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Chapter Nine<br />

The Path of Compassion<br />

Siddhartha and Yasodhara’s wedding took place the following autumn. It was an occasion of great joy and celebration for the entire<br />

kingdom. The capital, Kapilavatthu, was decked with flags, lanterns, and flowers, and there was music everywhere. Wherever Siddhartha<br />

and Yasodhara went in their carriage, they were greeted with resounding cheers. They also visited outlying hamlets and villages, bringing<br />

gifts of food and clothing to many poor families.<br />

King Suddhodana supervised the building of three palaces for the young couple, one for each season. The summer palace was built on a<br />

beautiful hillside in the highlands, while the rainy season and winter palaces were in the capital city. Each palace had lotus pools, some for<br />

pale blue lotuses, some for pink, and some for <strong>white</strong>. The couple’s fine garments and slippers, and the fragrant sandalwood they lit every<br />

day, were ordered specially from Varanasi, the capital of the Kasi kingdom to the southwest.<br />

King Suddhodana was at peace, now that Siddhartha had followed the <strong>path</strong> he had wished his son to follow. He personally selected the<br />

finest musicians and dancers in the kingdom to provide continual and pleasant entertainment for his young son and daughter-in-law.<br />

But happiness for Siddhartha and Yasodhara was not to be found in a pampered life of wealth and status. Their happiness came from<br />

opening their hearts and sharing their deepest thoughts with each other. They weren’t moved by exquisite and savory foods or fancy silken<br />

clothes. While they could appreciate the artistry of the dancers and musicians, they were not carried away by the pleasures they offered.<br />

They had their own dreams—to find answers concerning the spiritual quest and the renewal of society.<br />

Siddhartha and Yasodhara’s wedding was an occasion of great joy and celebration for the entire kingdom.

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