FATHER FOR A BUDDHA: THE STORY OF KING SUDDHODANA

By Mr Ajantha Seneviratne

King Suddhodana, the loving father of Lord Buddha, is a prominent figure in the history
of the Buddhist order. He is a character who went through many setbacks and traumas in his
life because of his overflowing love for his son. He was able to finally discover the reality of life,
right through all such challenges. This novel beautifully portrays King Suddhodana's character,
utilizing the faculties of meaningful imagination. And "grace of expression" is manifest in many
instances as the story gradually climaxes. As an excellent work of literature, it deals with a
theme of permanent and universal interest since the story is webbed around one of the
greatest personalities in the history of mankind.

The main challenge in recreating King Suddhodana's life story into a novel is the rarity of
life-related facts about him, other than the stories usually heard within the life story of Buddha.
The book has overcome those challenges by carefully selecting and arranging the available facts
in proper order and has beautifully reconstructed them into a narrative of rare distinction. The
novel transforms the character of Suddhodana from a mundane position culminating step by
step into a higher level of spiritual attainment in a fascinating manner. The ultimate outcome is
a historical personality immortalized in literature.

King Suddhodana was considered eighty-five years old at the time of his death. That was
five years after the Supreme Buddha's Enlightenment. Therefore, it is important to remember
that the king was approximately eighty years old at the time of Prince Siddhartha's
enlightenment. He was seventy-four years old at the time of the Great Renunciation, and forty-
five years old at the time of Prince Siddhartha's birth. These are all valuable information in
understanding the contextual behaviour of King Suddhodana.

How sensitive a father is in his affection for his son is evident only when you delve into
his life. Unfortunately, not enough has been written about it. The life story of the great King
Suddhodana, which stands as a symbol of a father's love for his son, gives such an
interpretation.

"Of course, at first, I wanted to make you a universal king... It was a sentiment that
emerged from my ego. And a sentiment that arose in thinking about the dynasty... Forgive me...
Today, you are a greater person than that. The number of people who have found happiness
through your Dhamma is immeasurable. I'm now a victim of both aging and sickness, which I
tried to hide from you in your childhood. I'll die soon... Even in your household days, you told
me that there is no escape for people from this truth. I did not accept them then. Now, I realize
very well that for the cessation of Samsaric suffering, the path of Nirvana must be followed."

Near his death, this confession made by King Suddhodana is like a mirror reflecting how
his life was transformed by his love for his son, the Buddha.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9553129447
• ISBN13: 9789553129444
• Release Date: September 2023
• Publisher: Sarasavi Publishers
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.62 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.5" x 8.5"