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BOOK REVIEW | EASTERN HORIZON 61

watch over the future Buddha, how the King and his just a matter of time before her prince would embark
ministers try to keep the suffering of the world from on his great spiritual quest. However, when Siddhattha
Siddhattha without much success as he eventually eventually leaves her on the night their only son is born,
witnesses the Four Sights, and finally how Siddhattha it would not be unusual for Yasodhara to feel the pangs
renounces the throne, his wife, and newly-born son to of a broken heart, knowing the separation is final. In
seek enlightenment. Chapter 18, Yasodhara’s pain when Siddhattha leaves
home is mentioned in several scriptural sources.
When the great renunciation of Prince Siddhatta
takes place, he leaves the palace in the middle of the Sasson’s story also includes a biography of the members
night without informing Yasodhara. She is obviously of Siddhattha’s family. In Chapter 3, Sasson describes
devastated the next morning by his departure. But both Ananda and Devadatta, two key protagonists in the
Sasson highlights in the novel that Yasodhara is not the life of the Buddha. While Ananda becomes the Buddha’s
only person who is overcome with great sadness. Based main attendant and the key spokesman for all his
on the sources provided, many others are also heart- teachings in the scriptures after his final passing away,
broken by his departure. His stepmother Gotami cries Devadatta is the Buddha’s main antagonist who tries to
so much that, according to one Sanskrit text, scales cause a schism in the monastic community. In Chapter
covered her eyes from all her tears. The horse Kanthaka 4, Sasson mentions Siddhattha’s step-brother, Nanda. In
that Siddhattha rides on the night of his renunciation the story Nanada is described as a vain monk who likes
dies of a broken heart after the prince dismounts and to wear ironed robes, paints his eyes, and uses a fanciful
says he will walk the rest of his journey. Channa, the begging bowl. But he is enlightened after listening to the
chariot-driver, is utterly miserable when he is forced Buddha’s skillful teachings.
to return to the palace without his master. Everyone is
upset by the future Buddha’s Great Renunciation. In conclusion, I find this an excellent novel because of
the way Yasodhara is depicted, and there is much that
And in Chapter 22, quoting a Newari text, Sasson relates modern women today can learn from her. As such, I
how, when the King’s ministers bring back news that would like to quote what Sasson said in an interview
Siddhattha is living in the forest alone as an ascetic I had with her (and published in this issue of Eastern
(samaṇa) and has refused to return to the kingdom, Horizon) about Yasodhara being a role model for
this becomes the turning point for Yasodhara. She then women today:
decides that the time has come for her to live out her
life as an ascetic, discarding her royal garments and “What I admire most about Yasodhara is her humanity.
ornaments for white clothes just like her renunciate The way I see her, she lives the full spectrum of human
ex-husband. emotions. She is engaged in her experiences, reflects
on them and reacts to them, loving her husband and
However, Sasson does wonder whether Yasodhara her son and adapting to her environment with all of
knew all along that Siddhattha would eventually herself. Yasodhara is no wallflower. She is not silent and
renounce his kingdom and even his family in his demure. Indeed, according to some versions of their
search for enlightenment. Sasson surmises that story together, she is the one who chose Siddhattha.
Yasodhara is not shocked by Siddhattha’s departure She pulls him into their relationship and gives him an
because they had been together for 13 years, from experience of worldly life – precisely the experience he
the age of 16 when they got married till the age of needed before he could let it all go. And after he leaves
29 when he renounced. Surely she understands him her, she cries with all of her heart. She experiences life
better than anyone else and his inner quest for an in all of its fullness and complexity. And tragedy.
answer to man’s suffering in this world.
And then, when the time is right, she finds a way to
Siddhattha would have shared with Yasodhara the Four free herself too. She represents the full spectrum of the
Sights and even asked her what she thought about human experience and I love her for that. She does not
them. So Yasodhara must have known that it would be hide from any part of her potential. She lives it all.” EH