When Buddha Woke Up... Poem by Ramesh Iyengar

When Buddha woke up….
As bats, owls screeched in banyan trees,
Right inside the palace, a young man woke up…
To his right, his wife and children asleep.
Thought the young man ‘ Why should mankind suffer? '
With disease, old age, death…endless sufferings..?
Who has solution? And who'll save sick mankind?
Left the rich palace, his wife, children, riches and all.
Walked away far, this man, found a peepul tree,
Sat under it. Closed his eyes to meditate
to find medicine for mankind's diseases.
Till one day, light dawned upon him. Wisdom came.
Thus, mankind saved.
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