I. Prologue
¡§Homage to the Triple Gem¡¨; music by Joseph Abella; lyrics based on
poetry by Ven. Master Hsing Yun
The people pay homage to the great Buddha through a solemn song.
 II. India
¡§This King Needs a Son¡¨; music & lyrics by Jude Gitamondoc
The caste system1 of India is presented through specific song and dance.
The Brahmins, royalty, workers and slaves all live in harmony under the
rule of King Suddhodana and his wife, Queen Maya. Unable to bear a child
to inherit the kingdom, the people of Kapilavatthu beseech the king to
give them an heir to the throne.
III. The Queen's Dream
¡§Heaven is in Our Hearts¡¨; music by Jude Gitamondoc; lyrics based on
poetry by Ven. Master Hsing Yun
 An interpretative dance is presented to depict Queen Maya's dream of
a white elephant, representing the birth of Siddhartha and her own
death. This introduces the cyclical concept of life and death that was
prevalent in the Indian psyche at that time.
At the end of the dream, children fill the stage to sing a song of hope
to the world. Change starts within. Only when everyone attains his/her
own emancipation can a new and peaceful world be created.
 IV. The Birth of Siddhartha
¡§My Son is Not My Own¡¨; music & lyrics by Jude Gitamondoc
Queen Maya gives birth to Siddhartha. She sings a prophetic song that
refers to Siddhartha's mission to the world. King Suddhodana does not
understand. At the end of the song, Queen Maya dies.
V. The Prophecy of Assita
The sage Assita prophesies that the child Siddhartha will become a monk;
and later, the Enlightened One. King Suddhodana rejects the prophecy and
vows that his son will one day be king. He decrees that Siddhartha shall
never see suffering, sickness and death. The prince shall only see
beauty and happiness, and his life will revolve within the pleasures and
comfort within the palace walls.
VI. Siddhartha Becomes a Man
¡§Siddhartha¡¨; music & lyrics by Jude Gitamondoc
¡§Vow to Be¡¨; music by Alfeuso Esposite; lyrics based on poetry by Ven.
Master Hsing Yun
 Siddhartha grows to become a handsome prince, adored and worshipped by
his people. News of his marriage to Princess Yasodhara spread like
wildfire all over the kingdom. The scene climaxes in a grand wedding
celebration. Something inside the prince's heart bothers him. Despite
the richness and pleasures within the palace, Siddhartha longed to
discover the world outside the palace walls.
VII. Siddhartha Sees the World
¡§The Four Special Signs¡¨; music & lyrics by Jude Gitamondoc
King Suddhodana orders the kingdom to be cleaned and decorated before
Siddhartha is allowed to leave the confines of the palace. While
exploring the grounds outside the palace, Siddhartha finally sees the
realities of life: old age, sickness and death. He is distraught to
learn that no one can escape these sufferings.
Siddhartha encounters a lone monk who seems quiet and peaceful. He
learns that the monk left his home and riches behind to find the truth
to overcome world suffering. Soon enough, Siddhartha resolves to find
the answer and achieve enlightenment. He decides to run away to become a
monk.
VIII. Siddhartha and the Ascetics2
¡§Longing¡¨; music & lyrics by Jude Gitamondoc
 Siddhartha comes to the forest of the Ascetics and lives among them to
practice asceticism. This is portrayed in a dark, gothic dance number.
Back in the palace, Princess Yasodhara longs for the company of her lost
husband. The scene is juxtaposed with Siddhartha's own longing for
self-actualization.
IX. The Search for Siddhartha
¡§This King Needs a Son¡¨ (reprise) / ¡§I'll Follow You¡¨; music & lyrics
by Jude Gitamondoc
 King Suddhodana sends five attendants to look for his son. In a comical
song, the attendants rummage through every corner of the kingdom to look
for Siddhartha. In desperation, they go into the woods and finally find
Siddhartha, already a practicing ascetic.
They are greatly awed by what they see and follow him for six years.
However, their awe turns to disgust when they see Siddhartha fainting
and giving in to the needs of the flesh by drinking goats' milk offered
by a common shepherd girl. Feeling cheated, they leave Siddhartha.
 X. Siddhartha Finds the Bodhi Tree
¡§Vow to Be¡¨ (reprise)
Siddhartha realizes that asceticism is not the way to enlightenment. He
finds a bodhi tree where he begins his journey to self-actualization.
XI. Papiyan Attacks Siddhartha: The Battle Between Good and Evil
¡§A Prayer¡¨; music by Jude Gitamondoc; lyrics based on poetry by Ven.
Master Hsing Yun
 Papiyan, the Evil One, tempts and attempts to dissuade Siddhartha from
his noble cause. The Celestial Guards come to protect Siddhartha. The
age-old battle between good and evil is portrayed in a creative dance.
This represents the trepidation that must have been going on in the mind
of Siddhartha and the spiritual struggle he underwent to attain
enlightenment. At the height of the scene, Siddhartha enters the state
of Samadhi3. He has now awakened the universal truth and has in fact
become the Buddha. He begins to teach what he has learned and earns the
respect of all humankind.
XII. The Buddha Returns to the Forest of the Ascetics
¡§The Four Noble Truths¡¨; music & lyrics by Jude Gitamondoc
His former ascetic companions are surprised to see Siddhartha fully
emancipated and enlightened as the Buddha. The Buddha teaches them the
right way to enlightenment, the Four Noble Truths and the Noble
Eightfold Path. The ascetics become his first disciples.
 XIII. The Buddha Returns Home
¡§Siddhartha¡¨ (reprise) / ¡§My Son is Not My Own¡¨ (reprise)
The Buddha returns home after being away for several years. The people
of Kapilavatthu flock to the city to greet the Buddha. The prophecy of
Assita is fulfilled when King Suddhodana finally meets his long lost
son.
 XIV. The Buddha Reconciles with Princess Yasodhara
¡§Silently I Recite Amitabha's Name¡¨; music by Joseph Abella; lyrics
based on poetry by Ven. Master Hsing Yun
The Buddha arrives at the imperial palace and meets Princess
Yasodhara. He explains to her that he is no longer the same Siddhartha
that she married. He has transformed into the Enlightened Buddha.
Princess Yasodhara accepts her fate in humility and respects the Buddha
with a solemn song.
XV. The Buddha Instructs His Own People
¡§We are One¡¨; music by Jude Gitamondoc; lyrics based on poetry by Ven.
Master Hsing Yun
The Buddha teaches the Right Way to Enlightenment. We are all in fact
one in our differences. We must forget selfishness and work for the
common good. In the end, the Buddha passes on from this world to
Nirvana.
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