Scene 2

(Gautami is going from door to door.)

GAUTAMI: O Mother, please give me some mustard seeds. My only child has died and the Buddha has told me that if I bring him some mustard seeds he will bring life back to my child.

LADY: Don’t worry. I will bring them to you.

GAUTAMI: O venerable lady, please wait. First tell me, has anybody died in your family?

LADY: When?

GAUTAMI: Any time.

LADY: Just last year I lost my husband.

(She begins to weep.)

GAUTAMI: Then I cannot take your mustard seeds.

(Gautami sheds bitter tears and goes to another house. A man opens the door.)

GAUTAMI: My Lord, please give me a few mustard seeds. I need them badly.

MAN: Certainly, I will give you mustard seeds. I shall get them for you.

GAUTAMI: First, please tell me, has anybody died in your family?

MAN: Ah, just last week I lost my wife, my dearest on earth.

GAUTAMI: Ah, then I cannot take the mustard seeds from you.

(Gautami again sheds bitter tears and goes to another house. A young girl opens the door.)

GAUTAMI: My child, you are so beautiful. Please bring me a few mustard seeds. Please go and ask your mother to give me some mustard seeds.

LITTLE GIRL: I know where my mother keeps mustard seeds. I will bring them for you.

GAUTAMI: Please tell me what your father does?

LITTLE GIRL: My father? (Starts crying.) My father is in Heaven. Just two months ago my father died all of a sudden.

GAUTAMI: My child, I cannot take your mustard seeds.

(Weeping, Gautami goes to another door.)

Sri Chinmoy, Siddhartha becomes the Buddha, Sky Publishers, New York, 1973