Buddha

(c. 600 BCE – c.300 BCE)

Siddhartha Buddha was born a prince in Lumbini, Nepal, at the foot of Mount Palpa in the Himalayan. He
died at age 80. His father was Suddhodana, king of the Sakhyas. Because his mother, Maya, died seven
days after his birth, he was raised by his foster mother, Maya’s sister Mahaprajapati.
Upon his birth, astrologers predicted that upon achieving manhood, Siddhartha would become either a
universal monarch, or would abandon all earthly comforts to become a monk and a Buddha, a perfectly
enlightened soul who would then assist all mankind to achieve enlightenment. His father, who desired his
son to become a universal monarch, asked the astrologers what his son would see that might cause him to
retire from the world. They replied: “A decrepit old man, a diseased man, a dead man and a monk.
Doing his best to prevent his son from being a monk, Suddhodana raised him in luxury and indulgence and
sought to keep him attached to sensual pleasure. Guards were posted to assure that Siddhartha did not make
contact with four men described by the astrologers. He placed his son in a magnificent walled estate with
gardens, fountains, palaces, music, dancing and beautiful women, Siddhartha married Yasodhara at age 16,
who subsequently gave birth to their son, Rahula. Through these early years of his life, he knew nothing of
the sufferings that were taking place outside his enclosure.
Then one day, desiring to see how the people in his town were living, he managed to get out of his walled
enclosure accompanied by his servant, Channa. He came upon a decrepit old man, a sick man, and a corpse
and he was shocked! Seeing their mortality, he realized that he also would one day become prey to old age,
disease and death. He then met a monk who impressed him with his serenity and beauty. It was at this time
that Siddhartha decided to renounce the material world with its luxuries and comforts, as well as suffering
and pain, and take up a monastic life, realizing that “Worldly happiness is transitory.”
Siddhartha left his home forever, donning yellow robes and shaving his head, to take up Yogic practices.
Seeking instruction from several hermit teachers who lived in caves in the neighbouring hills, he practiced
severe Tapas (austerities) and Pranayama (breath control) for six years, during which time he almost starved
to death and became exceedingly weak. At this point he decided to give up the extreme life he had been
living, eat food in moderation, and take to the “middle path.”
Given food by a young woman, he sought a comfortable place to sit and eat it. He found a large tree, now
known as the great Bo-tree, or Tree of Wisdom. Upon consuming the physical food, he realized that he was
starved for spiritual nourishment. Going deep into meditation, he contemplated his journey with its
temptations and desires but did not yield to them.
Thus at age 35, Siddhartha was a Boddhisatva (one who has achieved enlightenment but chooses to remain
in this world who help those who are suffering). He expressed the experience of his Samadhi (state of
consciousness in which Absoluteness is experienced attended with all-knowledge and joy; Oneness).
“The Buddha” (enlightened one) left his wondrous Bo-tree behind, venturing out into the world to teach
others who were seeking Wisdom and Enlightenment. The subsequent teachings of The Buddha are the
foundation of Buddhism.

“Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment.”