Siddhartha

Introduction

Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, lived a very special life that has inspired millions of people all over the world. When Siddhartha was young, he lived in great luxury. His family was very wealthy, and he was protected from seeing anything unpleasant, such as illness, old age, or death. Because of this, he did not understand how hard life could be for many people.

When Siddhartha was 29 years old, he began to think deeply about life and its meaning. He decided to leave his rich and comfortable life behind. He gave up his palace, fine clothes, and easy lifestyle so he could discover the truth about why people suffer and how suffering could be ended.

As he travelled from place to place, Siddhartha met many different people. He saw people who were sick, poor, sad, and in pain. These experiences helped him understand that suffering is a part of life for everyone. He wanted to find a solution that could help all people, not just himself.

Siddhartha then spent many years practising meditation and deep thinking. He lived a very simple life and focused on understanding the big questions of life, such as why people suffer and how they can find peace. After six years of very hard spiritual practice, Siddhartha finally found the answers he was searching for. While meditating under a bodhi tree, he reached enlightenment, which means he fully understood the nature of life and suffering. At this moment, he became known as the Buddha, which means “the Enlightened One.”

After becoming the Buddha, he spent the rest of his life travelling and teaching others. He shared his ideas about how to live a good life and how to free oneself from suffering. He taught with kindness and compassion, welcoming anyone who wanted to learn. These teachings became known as Buddhism. Even today, Buddhism continues to help people find inner peace, wisdom, and understanding.

Siddhartha's early life

Siddhartha was born more than 2,500 years ago in a place called Kapilavastu, which is now part of the country of Nepal. His father was a king, which meant Siddhartha was a prince. Because of this, he lived in a large and beautiful palace.

The palace was filled with beautiful gardens, and there were many servants whose job was to look after him. They made sure he was always comfortable and safe. Siddhartha never had to worry about anything.

He had everything he could possibly want. He ate delicious food every day, wore fine and expensive clothes, and had many toys and things to enjoy. His life was easy and pleasant, and he was protected from any hardship or sadness outside the palace.

The Four Sights

However, even though Siddhartha had a very comfortable life, he began to feel deeply curious about the world outside the palace walls. He started to ask important questions. He wondered why people suffer and what the true meaning of life really is. These thoughts stayed in his mind and would not go away.

Because of this, Siddhartha made a brave and difficult decision. He chose to leave behind his luxurious life in the palace, even though he had wealth, comfort, and safety. He set out on a journey that would completely change his own life and, later on, the lives of many other people around the world.

During his journey, Siddhartha saw four important sights that had a powerful effect on him. These sights made him think deeply about life. The first sight he saw was an old person. Until then, Siddhartha had never seen old age before. He realised that everyone grows old, no matter how rich or powerful they are. This made him understand that life does not last forever and that everything changes.

The second sight was a sick person. When Siddhartha saw someone suffering from illness, he realised that pain and sickness are part of human life. He understood that no one can completely escape suffering, and this made him think even more deeply about how people might find peace despite these hardships.

The third sight Siddhartha saw was a funeral procession. He watched as people carried a dead body, and this was something he had never seen before. This moment shocked him and made him feel very thoughtful.

From this sight, Siddhartha realised that death is unavoidable. He understood that every living person will die one day, no matter who they are or how they live. This made him think deeply about the shortness of life and increased his desire to find answers about suffering, death, and the meaning of life.

Finally, Siddhartha saw a wandering ascetic. An ascetic is a person who gives up worldly possessions, such as money, comfort, and luxury, in order to focus on spiritual growth. The ascetic looked calm and peaceful, even though he owned very little.

This sight inspired Siddhartha deeply. It showed him that happiness might not come from wealth, fine clothes, or a comfortable life. Instead, true happiness could come from understanding life more deeply and finding inner peace. Siddhartha began to believe that there was a higher purpose in life beyond material wealth and comfort.

Together, these four sights changed Siddhartha forever. They made him realise that old age, sickness, and death affect everyone, and that a spiritual path might offer answers to these problems. Because of this, Siddhartha decided to renounce his worldly life. He gave up his palace, his riches, and his royal future so he could search for enlightenment and discover the truth about life and suffering.

Siddhartha’s ascetic life

Siddhartha decided to join a group of ascetics, who were holy people living a very simple and disciplined life. Ascetics often give up comforts and pleasures to focus on understanding life and seeking spiritual growth.

He left behind his palace, his clothes, and his rich food, and began living in forests. There, Siddhartha wore only simple robes and ate very little, sometimes going without food for long periods. His life became one of strict self-discipline, focusing on meditation, reflection, and trying to understand the causes of human suffering.

Even though this life was very hard, Siddhartha hoped it would help him discover the truth about life and lead him to enlightenment.

Siddhartha believed that giving up all worldly pleasures - like rich food, fine clothes, and comfort - would help him reach enlightenment and find a way to end suffering. He thought that by living an extremely simple and strict life, he could understand the truth about life and achieve complete peace.

However, after living this way for a long time, Siddhartha began to realise that extreme asceticism - pushing the body too far and denying it basic needs - was not helping him find the answers he was looking for. Instead, it made him weak and very frail. His body became so thin and tired that he could barely stand or think clearly.

Through this, Siddhartha understood an important lesson: starving or harming oneself does not lead to enlightenment. True understanding and inner peace could not be achieved by extreme suffering of the body alone.

Achieving enlightenment

After trying many different spiritual practices and ways of seeking answers, Siddhartha made an important decision. He chose to meditate under a sacred tree called the Bodhi tree. This tree became a special place for him because he believed that sitting there might help him understand the truth about life and find a way to end suffering for himself and others.

Siddhartha sat down in a cross-legged position, which helped him stay still and focused. He closed his eyes and began to concentrate deeply. He focused on his breathing, feeling each breath as it came in and went out. At the same time, he looked inward, carefully observing his thoughts and feelings. He did not allow himself to be distracted by anything around him.

He was determined and patient, knowing that only through deep concentration and understanding could he hope to find answers to life’s biggest questions: why people suffer, why life is full of change, and how suffering could truly end.

For many days and nights, Siddhartha meditated deeply under the Bodhi tree. He faced many temptations and distractions but stayed focused and calm. Finally, on a full moon night, he reached enlightenment. He gained a deep understanding of suffering and discovered the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which became the foundation of Buddhism and guide people toward wisdom and inner peace.

This life-changing experience under the Bodhi tree was a turning point for Siddhartha. He became the awakened one, the Buddha, and spent the rest of his life teaching others how to find inner peace, wisdom, and happiness through the path he had discovered.

After Siddhartha’s death

After the Buddha passed away, a special community called the Sangha was formed. The Sangha was made up of monks and nuns who dedicated their lives to following the Buddha’s teachings. They lived together, supporting one another on their spiritual journeys.

The Buddha’s closest disciples took responsibility for keeping his teachings safe and passing them on to future generations. They travelled to many places, sharing the Buddha’s message of peace, compassion, and wisdom.

Even today, the Sangha still exists. Monks and nuns live together in monasteries and communities, following the path shown by the Buddha and offering guidance and teachings to anyone who wants to learn.