Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

“Yes,” said Bhagavan, “when he was in the palace with
all possible luxuries in the world, he was still sad. To remove
his sadness, his father created more luxuries than ever. But
none of them satisfied the Buddha. At midnight he left his
wife and child and disappeared. He remained in great
austerity for six years, realized the Self, and, for the welfare
of the world, became a mendicant (bhikshu). It was only after
he became a mendicant that he enjoyed great bliss. Really,
what more did he require?”
“In the garb of a mendicant he came to his own city,
did he not?” asked a devotee.

“Yes, yes,” said Bhagavan. “Having heard that he was
coming, his father, Suddhodana, decorated the royal elephant
and went out with his whole army to receive him on the main
road. But without touching the main road, the Buddha came
by side roads and by-lanes; he sent his close associates to the
various streets for alms, while he himself in the guise of a
mendicant went by another way to his father. How could the
father know that his son was coming in that guise! Yasodhara
(the Buddha’s wife), however, recognized him, made her son
prostrate before his father and herself prostrated. After that,
the father recognized the Buddha. Suddhodana, however, had
never expected to see his son in such a state and was very
angry and shouted, ‘Shame on you! What is this garb? Does
one who should have the greatest of riches come like this?
I’ve had enough of it!’ And with that, he looked furiously at
the Buddha. Regretting that his father had not yet got rid of
his ignorance, the Buddha too, began to look at his father
with even greater intensity. In this war of looks, the father was
defeated. He fell at the feet of his son and himself became a
mendicant. Only a man with non-attachment can know the
power of non-attachment,” said Bhagavan, his voice quivering
with emotion.