[BlueSky]

Originally Posted by AlwaysDayAfterYesterday

I got to the last episode last night. Very enjoyable, although the show has a few problems with the actual story. There were several contradictions in the movie regarding his own words about religion and enlightenment. Even though it had a few problems, it was basically done very well. I have always had one problem with the life of the Buddha. It's the single defining factor in all enlightenment. His desire from the foundation was for himself, denying his own duty to family and son. He wanted peace for his own mind, yet denied his duties toward the very purpose of suffering. At the end of the mystery of mind, a person must become selfless, serving others with the strength of wisdom gained. Of course, he did this, yet still missed the mark of the primary means to this end--family.

Suffering cannot be removed apart from realization of the purpose of suffering. This is the single fault of any human being. Of course, much of what we now know about this was gained by the sacrifices of his own family for mankind. There is no paradox in his destiny, but the one part of the story every must eventually realize. Suffering brings joy. For every joy, there is a price to pay. I wrote about this here: The Fault in Buddha

Flipping suffering to a cause, rather than a result, is the key to joy. Suffer on purpose.

I also always was turned off by the walking away from family but this series actually helped me to see it thru different eyes. For one it was accepted back then but what got me mostly is he said that they had been married 7 times in 7 lifetimes where this was the last. He also said to Gopa that he has walked this path to this point for ages and ages. It was his destiny.