

Siddhartha, "Why do you blindly believe? Do you really think the gods enjoy the piteous tears and blood of defenseless animals and humans?"

Inquisitive, Barisampa stares at Siddhartha.

Siddhartha, "What if there is another way?"

Barisampa, "If there is, then let's do it. You and I, together. What do you say?"

Siddhartha, "Peacefully?"

Barisampa, "If you join me, I will try it."

Ruchi strolls closer, within hearing distance.

Siddhartha looks over at Ruchi, then back to Barisampa, "I've thought of stopping my quest."

Ruchi nods.

Barisampa, "It was noble, you gave it a good try."

Siddhartha, "I will join you on one condition."

Barisampa, "Name it, it's yours."

Siddhartha, "Guarantee you will never become old, injured or ill."

Barisampa, "You're jesting?"

Ruchi's eyes go wide, he frowns.

Siddhartha glances back and forth at Barisampa and Ruchi.

Siddhartha, "Since you can't guarantee that, I will give you another condition."

Barisampa, "It's got to be easier."

Siddhartha, "Guarantee you will never die."

Ruchi shakes his head, walks away.

Barisampa bows, "Good luck, Siddhartha. Your quest is greater than ruling the world, nobler than my priest's wishes. May the gods be with you."

Barisampa's priest and some soldiers ride up, watch.

Barisampa rises, walks past the stump to his horse.

Barisampa's priest, "Sire, you forgot your sword and dagger."

Barisampa's eyes lock on his weapons of death.

He mounts his horse, turns back to Siddhartha, "Thank you, Siddhartha."

Barisampa rides away. His soldiers follow him.

Barisampa's priest, "Sire! Sire, what are you doing?"

Barisampa pays no heed.

Fires appear in the Priest's eyes.

He dismounts, charges at Siddhartha, "Who are you – you scum wanderer?"

Siddhartha, "I know who I am, Priest. It is you who does not know who you are."

Siddhartha walks off.

Barisampa's priest, "Stop, you."

Siddhartha keeps walking.

Barisampa's priest, "Stop him, stop him!"

The Priest whirls around but the soldiers are gone with Barisampa.

Wide eyed, his eye fires extinguish, his eyes turn fully black.

He screams at Siddhartha, "You can't walk away from me!"

* * * * *

Chapter 44 - Fourth village

* * * * *

A soldier rides past. Kondanna and the four talk with the commander in the ceremonial field.

The deep red-brown ground near the sacrificial altar contrasts drastically with the rest of the field's light brown dirt.

* * * * *

Chapter 45 - Mara and Ruchi

* * * * *

Siddhartha stands in the full moon light, eyes sad as he stares at Ruchi asleep.

* * * * *

Road.

A storm brews.

Siddhartha strides along, determined.

Ruchi races to catch up, "In a hurry?"

Siddhartha keeps his pace.

Ruchi, "I'm beginning to feel that I'm wasting my time trying to help you."

Siddhartha, "You haven't been helping me. You're trying to get me to give up my quest and go back to the Palace."

Ruchi, "Maybe the help I'm offering you isn't what you think you want."

Siddhartha stays quiet.

Ruchi, "You're the one who needs help, not me."

Siddhartha halts, "I need help? I defeated King Barisampa's priest without your help. And you didn't even want me to."

Ruchi, "I believe you're getting a bit–"

Siddhartha, "A bit wiser."

Ruchi, "I would put it a different way."

Siddhartha strides off. Ruchi stays, hands on hips. A light rain falls.

Siddhartha, "Because you're Mara."

Stunned, Ruchi's mouth drops, "Oh? So now who's going mad, like that dog-man? I gave you more credit for brains."

Siddhartha stops, turns back, points his finger at Ruchi, "Prove to me you're not Mara."

Ruchi, "Siddhartha, your doubt is twisting your mind. I'm your best friend! Did you think I was helping you just to become a raging idiot!"

Siddhartha, "Prove it!

Ruchi shakes his head. Forlorn, he sits down on a log, drops his head, "This is what I was scared about. Mara's done this to you."

Siddhartha bites his bottom lip, his hand twitches, "Ruchi–"

Ruchi, "After all we've done together..."

Siddhartha, "Ruchi, if I'm wrong, I'm terribly sorry, but you must prove to me that you are not Mara."

Tears in his eyes, Ruchi looks up at Siddhartha, "I'm not, believe me."

Lightning rips across the sky with a huge thunder roll.

Mara, "How can he be me?"

Siddhartha spins around. Nothing.

A glow.

Mara manifests, his face hard.

The environment changes into an endless ocean, with a pink sky, soft rain.

They all stand on the water.

Mara, "Foolish Ruchi. Even Siddhartha thinks you're me. Ha!"

Siddhartha turns back to Ruchi, "Can you prove it to me?"

Ruchi stands, collects himself, "Okay, Siddhartha. Feel free to doubt the wind and the sun. Doubt the stars and the moon all you wish. But you don't have to doubt me."

Ruchi stands in between Siddhartha and Mara, "Okay, Mara, now."

Mara and Ruchi lock eyes.

Mara, "Ruchi, don't push me."

Ruchi, "I said, now."

Mara, "I'm not interested in you."

Ruchi, "Now!"

Ruchi raises both fists, he swings them down hard. His clothes change into royal attire, his hair changes to be shoulder length.

He throws his hand in the air. A huge fishing net flies out of his hand, over Mara.

Mara stands still, engulfed. His eyes widen, he shakes, the net dissolves, "Enough!"

A wild battle ensues.

Mara spins, daggers fly from his body toward Ruchi.

A sword appears in Ruchi's hand, he cuts every dagger down.

He throws his sword up high.

As Mara looks upward, Ruchi dives into Mara's gut, knocking him down.

Mara jumps up, knees Ruchi in the face, slams him to the ground, kicks him in the side.

Ruchi flies up twenty feet. Mara chases him. They fight in the air.

Ruchi kicks Mara in the head.

Slams him. Slams him again, again, again.

Mara falls to the water.

Ruchi dives down at Mara, who dodges, whips out a six-foot metal rod, swings hard at Ruchi.

Ruchi catches the rod, transforms it into a soft rope, wraps it around Mara.

Mara shakes, the rope stays intact.

He shakes again. Nothing.

He's stuck, "So you win one battle. I will win the war."

Ruchi, "I won't argue with that if Siddhartha stays as foolish as he is right now."

Ruchi shoots a defiant look towards Siddhartha, "When you can match me, you might have a chance to defeat Mara."

The rain increases.

Siddhartha, "Very entertaining battle, Ruchi-Mara, which proves nothing. I transformed Barisampa with words not fists, swords or magic ropes."

Ruchi, "Siddhartha, it's me, Ruchi. Remember? You and me. I've stood by you for thirty years. Thirty years! How can you doubt me?"

Ruchi hurls his hurt at Siddhartha who remains stoic, "Maybe you're not worth helping."

Siddhartha stays unmoved.

Ruchi shrugs, "Okay, what more can I do to prove to you I'm not him?"

A long moment as Siddhartha looks back and forth at the two.

Siddhartha, "Speak at exactly the same time."

Ruchi and Mara look at each other. Ruchi with an annoyed expression. Mara with a haughty face.

They both speak the same words at the same time, "What should I say?"

Siddhartha, "No! Say different things."

Ruchi's body shakes.

The rope on Mara dissolves.

Lightning strikes.

Both of their bodies glimmer and slide toward each other.

Ruchi's face changes to anger, his clothes change to be like Mara's.

Thunder booms.

They blend into each other, fully Mara.

The surroundings change back to the road area.

Mara smirks, "Well done, Siddhartha."

He whirls and disappears.

Siddhartha stares for a short eternity.

He looks upward, rain strikes his face.

He pulls his robe tightly around himself, resumes his walk slowly, contemplatively.

* * * * *

Chapter 46 - Charnel grounds cemetery

* * * * *

A father, two sons and a daughter huddle around a stretcher with an old woman's body. They tremble in fear as a jackal, guarding a carcass, barks menacingly at them. Squawking birds hover in the sky.

Siddhartha approaches, "Nicch, nicch."

The jackal stops growling, cocks his head toward Siddhartha.

In awe, the family looks at Siddhartha. He smiles.

Father, "Thank you, kind Sage, would you also please bless my wife?"

Siddhartha squats, "Wherever your wife and your mother is, may she be in a state of happiness, with compassion and love. May she find peace of mind."

He rises. The family bows to him.

The sons pick up the stretcher, carry it to one of many piles of decaying bodies and skeletons. They rest their mother on top.

The father takes a water jug, scoops water and throws it on his wife. The sons do similar.

After doing so herself, the daughter holds the jug out to Siddhartha who completes the ceremony.

The sun sets as the three children leave.

Siddhartha sits cross-legged under a tree, rests his bowl next to him.

Father, "Kind Sage, it's not safe here. The priests have warned us – the spirits will rip out your brains."

Siddhartha, "The priests make many mistakes. I will prove them wrong. Spirits need love, too."

The father bows and departs.

Siddhartha closes his eyes as screeching vultures land on the corpse.

* * * * *

Night. The full moon shines.

Siddhartha walks back and forth in meditation.

Silence other than the jackal chewing on a bone.

A loud rustle.

Siddhartha looks around anxiously.

A gloating Mara appears, two feet in front of Siddhartha, "Spirits will rip out your brains."

He disappears.

Reappears behind Siddhartha to the right, "Rip out your brains."

Siddhartha turns, Mara disappears.

Reappears behind Siddhartha to the left. Mara screams, "Rip out your brains!"

Siddhartha shuts his eyes tight, slowly shakes his head, no.

He opens his eyes. Mara's gone.

Another jackal comes out of the woods, heads to the bodies.

Siddhartha relaxes, walks.

A man's semi-visible spirit, face devoid of expression, rises from a corpse.

Spotting Siddhartha, the spirit's eyes turn white, his face contorts, his form transforms into a demon. He lets out a bloodcurdling scream.

Siddhartha stops dead in his tracks, his body shakes.

Mara, "He'll rip you apart and devour you!"

Siddhartha runs a couple of steps, stops, readies himself, "No."

The demon charges at Siddhartha, dives straight through Siddhartha's stomach, emerging out the other side.

Siddhartha doubles over in pain, "Ahhh!"

Mara, "Siddhartha, run!"

Siddhartha, "No, it's... it's all right."

Siddhartha gradually straightens himself, "Spirit, you're safe with me. And I am safe with you. – Mara, you won't scare me this way."

Perplexed, the demon eyes Siddhartha.

It converts back into the spirit.

He floats up into a tree, watches Siddhartha who sits down and meditates.

A one-eyed woman's spirit rises from another pile.

She holds a semi-visible, thick broom handle. With one leg longer than the other, she grunts as she lumbers toward Siddhartha.

He opens his eyes, sees her, closes his eyes, "May she be at peace."

The woman-spirit grunts louder the closer she gets.

Stopping inches from him, she utters a deafening shriek and lifts the broom handle high above Siddhartha's head.

She brings it down hard.

Siddhartha's head jolts, his body lurches forward, "No."

Dazed but not hurt, he sits upright, "You have nothing to fear. And neither do I."

Confused, the woman-spirit's face softens.

She lies down in front of Siddhartha, puts her hand on his knee.

The man-spirit floats down, puts his hand on Siddhartha's shoulder.

A three-year-old boy's spirit rises from a pile.

Blank-faced, he ambles over and curls up in Siddhartha's lap.

The spirits of a young woman, an old man and others float, walk or crawl out of the corpses to Siddhartha. They seek to get very close.

Those nearest touch his arms or legs.

The little boy in Siddhartha's lap looks up at Siddhartha's peaceful face. Tears flow down the boy's cheeks. He buries his face in Siddhartha's chest.

Mara appears ten feet in front of Siddhartha. Mara bows, "I am honored."

Siddhartha's eyes narrow on Mara.

* * * * *

Dawn.

Siddhartha sits motionless in meditation.

The spirits are gone.

Mara sits meditating close by.

Millions of flowers adorn the cemetery.

Siddhartha opens his eyes, rises.

He spots Mara.

He views the new flowers.

Perplexed, he grabs his bowl and departs.

* * * * *

Chapter 47 - Freedom...

* * * * *

Siddhartha sleeps on the ground.

Silhouetted by the Milky Way, Mara walks over, whispers, "The old wanderer, Jataka, had the right path."

Siddhartha stirs, but doesn't wake.

Mara, "Fasting, Siddhartha, fasting."

Siddhartha mutters, "Fasting..."

Mara, "And austere yoga postures. You must defeat the body."

Siddhartha, "Defeat the body..."

Mara, "It's the true way to freedom."

Siddhartha, "Freedom..."

Mara, "Do it for Yasodhara, she wants you to fast."

Siddhartha, "Yasodhara... fasting..."

Mara walks away.

* * * * *

Chapter 48 - Kondanna finds Siddhartha

* * * * *

Fifth village.

Siddhartha walks away from a woman after he receives alms. He leaves the village, heads to a tree.

He spots dozens of black ants scurrying around.

His eyes follow the ants to where they are attacking a caterpillar.

He blows on the ants, again and again.

One by one they dash away from the caterpillar.

He takes the caterpillar, puts it on a tree branch.

He sits down to eat.

Kondanna, "May I join you?"

Siddhartha doesn't look up, "If you wish, but I eat quietly and mindful."

Kondanna, "Yes, very good. And how is your quest?"

A moment passes.

Siddhartha stops eating, "Your voice sounds familiar."

Siddhartha looks up, eyes Kondanna over. Kondanna smiles.

His four friends stand ten yards away.

Siddhartha, "I saw you on my outing. Are you my teacher?"

Kondanna, "I was more hopeful you're ready to be mine?"

Siddhartha frowns, shakes his head.

Kondanna bows, sits, "So tell me everything you've done."

* * * * *

Road.

The six men walk along, Siddhartha and Kondanna in front. They cut through some bushes.

Kondanna, "You've done well."

Siddhartha, "But it's just been concentration bliss. I've reached the highest states of consciousness, but my mind is not yet fully purified."

Kondanna, "So what are your plans now?"

Siddhartha, "An old wanderer I met practiced fasting and austere yoga postures. It might be the way. If I defeat the body, the mind will be free.

Kondanna, "Excellent, we're with you."

Siddhartha, "Everyone?"

Siddhartha glances at the other men. All but Baspa smile broadly. Baspa smiles, but without similar enthusiasm.

Siddhartha, "Good, this way."

Siddhartha stops at a semi-wooded area near a creek. Lean-to roofing rests against crumbling, mud-brick walls. Roses grow amongst long grass. Siddhartha pats a Mango tree, "Like it?"

Kondanna, "A royal palace."

* * * * *

Chapter 49 - Mara surrenders

* * * * *

Home area.

Night.

They sit in meditation together.

Siddhartha nudges Kondanna, points off in the distance.

They stroll out into an open area below a clear sky. The stars sparkle.

Siddhartha, "Do you have any news of Yasodhara?"

Kondanna, "She's fine, even more than fine, she's very well."

Siddhartha's anxious face relaxes.

Kondanna, "She said for me to give you her love, and tell you to continue for her, and for everyone. You must discover the Truth."

Siddhartha closes his eyes.

Kondanna, "She made me stay and teach her meditation so she could be ready when you come back."

Siddhartha looks up. A vision of Yasodhara, sitting in meditation, fills the sky.

Kondanna, "She's with you, Siddhartha, I've never met a woman like her."

Siddhartha, "Kondanna... thank you."

Kondanna leaves.

Reflective, Siddhartha paces, "I'll do it, you hear that, Mara? Yasodhara supports me. Kondanna and the others will help. You will lose, I'll do it!"

A lightning bolt strikes a large boulder.

Night changes into day. Beautiful, park-like environment similar to the Palace rose gardens.

Mara appears, standing on the boulder, smiling wide.

He jumps down.

Siddhartha backs away, ready for a fight.

Mara, "At last, Siddhartha. This is what I've been waiting for. I've lost but now I can finally win!"

Siddhartha, "I'm not falling for another of your tricks."

Mara, "That's all right, because I'm out of tricks. I've done my best. You saw through my Ruchi disguise. I've conquered everyone with that illusion, but not you. And the cemetery – I told you, I'm so honored – the number of wanderers I've crushed there is countless, yet your heart is so full of compassion and your wisdom is so penetrating, I couldn't even scare you. Which is wonderful!"

Mara's face sparkles. He bows to Siddhartha, "And now you've wisely chosen the true path, which no one can thwart, not even me.

Siddhartha, "Mara, when you were Ruchi, I might have believed you but–"

Mara, "Yes, I know you have doubts about me right now. And you don't have to believe me if you wish. Yet what you've achieved releases me from my burden."

Siddhartha, "But... I have to defeat you."

Mara, "Yes, which you've already done. And now, I am duty bound to aid you with the true way of fasting in order to find ultimate freedom."

Mara lowers down on one knee, "Siddhartha, the gods will strike me if I lie to you now. It's not within my power to interfere with your quest any further."

Siddhartha's spellbound.

Mara, "From the beginning of time, I had to be the evil one. I've been the ultimate tester to ensure only the pure attain freedom. I'm so tortured inside with what I have done. Siddhartha, if you find freedom, I will be free, also, from my wretched work."

Siddhartha, "Mara, I–"

Mara, "I was told one day I would meet a Great Man like you. May I stand?"

Siddhartha, "Yes, please."

Mara rises.

Siddhartha, "You mean you've been bound to do harm?"

Mara, "Harm is how most understand my work. For eons my job has been to reveal the worst in humans and tempt them so it would not be hidden. And this means that at times I appear cruel."

Excited, Mara's tone perks up, "Where others failed, you passed my tests in a supreme way. Siddhartha, you're on your way to freedom now for the benefit of all beings, and I want to be there with you!"

Mara's on the verge of tears of joy.

Siddhartha smiles, "Mara... really?"

Siddhartha laughs, overjoyed.

They embrace each other strongly.

Unseen to Siddhartha, a fully bloomed, red rose shrivels and falls to the ground.

* * * * *

Chapter 50 - Beat the body

* * * * *

Home area.

Day.

Siddhartha and the other five men sit in a circle.

Siddhartha, "I'm too attached to the body. Look at me, handsome, strong. I have to beat it down into submission."

Kondanna, "Yes."

Asvajit, "Agreed."

Siddhartha, "I'll start with fasting one day a week."

Mahanama, "We'll take care of you and when you're enlightened, you teach us."

Kondanna, "We'll help you all the way, no matter how long it takes."

The others agree, though Baspa's expression lacks the fervor of the rest.

An elated Mara appears behind Kondanna.

Mara, "Yes! A Nobleman ready for victory!"

Siddhartha's face beams in strong determination.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site.

Wooded with boulders, fifty yards away from the creek. Siddhartha finishes a yoga posture. Mara sits close by.

Mara, "Breath practice now."

Siddhartha yells to the others in the home area, "Ready!"

Kondanna and Mahanama hurry over. They all sit down.

Siddhartha takes a long, deep breath. The other two wait and watch.

Siddhartha's breathing gets longer and longer, stronger and stronger.

He stops.

Mahanama, "One, two, three, four..."

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site – later.

Kondanna and Mahanama watch Siddhartha hold his breath.

Mahanama, "Ninety-two, ninety-three–"

Siddhartha exhales.

Kondanna, "Good for starters, good."

Siddhartha nods, glances behind Kondanna to Mara who smiles back.

* * * * *

Open area.

In full sun, wearing only a loincloth, a tanned Siddhartha, his hair four inches long, stands on one foot with the other leg folded up on his thigh. His hands, palms together, extend above his head.

Mara helps move Siddhartha's raised foot a bit higher.

* * * * *

Home area.

The five eat as Siddhartha walks by.

They motion that he's welcome to join.

He looks behind them at Mara who shakes his head.

Siddhartha continues towards his area.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site.

Siddhartha sits, holding his breath. His hair reaches his shoulders. His dark shriveled skin hugs his body, which has lost a good thirty pounds.

Mahanama counts, "Three hundred-one, three hundred-two, three–"

Siddhartha lets out the air, falls over unconscious.

Mahanama, "Well done!"

Mara sits on a boulder, calmly watches.

* * * * *

Open area.

In the distance, Siddhartha sits in meditation, wearing only his sarong. The wind blows hard.

Unheard, Mara bends over next to Siddhartha, yelling at him.

Two of the others huddle near trees, their robes pulled around themselves in the chilly night's air.

* * * * *

Home area – noon.

Mahanama talks with Kondanna who points through the woods to Siddhartha standing still.

Kondanna, "Hasn't moved since daybreak."

Mahanama, "He's going to do it!"

* * * * *

Open area.

An unrecognizable Siddhartha stands. His ribs protrude, collar bone almost rising out of his body. Black skin, eyes sunk in their sockets. His once strong arms look like sticks. His hair reaches halfway down his back.

He chants, "Beat the body... beat the body... beat the body..."

Mara paces close by. His healthy looks contrast sharply with the emaciated Siddhartha, "Longer, Siddhartha, longer. You're doing marvelous."

Siddhartha collapses to the ground, babbling as if insane, "Not enough, not enough."

Kondanna and Mahanama rush over to him.

Kondanna, "You're doing fine."

Siddhartha, "I have to suffer more. I have to defeat this bag of bones."

Mahanama, "You've already suffered greater than anyone alive."

Mara whispers in Siddhartha's ear, "Don't worry about them. They haven't any noble markings of a Great Man. Not enough courage. You must blaze the trail. Kill the body, kill it. Freedom awaits you."

Siddhartha, "Tomorrow – rice one hundred grains. Next day ninety-nine, next ninety-eight and on."

Kondanna, "But–"

Siddhartha's face shows only madness, "No buts, kill the body."

Kondanna and Mahanama look at each other in fear.

Mara smiles.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site.

Siddhartha sits, his hair swept up in a bun. He stares blankly.

Bharika walks over with something in his hand, "Siddhartha."

Siddhartha's face stays dazed.

Bharika, "Eight grains today."

Siddhartha wearily looks up.

He takes the rice, but only sees semi-clear, swirling images of Yasodhara:

– She walks toward him when they first met.

– She throws rice at their wedding.

– She smiles as Siddhartha places a flower in her hair.

– He pops a sweet sensuously into her mouth.

– She laughs as he tickles her.

– In a silk nightgown, she beckons him.

Siddhartha gazes vacantly at the rice.

His head goes back against the tree.

He passes out.

* * * * *

Chapter 51 - Madness complete

* * * * *

Creek side.

Siddhartha squats urinating.

Nearly exhausted, he falls forward on his face.

He struggles to get up, staggers to the creek.

With a serious expression, Mara watches, "Good, good, you're doing just fine."

Siddhartha semi-nods, wades carefully in, pulls his hair out of the bun, dips his head in, rubs his hair.

A handful of hair comes out in his hands, "Oh, my..."

He grabs more hair, pulls, it comes out, "What am I... doing?"

Again hair comes out in his fists.

His face remains blank.

Mara wades out in front of Siddhartha, "Pull it out, Siddhartha! All of it!"

Siddhartha, "Yes, beat this body. The body must be defeated. Out. Out."

Impossible to stop, he pulls.

He rocks back and forth, "What... is... going... on?"

Mara, "Never mind, more, more."

He holds clumps of hair in each hand, only a little bit remains on his head.

Mahanama, "Well done, Siddhartha, well done!"

Siddhartha turns to Mahanama on the bank, smiling broadly.

Mara, "Get it all out, kill that hair."

Siddhartha eyes his handfuls, "Kill? Kill hair?"

He grabs the last hair, pulls it out.

He swirls slowly back to Mara, "Or... kill... me?"

He continues swirling and faints in the water.

* * * * *

Home area.

The five surround Siddhartha, lying unconscious. Kondanna adjusts a pillow under Siddhartha's head, "He's going to do it. I just know it. We'll let him rest now."

They leave.

Fires materialize throughout the woods.

Mara appears, fires in his eyes, he gloats at Siddhartha, "Soon, so soon, Siddhartha, you will die. Die as you must, so I may continue to live."

He strokes Siddhartha's head, "I have ruled forever. I will always rule. It's not right for you to defeat me. You need me. Otherwise you won't exist."

Mara stands proudly, "I must rule... The world will collapse without me... The world needs me."

Siddhartha stirs, rubs his hand over his head.

The fires disappear.

Mara's eyes return to normal.

Siddhartha, "Mara, I... I'm not well. Maybe I should eat."

Mara kneels down to comfort Siddhartha, "Don't worry, Siddhartha. You're going to get enlightened, I'm sure of it. Keep going, it's close."

Siddhartha, "I... I'm trying to go somewhere, I don't even know where. Am I mad?"

Mara, "What you did to your hair was brilliant. You have the thirty-two marks of a Great Man, destined–"

Siddhartha, "For madness, I think."

Mara, "No, don't give up."

Siddhartha, "But I've seen other sages mad, yet they think they're enlightened."

Mara, "It's all right."

Siddhartha, "It's all right... to go mad?"

Mara, "Siddhartha, listen to me. Enough of this talk. Get up, meditate more."

Mara tries to lift Siddhartha, yet even just skin and bones, he's dead weight.

Siddhartha, "All right..."

He helps by pushing himself up, "Go mad, it's all right."

Unseen by Siddhartha, Mara grins.

* * * * *

Chapter 52 - I'm so sorry, Yasodhara

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site – dawn.

Siddhartha wakes, looks around wearily.

He slowly rises into the sitting posture next to a boulder.

Mara's voice, "No food today. Keep fasting. Fast, fast, fast."

Siddhartha rests his head on the boulder, falls back asleep.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's dream.

Palace dining room.

Healthy and fit, Siddhartha wears his sage robes. He sits down to join Yasodhara, King Suddhodana and Prajapati who enjoy a royal feast.

Siddhartha, "Great. Please pass the curry."

No one acknowledges him.

Perplexed, he shrugs his shoulders, reaches over for the curry.

A hand grabs his.

Baspa, "You're fasting."

Siddhartha looks up at Baspa who has a firm face.

Siddhartha, "But, I just–"

Another hand materializes from the other side of the table.

Kondanna, "No!"

Kondanna appears.

The table stretches a few feet on Siddhartha's side pushing him away from the food.

Siddhartha, "But–"

Asvajit, "No!"

Asvajit appears.

The table stretches more.

Siddhartha's body becomes thinner.

Mahanama, "No!"

Mahanama appears.

The table stretches farther.

Siddhartha's body becomes even thinner.

Bharika, "No!"

Bharika appears.

The table stretches fifty yards long.

Siddhartha's body is just flesh and bones.

Yasodhara, the King and Prajapati eat without ever looking at Siddhartha.

Mara, "You heard them!"

Mara appears.

Demons surround him.

Angry, he upends the table and knocks Siddhartha off his chair, onto the floor, "No!"

Siddhartha, "But I think I need some–"

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site.

Asleep on the boulder, Siddhartha wakes with a start, "Food."

Groggy, he looks through the woods at the five eating, "They... they won't give me food."

He pushes on the boulder to get up.

He grips his side, indicating excruciating pain.

Thunder roars.

He glances up at the darkening sky, "I'll have... I'll get my own."

He stumbles toward the road, stops, grabs onto a tree.

Mara's voice, "No!"

Siddhartha, "Right, it's... desire. I can't... must beat the body. Beat it."

He collapses. A light rain falls, "I'm mad. That's it. I... am... mad."

Mara's voice, "Siddhartha! You are fine!"

He pulls himself up, "No. It's mad. I need food."

He stumbles further toward the road, thirty yards away.

A large cluster of bushes and briars separates him from the road. A waist high boulder rests near the bushes.

Siddhartha, "It's... all... mad."

Mara's voice, "Stop!"

Siddhartha falls face down on the ground.

Motionless.

The wind blows, sending scores of leaves over him.

A long moment as if he's dead.

He stirs, "No, the road. Get to the..."

He crawls close to the thick cluster of bushes.

Exhausted, he lies down next to the boulder.

In the distance a music duo dance along the road. A lute-girl plucks her strings and sings. Her brother hits cymbals.

Lute-girl, "For the strings are one with me / not too tight, not too loose / otherwise my little song / will sound like a silly goose."

From under the bushes, Siddhartha watches the lute-girl intensely.

Her face changes into Yasodhara.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's vision.

Royal archery field.

Siddhartha and Yasodhara embrace, kiss.

Yasodhara, "Keep your strength, my love. Stay strong, stay balanced."

Siddhartha, "I will."

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site.

Siddhartha nods, "Strong... balanced... I'm so sorry, Yasodhara..."

He attempts to push himself up, but he can't.

He calls out weakly, "Please... help..."

The brother hits the lute-girl on her arm, "Eh, you hear someone?"

They stop, listen.

Lightning flashes. Thunder booms. Heavy rain falls.

Brother, "Never mind, hurry."

They race away.

Siddhartha tries to call. Words only form on his lips.

A frog hops in front of his face.

Siddhartha watches it, and passes out.

The rain pounds over his body.

Crack! Lightning strikes a close tree.

It breaks, falls toward Siddhartha.

Smash.

It hits the boulder next to him, coming to rest just inches above his body.

* * * * *

Chapter 53 - Yasodhara's fear

* * * * *

Palace upper chamber.

Lightning clashes.

Dismayed, Yasodhara stares out at the foreboding sky. Her hands hold tightly to Siddhartha's jeweled belt, her eyes glisten.

She looks over at her 6 year old son, Rahula who sits drawing a white sheep with a black ear.

A tear rolls down her cheek. She wipes it quickly as he looks up and smiles.

She gives him a tender expression.

He returns to his drawing as Prajapati enters.

With no hope in her eyes, Yasodhara turns to Prajapati who warmly embraces Yasodhara with a motherly hug.

Yasodhara, "I have this strange feeling he needs help or..."

Her voice chokes on the words as though she can't bear to voice her innermost fear, "...he's dead."

Prajapati, "No. He won't fail in his destiny."

Rahula, "Mother, do you like my sheep?"

Yasodhara sits down with Rahula, gives him a loving kiss, "Lovely, Rahula."

* * * * *

Chapter 54 - Tears

* * * * *

Road.

Baaaa, baaaa, the sound of sheep.

A low caste Sudra shepherd boy prods two white sheep along the road, as he dances through puddles. The rain ceases. He carries a lota, a round pot.

One sheep with a black ear runs off toward Siddhartha.

Sudra boy, "Hey, come back."

He dashes after it only to find his sheep nudging Siddhartha.

He stands transfixed, "Dead."

The sheep baa's.

Sudra boy, "You think so?"

Siddhartha stirs, his eyes open.

The boy jumps back.

Siddhartha, "Do... you have milk in your lota?"

Sudra boy, "Yes, Sir, but I am a Sudra. I cannot give from my lota to you."

Siddhartha, "Sudra, what color is your blood?"

Sudra boy, "Red, Sir."

Using the last of his strength, Siddhartha digs a fingernail into his arm, blood spurts out, "And mine?"

The boy's eyes go wide.

Sudra boy, "But... but I am a Sudra."

Siddhartha, "And when you cry, are your tears the same as mine?"

The boy pours milk in a cup and holds it close to Siddhartha's mouth.

* * * * *

Chapter 55 - The Middle Path

* * * * *

Siddhartha's site.

The Sudra boy strains as he supports Siddhartha back to his area. The sheep trot behind.

Siddhartha reaches for his bowl but the boy grabs it and hands it to him.

Siddhartha smiles and pats the boy's shoulder, "Thank you, I feel stronger. For giving me strength, may you have strength all of your life and in all of your future lives. I will be fine now."

Elated, the boy skips off.

Concerned, Mara appears, "You're from the noble warrior caste. How can you accept defeat? Aren't you going to continue fasting? Aren't you going to get enlightened?"

Siddhartha staggers toward the main area, "Fasting isn't the way."

Mara, "Of course it is. Don't be ridiculous."

Siddhartha grasps onto a tree, pauses.

The wind blows, a leaf falls into his bowl.

He reaches in, takes it out and holds it toward Mara, "My mistakes... in whom to believe... are finished."

He drops the leaf, walks away.

Mara's body tenses, his eyes turn red, "Siddhartha, listen to me!"

* * * * *

Home area.

Baspa, Bharika and Mahanama sweep leaves.

Siddhartha inches over with his bowl.

Incredulous, the three look at him.

Siddhartha, "Please fill this with food."

Baspa, "What!"

Siddhartha looks wearily at the shocked men.

Kondanna and Asvajit approach with full alms bowls.

Kondanna, "What's going on?"

Baspa, "He wants to eat!"

Asvajit, "Eat? He's gone mad!"

Kondanna, "Stop, stop."

Kondanna restrains his agitated companions.

He hands Siddhartha his own alms bowl, "Here, Siddhartha."

Balancing awkwardly, Siddhartha walks back to his area.

Kondanna, "I haven't told you."

Baspa, "Told us what!"

Kondanna, "He's been talking about eating for some days."

Baspa, "I said it before, once a prince, always a prince."

Asvajit, "He's not like us."

Bharika, "We've been sages all our lives. Born that way, grew up that way."

Baspa, "He's a weakling! Lived twenty-nine years the high life, tries this for only six and quits."

Kondanna steps in Siddhartha's direction, pauses, "Men, please–"

Baspa, "Forget it, Kondanna! I'm done with helping this failure. Anyone who wants to come with me, fine."

Bharika and Asvajit move next to Baspa.

Mahanama looks at Kondanna, joins the other three.

Mahanama, "Kondanna?"

Kondanna, "Let me talk to him."

Kondanna walks through the woods to Siddhartha.

He stops, looks back at the men, then to Siddhartha. His eyes narrow.

Spotting a four foot long, strong branch, he picks it up, cleans one end with his hands.

He swings it hard into a bush, smashing its leaves and smaller branches.

He nods.

Holding the branch, Kondanna approaches Siddhartha.

He stays standing as Siddhartha eats.

The four friends can be seen through the trees.

Kondanna, "So you're quitting on us."

Siddhartha looks up calmly at the disappointed Kondanna, "No, are you quitting on me?"

Kondanna, "The others are disillusioned."

Siddhartha, "And you?"

Kondanna, "I, uh, but how can you do this?"

Kondanna loses his normal composure, "Siddhartha! What are you doing!"

Siddhartha, "Kondanna–"

Kondanna, "Ever since I was a young man I believed you would light the way for all of us. Now you give up, all my hopes and faith in you are smashed. I'm exposed as a fool. It's... it's too much."

Siddhartha gets up slowly, holding his side.

He walks over to a rose bush.

His hand touches a small bud, one opening, one fully open, one dying and one without any petals left, "When I was a prince..."

He reaches down carefully, his face tells the pain of his side.

He picks up a few decaying petals, "I never saw this."

Kondanna, "So how can you indulge again, forsake us in the quest? We have no great marks but you do."

Siddhartha, "I'm not giving up, I've gone too far."

Kondanna cocks his head in a sign of momentary doubt.

Siddhartha, "There must to be a place between heaven and hell. Since I've been to both, I'll try a middle way."

Kondanna, "This is Mara speaking, not the Prince with many marks. I'm sorry, Siddhartha."

He taps the branch into his other hand, glances at Siddhartha.

Eyes glistening, Kondanna offers the branch.

Siddhartha takes it.

Kondanna returns to the men.

They gather their belongings and depart.

Mara, "Go with them, Siddhartha."

With fierce eyes, Siddhartha points at Mara, "You... go with them."

He picks up his bowl and robe, steps in another direction.

Mara grabs his arm, "You've gone mad! Even your most devoted Kondanna cannot penetrate your foolishness. All your friends are leaving you."

Siddhartha continues walking.

Mara, "And you have failed Yasodhara."

Siddhartha pauses, then flares, "Enough! Six years I've wasted thinking this was it. But it was just another of your wicked tricks."

Mara, "Yes, you're right. And I'll continue to trick you until you come to your senses."

Siddhartha, "You mean your madness."

Mara knocks weak Siddhartha down and stands over him.

Mara's eyes turn to fires.

Hundreds of laughing demons appear, jumping up and down.

Mara, "Madness rules."

Siddhartha rises.

Mara drives his fist into Siddhartha's stomach.

Siddhartha crashes down, clutches his gut.

The demons cheer, "More, more."

Mara slams Siddhartha across his head, "And I will rule forever."

He kicks Siddhartha.

The demons, "Yes, yes!"

Mara kicks Siddhartha again, but with all of Siddhartha's remaining strength, he grabs Mara's foot and rolls over, which throws Mara down with a thud.

Mara bounces up.

Siddhartha holds up his palm, "Mara, if you defeat me in my quest, you will continue to rule with no hope for me or others to find true freedom. Right?"

Mara remains quiet, looks questioningly at Siddhartha.

Siddhartha, "But if I defeat you, your power to rule over me will be gone forever. And I will be a lamp shining in the darkness of ignorance showing others how they can also be free of your tyranny."

Siddhartha slowly rises, "Right?"

Mara's face sets in a combination of fear and determination.

Siddhartha, "We will have one last battle."

Siddhartha walks away.

* * * * *

Chapter 56 - Recovery

* * * * *

Slowly, Siddhartha gets healthier. He puts on weight and gains back his golden skin.

– He hobbles with the branch as a cane, on alms round in a village.

– He stops under a large tree in the woods, gently sits down.

– He eats his meal at a village well.

– Without the cane, Siddhartha walks along the road.

– He's very healthy, on alms round in another village.

– He does walking meditation at night under the stars.

* * * * *

Chapter 57 - Final Battle

* * * * *

Riverside.

Deer graze. Birds flutter in the trees. A squirrel jumps from branch to branch.

Siddhartha walks down the riverbank, bare of flowers.

He washes his bowl.

Mara squats on the other side of the river watching.

Siddhartha rises, holds up his arms, palms toward himself.

He squeezes his fists.

He looks over at Mara who stands, his face rigid.

Siddhartha holds his arms up higher, nods.

* * * * *

Lotus pond.

Siddhartha walks in meditation near the pond's edge.

He stops, gazes at lotuses of all colors in various degrees of opening. His eyes focus on the tallest – an open white lotus, a foot higher than the others.

He walks over to a large Bodhi (fig) Tree, pats it.

He looks west to see the last colors of the sunset.

He looks east, the full moon is yet to rise.

He adjusts some grass to sit on under the tree, sits down full lotus facing east.

Siddhartha shuts his eyes as daylight disappears and the shimmer of the rising moon casts over the horizon.

* * * * *

Siddhartha's Meditation Battle.

The horizon changes into a vast expanse of water beneath a fuzzy pink sky.

Soft rain.

Siddhartha sits full lotus floating above the water.

Lightning strikes in front of him with a huge thunder boom. Water splashes everywhere.

Mara, "No!"

Siddhartha sits motionless.

Mara, "I said, no!"

Lightning strikes behind Siddhartha with another thunder boom. To his right, boom, his left, boom, in front, boom.

Mara, "Never!"

Siddhartha opens his eyes.

Mara stands defiantly on water thirty feet away.

Siddhartha, "Mara, you will build this house no longer."

Mara, "My house will always be my house!"

Mara swirls and transforms into a gruesome demon, "You will get up, Siddhartha. Now!"

Siddhartha rises slowly, "Yes, but only to finish you off. This is the battle I was born to win."

He walks toward Mara.

Mara, "Never! You're no warrior, you're a failure!"

Mara transforms into fifty hideous creatures.

One charges at Siddhartha who stands unmoving.

The creature slams Siddhartha in his face.

Siddhartha falls.

The creature tries to hit Siddhartha again, but somehow disappears.

Siddhartha looks up at the forty-nine creatures.

Another attacks, bashing Siddhartha once, then disappears.

Five attack.

Ten attack.

All but one attack and disappear.

Siddhartha lies in the water, blood drips from his face.

The remaining creature transforms back into Mara. He gloats.

Siddhartha slowly stands up, "You'll have to do better than that, Mara."

Mara frowns.

Siddhartha, "My journey in time is nearly complete."

Mara, "You will cycle forever."

Mara waves his left hand.

Out of the fuzzy sky, materializes a battalion of warriors on horses.

They chant, "Death to Siddhartha. Death to Siddhartha. Death to Siddhartha."

Mara waves his right hand.

Another huge battalion appears on elephants, chanting, "Siddhartha is doomed. Siddhartha is doomed. Siddhartha is doomed."

Both groups chant louder and louder, the sound becomes deafening.

Mara waves both arms.

A deathly silence.

Mara, "Do you yield, now?"

Siddhartha, "My lifetimes of yielding to you are over."

Mara, "Attack!"

The armies charge, thundering toward Siddhartha.

They crash down upon him in a cloud of vapor, screaming and waving their swords.

The vapor obscures everything.

The screaming diminishes.

Silence.

The vapor settles. Siddhartha, robes torn, stands unmoving.

Mara trembles.

Siddhartha steps toward Mara, "It is time for you to yield."

Mara's eyes widen, blazing red, orange, red, yellow, "Never!"

He spins, faster, faster, transforming into a huge, black tornado.

The ominous winds suck up water, barrel towards Siddhartha and engulf him.

Black.

The fuzzy sky returns.

Content, Mara relaxes in a large chair, floating in the air. Siddhartha is gone.

Siddhartha rises from the water, soaked, twenty-five feet away from Mara.

Siddhartha stands tall, calm.

He takes another step toward Mara, "You have caused me endless suffering for eons."

Mara jumps off his chair, swings his arms up to the sky. A vast mountain materializes, larger than the Himalayas, "Now!"

The mountain peak breaks off.

The huge avalanche crashes down at Siddhartha.

He clenches his fists, aims straight at the hurling boulders.

They hit, shatter into thousands of small fragments landing at Siddhartha's feet as rice grains.

Siddhartha, "Mara, your ancient throne is crumbling. Soon you will be gone and I will be free."

Siddhartha moves closer.

Mara squats, does a back flip, "No! Kill!"

Swords fly out of Mara's feet.

Daggers whiz from his hands.

Thousands.

Siddhartha puts his palms together in front of him, fingers point at Mara.

Miraculously pulled towards his fingers, the daggers and swords ricochet off left and right.

Mara gulps in air, sweats from every pore. He fakes a smile, "Right, right, let's talk."

Doubtful, Siddhartha cocks his head.

Mara laughs, "Let's talk, let's talk, let's talk – Now!"

Mara screams up at the sky.

Burning coals and red-hot ashes shower down.

As they reach Siddhartha, they disappear.

Siddhartha walks closer, fifteen feet away, "My fear is extinguished."

Mara's eyes turn red and stay that way, "I've ruled. I've always ruled!"

Siddhartha, "Evil rulers always fall, Mara."

Siddhartha takes another step.

Mara steps backward.

He trembles, his cheek twitches, his hands shake, "You think you can defeat me?"

Mara manifests into fifty identical bodies surrounding Siddhartha.

They take a relaxed stance and all talk at once, "Try me now."

Siddhartha looks at his hands.

He squeezes them tight, "If you multiply by a thousand, it will not matter any more. My confusion has ended."

He opens his hands as if throwing them at the Maras.

Fifty Siddharthas appear in front of each Mara.

Mara, "No!"

The fifty Maras and Siddharthas disappear.

Mara sits in his chair. He tries to look relaxed, though sweat soaks his clothes.

Siddhartha stands ten feet away.

Mara smiles, shakes his head, "I am not only impressed, Siddhartha, I am honored. This time, truly, truly honored."

Mara gets off his chair, lowers to the water, drops his head in a deep bow, "You have won. Please allow me."

Mara waves his hand, Siddhartha's robes become clean. The blood on his face disappears, no trace of beatings.

Mara, "I must now bestow upon you the supreme rewards."

Mara whistles.

Three stunning young women appear beside him, beckoning to Siddhartha.

Mara, "You have won my daughters, Trishna, Arati and Raga."

Soft music plays while Trishna dances seductively.

Her fingers slide to her blouse buttons, undoing one at a time.

Arati and Raga dance close to Siddhartha, each stroking their own luscious, flawless body.

Arati, "Father told us so much about you."

Raga, "A man beyond all men."

Siddhartha, "Stop."

Raga, "After you've had your fill."

Siddhartha, "Then stop when you've had yours."

Siddhartha holds out his arms. Two huge mirrors appear in each hand.

The women step back.

Siddhartha, "Arati and Raga first. Please titillate yourself."

The two giggle, and can't resist a mirror.

Raga, "You are unusual, aren't you?"

They both preen themselves in the mirrors. Trishna watches, smiling.

The mirror images age.

The women pause, stare.

The reflections grow old, 30, 40, wrinkles appear, 50, grey hair, 60, skin sags, 70, body bent over, teeth missing.

Raga and Arati, "No! No!"

Shocked, they race to Trishna and all embrace. They scream the most terrifying of all screams, "Noooooooo!"

They disappear.

Siddhartha, "My lust is gone, Mara."

Mara jumps up, eyes wild, mouth frothing, "Enlightenment does not exist! You cannot escape from my power, ever!"

Siddhartha's grass sitting place from under the Bodhi tree appears floating.

He walks over to it, sits full lotus.

The fuzzy sky changes into the Bodhi tree, back dropped by the dark evening sky.

Siddhartha, "If the escape from the cycle of life and death was not possible, then I would not sit here."

Mara stands with the full moon rising behind him. Frantic, he charges at Siddhartha, "By what authority can you sit here?"

Siddhartha puts his right hand down, touches the earth, "Mara, my doubt is vanquished. For lifetimes I have worked toward perfection. Let the earth be my witness."

Mara, "No, you can't! Don't! Stop! I am the ruler! I command you!"

The earth trembles like an earthquake.

The sound of a roaring wind.

Mara's eyes roll backwards, showing only white, "Sidd... har...tha... "

His head tilts left, back.

His hands clutch his chest.

He fades.

Gone.

Siddhartha closes his eyes.

* * * * *

Chapter 58 - Enlightenment

* * * * *

Siddhartha's Enlightenment Meditation

Black.

The earth viewed from space slowly forms in the darkness.

The moon shines to the right.

A light blinks in the heart of India.

The light shoots out of the earth, races toward the moon.

It transforms into Siddhartha sitting in meditation.

He speeds by the moon, putting out his hand to touch it as he passes.

He heads towards the sun, looming ever so large and larger as he approaches it.

Again he strokes it as he flies out into space.

The Milky Way in all its glory, more bright and twinkling than a clear night in the desert sky.

Siddhartha speeds.

A pitch-black tunnel looms ahead.

Siddhartha heads straight towards it.

He flies inside.

To his left and to his right appear scenes from his previous lives with Yasodhara. Though their faces remain the same, their bodies and clothing vary from life to life.

First appears this life in the Palace.

Then a middle-aged couple farming.

An elderly couple entertaining family in a moderate home.

Children playing in a park.

Ascetics together going for alms food.

Yasodhara dead on a funeral pyre with Siddhartha sprinkling water on her body.

In Heaven worlds, realms of majestic beauty, their bodies glimmer.

As two deer, they nuzzle their heads against each other.

Siddhartha zooms out of the tunnel only to aim toward another that has bright lights in it.

He speeds inside yet abruptly stops.

This time the Law of Karma presents itself with views of others' lives, deaths and rebirths.

A wealthy elderly man walks down a street, looks the other way as he passes by a beggar, without giving anything.

The man ages, dies and appears as a beggar, whom others ignore.

A little girl, not rich, not destitute, walks by the same beggar, gives him a coin.

She ages, dies and appears as a little rich girl surrounded by abundance.

A young man stabs an older man, pulls off the man's rings, takes his money.

He runs off only to be cornered by soldiers and executed.

In his next life, others stab and rob him.

A middle-aged woman, far from beautiful, pimples, scarred face, hunched over body, smiles lovingly as she walks along.

She gives a gift to a friend. They laugh. She pats a dog, gives it a tidbit.

She ages, dies and is reborn beautiful.

The stories appear at a faster and faster rate, beings here, there, doing this, doing that, reborn here, reborn there.

A brilliant flash.

Black.

A wheel with four spokes appears.

It rolls to the right three complete cycles.

As it revolves, the four spokes change into eight, the eight change into twelve.

It stops.

On the edge of each spoke, pictures materialize.

On the top a blind man walks with his stick.

The wheel rotates showing a potter molding a pot.

It revolves through ten more pictures – a monkey swings in a tree.

Two people in a boat.

A house with five windows and one door.

A man and woman embrace.

A person struck in the eye by an arrow.

A woman offers a drink to a man.

A person picks fruit from a tree.

A maiden about to cross a stream.

A woman gives birth.

Two old men carry a corpse on a stretcher.

The wheel spins and spins.

Stops.

It spins in reverse.

Again and again.

Forward, reverse.

Faster, faster, until it's impossible to distinguish anything.

The wheel stops with the house on top.

The wheel disappears, only the house remains.

The house dismantles itself as if workers were pulling it apart.

Roof pieces fly off.

The walls fall down.

The inside crumbles.

The pieces lie scattered.

They gather into a center point of light.

The light disappears.

* * * * *

Chapter 59 - Special gifts

* * * * *

Bodhi tree area.

Dazzling, the full moon shines behind the Bodhi tree, only slightly above treetop.

Two huge rainbow circles surround the moon, which give a spectacular sight.

Siddhartha sits motionless at the base of the tree.

* * * * *

Yasodhara's upper chamber.

The moon with its rainbow rings shines in. Yasodhara sleeps on a straw mat in the near empty room. On a table, Siddhartha's belt lies near a vase with a golden rose bud.

Restless, she stirs, looks around.

Her eyes indicate a knowing which goes beyond words.

She grabs the belt, puts it on.

She walks to the window, gazes at the moon.

Opening the bay doors, she steps out on the patio, sits down in meditation.

She smiles.

Rahula, "Mother."

Yasodhara, "Out here, Rahula."

Rahula stumbles out, rubbing his eyes.

He sits in Yasodhara's lap, rests his head on her breast, "I couldn't sleep. The moon's so strange."

Tears of joy flow down Yasodhara's cheeks, "My precious, you're going to meet your father soon."

She kisses his head, "And he's going to have special gifts for all of us."

* * * * *

Chapter 60 - Done

* * * * *

Bodhi tree area.

Siddhartha sits motionless as day breaks. A squirrel rests on his knee. Birds sing. Wild deer graze nearby. A rabbit hops along.

Siddhartha opens his eyes, nods.

He strokes the squirrel, lifts it off, puts it on the ground.

He rises, walks to the river.

Masses of wild flowers bloom along the bank.

He looks over to the other bank.

No one.

Just another beautiful array of flowers.

A deer walks up behind him. Siddhartha pets it.

He glances at the Bodhi tree and up to the sky.

Birds fly into the tree. One lands on his shoulder.

Siddhartha smiles.

* * * * *

Chapter 61 - Priest Anupanita defeated

* * * * *

Road.

The fading afternoon light shines on rolling countryside. Trees in full bloom. Wildflowers adorn the meadows. The road winds over a hill.

Peaceful, Siddhartha walks along, approaches the rise. A broad valley, villages and a meandering river stretch in the distance.

From the other direction rides his father's Royal Brahmin Priest Anupanita in a carriage. His old age and feebleness show. He does not recognize Siddhartha.

Siddhartha stays in the middle of the road, intentionally forces the Priest to stop.

Priest Anupanita, "Out of my way, you–"

Siddhartha, "Royal Priest of King Suddhodana, what do you think, are you so worthy just because you were born a Brahmin?"

Priest Anupanita, "Who are you to–"

Siddhartha, "I asked you a question."

Priest Anupanita, "And I do not have to answer to the likes of you."

Siddhartha, "Because you do not know the answer?"

The Priest frowns.

Siddhartha, "And I do?"

Interest lights on the Priest's face, "Who is your teacher who makes you so arrogant?"

Siddhartha, "Priest, I have no teacher, as there are none my equal."

Priest Anupanita, "From your words, wanderer, you must be either a fool or a conqueror. If you are a fool, you are one of many. If you are a conqueror, then you are the priests' worst enemy."

Siddhartha, "I am a conqueror."

The Priest's lips quiver, his body trembles.

He regains his stuffed pride, "All right, conqueror, now get out of my way."

Siddhartha stands still.

Priest Anupanita, "I said, get out of my way!"

Siddhartha, "Priest, it is time for you to be tamed."

Incensed, the Priest grumbles and guides his carriage to go off the road, onto a rough grassy area, around Siddhartha and charges off.

Siddhartha watches.

His eyes take on a look of seriousness yet softness.

He scans over the valley.

A whirlwind spins up the hill, creating a small dust storm that blows onto Siddhartha. It passes, "Yes, many may not understand me. But there will be others with little dust over their eyes."

Siddhartha looks up.

A soaring golden eagle.

He smiles, walks down the hill into the setting sun.

* * * * *

Epilogue

* * * * *

Kondanna speaks through this Epilogue.

Hilltop.

Siddhartha sits, teaching Kondanna and the other four.

"I was very fortunate that Siddhartha, now our Lord Buddha, had compassion for me and my friends. He came to us first, and taught us even though we had been so rude to him."

Kondanna's face lights up.

"His wisdom was so penetrating, his teaching so clear and precise, that I became enlightened quickly. The others, a little later."

* * * * *

Palace throne room.

King Suddhodana, Prajapati, Channa and more family members welcome Siddhartha, give him the high seat. Yasodhara is not present. They sit down, listen to Siddhartha teach.

"Soon afterward, he returned to the palace and taught Yasodhara, King Suddhodana, Queen Prajapati and all his relatives."

* * * * *

Yasodhara's upper chamber.

Siddhartha sits with Yasodhara. She wears his jeweled belt. A fully bloomed gold rose adorns a vase.

She smiles. He smiles.

"Yasodhara, not only became enlightened, but she was one of the foremost women in Buddhism. Queen Prajapati, also. Much to the dislike of the Brahmins, the Buddha allowed them to start the first ordained women's order in history."

Rahula walks in shyly, bows to Siddhartha, sits down.

"Rahula became a foremost monk, enlightened when he was only twenty years old."

* * * * *

Royal dining hall.

King Suddhodana, personally, serves Siddhartha and other monks.

"King Suddhodana stayed the king, yet before he died he became fully enlightened."

* * * * *

A large meditation hall.

Siddhartha teaches hundreds of monks, nuns and lay followers.

"Siddhartha, as the Buddha, lived another 45 years teaching the greatness of the human potential and the path to deep inner happiness. Inwardly, he taught new methods for understanding life's inevitable difficulties, overcoming all mental pain and purifying our hearts."

* * * * *

Village slum area.

Siddhartha walks among the poor. The low caste Sudra shepherd boy follows, dressed as a novice monk.

"Outwardly, he changed the face of Indian religion with ordination for women, censure of animal and human sacrifice, and disregard to the caste system, allowing everyone, including untouchables, to become ordained."

* * * * *

Bodhi tree.

Siddhartha sits motionless at the base of the tree.

"Though he died peacefully over two thousand five hundred years ago, his compassionate teachings continue today, and have led to a worldwide following which covers a quarter of the planet."

* * * * *

The end

About the Author

Thank you for reading "The Great Quest", one of Steve Weissman's 13 stories now available worldwide. We hope you enjoyed the "journey" with Siddhartha and the other characters.

Steve has been an international Buddhist meditation teacher since 1987. He was a resident teacher at a meditation center in Thailand for 25 years, teaching over 8,000 students from over 85 countries. He currently lives in Australia, and continues teaching at various centers worldwide.

It was in his early years of teaching that Steve started weaving in entertaining short stories. One of his students commented on how they thought Steve could successfully write a screenplay. At the time Steve had far too much work to consider such a project, and dropped the thought.

Several years later, Steve was contemplating the Buddhist philosophy concerning death in different realms of existence, particularly the higher realms. In those realms, beings are thought to live an extremely long time and may come to believe their existence is permanent. He wondered what it would be like to explain what death is to someone, who had absolutely no knowledge about the aging process or death. These thoughts sparked more thoughts, and three days later, Steve finished his first screenplay draft.

After polishing that script and experimenting with a few more, Steve realized that no one has yet produced a dramatic movie of the Buddha's life for Western audiences. Yes, there are many biographies of the Buddha, but a biography is a biography, and very difficult to create the excitement that movie audiences want.

So, why not write a semi-fictious biography, with the dimension and character of a true "Hero's journey"?

This eBook story has come from Steve's movie script, "The Great Quest", which has the potential to become the first Hollywood-level, dramatic movie of the Buddha's life produced for both Western and worldwide audiences. <http://thegreatquest.net>

But although "The Great Quest" has made 22 script contest finals, Steve's many attempts to attract producers, directors, actors, agents and managers, has not yet produced fruit.

Understanding more about the film industry, Steve realized that a film of this magnitude - with good directing & acting - could be Oscar-worthy, but it would be very expensive. So he decided to write more scripts that were lower budget, thinking that if one of these would sell, he might get a better response for "The Great Quest". These scripts have made another 36 finals, and he has now won 7 contests, with dozens more semi & quarterfinals.

But, again, Steve's attempts to attract Hollywood interest, has not yet produced fruit.

So now his thought is - turn the scripts into inexpensive short stories, and see what happens.

Do you have any possible connections with film personnel? If so, would you please pass "The Great Quest" on to them. Steve will also gladly send all 13 of his stories to anyone who has a genuine interest in turning one or more of these into a film.

And, if you did enjoy this story and would like to help in even a small way, would you please take a few moments to leave a good review at your favorite retailer? More positive reviews will encourage others to read and enjoy it, too.

Thank you very much. You might be that special person who can help "The Great Quest" become a wonderful movie.

More information about Steve's teaching can be found at <https://rosemary-steve.org>. And specific film/stories information can be found at <http://thegreatquest.net/stories.htm>.

* * * * *

Steve's 13 stories

The Great Quest

Drama Biopic

Based on the true story of the Buddha: The battles of a Prince who rejects riches and power, risks insanity and death, in a quest to find ultimate freedom.

Imprisoned in the Palace by his father, the time fruits when a naïve Siddhartha awakens to the realities of the world, and escapes in search of a deeper meaning to life. His devious, look-alike, unrelenting alter ego, Mara, presents the greatest obstacle, thwarting Siddhartha at every possible opportunity. Siddhartha also confronts barbaric Brahmin Priests, a war-raging King and evil spirits before he attempts harsh austerities and starvation. Barely escaping madness and death, Siddhartha strengthens himself for his illustrious battle with Mara, when only one will survive.

ISBN 978-0-6487941-0-3

Open Your Eyes, Dude

Romantic Comedy

Relaxing at the beach before a seminar with the world's most renown, yet reclusive eye surgeon, playboy doctor Tom has been given an ultimative - stay a bachelor stuck in his boring job or join an elite group of doctors keen to be in the Senate. However, he has just one week to find a wife who will enhance his public image. When he meets secretive, gentle new-ager Tricia in the surf, she intrigues him and then escapes his advances before he can discover more. He follows her but confronts the scheming tricks of a jealous neurosurgeon, and his own selfish ways. Finally he seduces her for one night, and actually finds that he is falling in love with her. But what happens when she discovers his original motivation?

ISBN 978-0-6488482-5-7

Barred Engagement

Crime Thriller, Romance

Travis and Janie are lovers from high school, engaged to be married, with her father welcoming Travis more than his own son. But when they find out Travis has a different real last name, all hell breaks loose. With her father threatening to kill Travis if they tried to marry, Janie cancels the marriage to save Travis, but he won't give up that easily. Despite the danger, a resolute Travis must fight not only for his love, but for his life. And little did he expect to find out how Janie's father was connected to his parent's deaths.

ISBN 978-0-6487941-8-9

Love, Mysterious

Fantasy Romantic Comedy

Cupid's top marriage agent from who-knows-where, Kolby has a massive problem. His job – and Cupid's life - are on the line unless Kolby can fulfill the hardest of all assignments! Rumor has it the couple were Romeo & Juliet, Anthony & Cleopatra, plus believe it or not - Adam & Eve. But when there's a time limit on the love arrow's potion, things don't always work out the way you'd like. He shot the greatest two soul mates as little kids, but the girl was born to the wrong parents and moved halfway around the world. Kolby must get them back together and make sure they stay that way. He's in a race against time to save Cupid and Love on Earth. And if that wasn't enough, he also struggles with another love agenda of his own.

ISBN 978-0-6487941-6-5

Mick: a kid who fought

Coming-of-age Drama

Brought up by a immigrant Polish father who never "stirs a tiger", quiet Mick shies away from any confrontation, even when he's denied his well earned High School award with a desperately needed scholarship by a jealous teacher. Yet after the girl he loves calls him a loser, Mick chooses to identify with his freedom fighting grandfather who died rocking too many boats. Will Mick learn to fight against bullies and win back his love, or will his father prevent him?

ISBN 978-0-6488482-3-3

Vicki in Viewland

Fantasy Adventure Animation Comedy Spoof

ALICE IN WONDERLAND meets THE WIZARD OF OZ in the land of foolish views.

A 13-year-old's crush on the paper boy has her falling head over heels, landing in the fantasy world of Viewland where the vicious President labels her a terrorist and tries to annihilate her. Aided by a five foot tall Bluejay and Count Alf the Fourteenth, she confronts foolish view after view until she must defeat the President in order to return home. Yet is the President the only one she must battle? Or is there someone more ominous who awaits her?

ISBN 978-0-6488482-7-1

For Life

Drama

For years Taylor, the president of a leading euthanasia group, has pumped all his energy and drive into his "mission". But now he must confront the reality of his own mother's illness and face-off with his estranged anti-euthanasia daughter, who holds power of attorney and medical decisions for her grandmother. Fearing the worst of her hated father, she does what she can to stop Taylor, yet his buddies also come knocking on her grandmother's door. Meanwhile Taylor's incestuous sister-in-law plays her sexual games and plans what to do with her share of the inheritance.

ISBN 978-0-6487941-7-2

Security Act 2070

Thriller Drama Sci-fi

Sixty years in the future, materialism reigns supreme in America, "One nation under Money". Those who protest the accepted creed are declared fanatical enemies of the State. After losing his parents and his love, the death of his brother tips Buddy over the edge into the "disease" which pits him against the culture. Swiftly suppressing his protest, the authorities commit him to a mental hospital where a doctor seeks a live specimen for research.

ISBN 978-0-6488482-1-9

Get Updated, System's Archaic

Coming-of-age Dramedy

Ken and Aaron's childhood sibling rivalry continues as adults. Though Aaron tries to make it good, even saving Ken's life, Ken's hatred stays. When Aaron shows up for a family reunion with Rahula, a half-Asian adopted son, Ken's prejudice grows, and multiplies a hundred-fold when Rahula and Ken's daughter fall for each other. Can the past be healed or will the reunion tear the family further apart?

ISBN 978-0-6488482-0-2

The Kalama Awakening

Cult Drama

On a spiritual quest, young naive Julie's longing for freedom and devotion makes her an easy target for a cult Guru's lust and her boyfriend's willingness to trade her for power and fame. Isolated and drugged, she ends up in a nightmare of betrayal and manipulation, yet resists being brainwashed into submission and becoming the Guru's sex slave. Sage, an ex-devotee, knows the evils that await and risks his life to rescue her. Yet he also becomes caught in the Guru's web and it's up to Julie whether she can save both of them.

ISBN 978-0-6488482-6-4

Leaves fall

Fantasy Dramedy

In a world where soulmates meet, an inept fellow has failed constantly for over 300 years. Even when his true love appears, rather than being ecstatic to see him, she yearns for her past life as a celibate nun. Clever, quick and breaking the rules, she outfoxes mating attempts, not realizing that they are an eternal pair. So what happens when a ninety year old nun, celibate all her life, dies and is spontaneously reborn as a young beautiful woman in a world where everyone meets their true mate?

ISBN 978-0-6488482-2-6

Another Chance

Drama Thriller

Brad, a star High School quarterback/Valedictorian, turns bad, becoming a local drug lord. Despite his wrong ways, he longs for the approval of his virtuous father. When Brad finally entices his father into his nightmare world, a surprised and shocked Brad watches his Dad out perform his own evil ways. When he awakens from his hell, he tries to reform and plans to marry a homely, innocent Librarian whom he truly loves - but will his fate allow this?

ISBN 978-0-6488482-4-0

The Burden of Angels

Fantasy Comedy Short

God warns goofy Humphrey, he's on the verge of failing Angel School when an elite class of angels head to earth to help major catastrophes, yet poor Humphrey plans to aid just one man who lost a piece of paper.

ISBN 978-0-6488482-9-5