Enlightenment

Gautama went down to the well, as he did every morning. Today would be different. He had lost his firstborn to the plague. Today, Gautama would throw himself into the well, and end the pain in his heart. Forever.

There, by the well, was an old man, covered with sores. The sockets where his eyes had been seemed to smile at the rising sun. And he was dancing. Dancing! Gautama shouted at him, "You diseased fool! Why dance when your whole existance is suffering?"

The old man smiled, revealing his remaining rotten teeth. "Life is suffering! And I dance because I can! Find joy in each moment!"

And so that day, Gautama smiled for the first time since the loss of his firstborn, and found enlightenment. And for the rest of his life, he worked to end the suffering of others.

And the first soul he helped was the old man, ending his pain by pushing him down the well.

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