The World-Altering Birth of the Buddha*

Over 2500 years ago,

In Kapilavatthu, not very far

From the Himalayas, Queen Māyā

Dreamed something that she found bizarre:

 

Clothed in flowers, she was paid

A visit by an elephant--lily white--

Bearing in its trunk a pure white lotus

That softly glowed in the moonlit night.

 

After circling her three times,

The elephant, such as she'd never seen,

Tapped her thrice on her right side

And then vanished inside the queen.

 

She shared her dream with King Śuddhodana,

Who summoned the Brahmins immediately

To hear the details of the queen's strange dream

And explain to him what the meaning might be.

 

"The queen will have a son," they said,

"And he will become one of two things:

A conqueror or a holy man.

We shall see what the future brings."

 

When the time of birth drew near,

The queen longed to visit the place

Where she'd grown up. Her caring midwife

Accompanied her just in case.

 

As they approached Lumbini Grove,

Her entourage smelled the scent

Of gardens of spices and blossoming trees

That formed a protective, natural tent.

 

The queen entered the grove and there

Between the blossoming sala trees

Gave birth to her son, Prince Siddhārtha,

While blossoms rained down in the gentle breeze.

 

According to some accounts, on that day

The ground shook and the trees swayed.

Joyous sounds filled the air

As soothing celestial music played.

 

As sweet tea fell from the clouds above,

The infant took seven steps and proclaimed:

"I alone am the World-Honored One"--

A title that he was later named.

 

Back to Kapilavatthu they traveled.

A few days later, Queen Māyā died.

Her sister, Pajāpatī, became

The prince's mother and the king's new bride.

 

Thus goes a wondrous version

Of a narrative that finds great worth

By beautifully combining legends

And written accounts of the Buddha's birth.

 

Fact and myth are interwoven

In many great figures from our past.

But true meaning transcends the records

And points to deeper truths that last.

 

-by Bob B (4-5-18)

*On April 8, many Buddhists around the world

celebrate the birth of the historic Buddha. This

was written to honor the occasion.