In this Sangha Night series we will be looking at some of the key points in the Buddha’s life story, taken from the early Pali Canon discourses.

PART TWO: THE ROSE-APPLE TREE

Tonight we take up the Buddha’s life story at a point where he is having a serious re-think.

In his search for the truth, he has taken up all kinds of extreme body exertions, believing that this will help develop the mind. He has failed; the Buddha has gone as far down this road as it is humanly possible to go, with absolutely no success.

Into his mind comes the recollection of a time in his youth where he simply sat effortless under a tree and enjoyed his mind. Could this simple, receptive pleasure be the way to spiritual liberation?

And we could reflect too: do we try to push through to achieve a goal, and does this work? What happens if we stop trying?