Page "Lord of Light" Paragraph 14

# The Buddha appears, preaching a philosophy of non-violence that undermines the doctrine of obedience to the gods and the struggle for a better rebirth.

Instead, he emphasizes the pursuit of Nirvana and release from the illusion of the world.

The goddess Kali, realizing that this is Sam's work, sends her personal executioner, Rild, to kill Sam, but Rild falls ill and is found and tended to by the Buddhist acolytes, as well as by Sam himself.

Because he owes Sam his life, Rild renounces his mission after he recovers.

He becomes one of Sam's disciples, eventually exceeding his teacher's wisdom.

He takes the name Sugata, preaching in earnest what Sam had done only calculatingly as a way to overthrow the gods.

Yama descends to kill Sam.

Sugata / Rild faces Yama on a treetrunk bridge over a river, knowing he cannot defeat the God of Death, but fighting him anyway.

Yama kills Rild and proceeds to find Sam.

However, Sam tricks Yama and escapes, promising to return with " new weapons.

" Sam also warns Yama against the machinations of Yama's beloved Kali, and in so doing makes a personal enemy of Yama.