The Great Departure There are some disputes regarding the great departure of Buddha The reason described in the article is about a dead person a sick and an old man This view is described but not properly referenced in the article Another and more justifiable reason is given in the book The Buddha and His Dhamma by Dr Ambedkar He writes in its prolouge The first problem relates to the main event in the life of the Buddha namely Parivraja Why did the Buddha take Parivraja The traditional answer is that he took Parivraja because he saw a dead person a sick person and an old person This answer is absurd on the face of it The Buddha took Parivraja at the age of 29 If he took Parivraja as a result of these three sights how is it he did not see these three sights earlier These are common events occurring by hundreds and the Buddha could not have failed to come across them earlier It is impossible to accept the traditional explanation that this was the first time he saw them The explanation is not plausible and does not appeal to reason But if this is not the answer to the question what is the real answer He gives the real answer in the first part of the book From Birth to Parivajra This should be taken in account and must be included in the article