Siddhārtha’s Diary Entry

Using the information below and research of your own, write a diary entry outlining Siddhārtha’s
potential feelings and emotions during his experiences whilst attempting to reach enlightenment.

One night, Buddha’s mother dreamed that a white elephant descended from heaven and
entered her womb. The white elephant entering her womb illustrated that on that
very night she had conceived a child who was a pure and powerful being.

Buddha was born as a royal prince in 563 or 480 BCE in a place called Lumbini, in what is now
Nepal. He was named Siddhārtha Gautama. Siddhārtha led a privileged life where his family and
servants protected him from the sufferings of life; sufferings such as sickness, age and death.

One day, Siddhārtha decided there must be more to life than what he had experienced.

Siddhārtha then left the palace for the first time and saw four sights.

He saw an old man, a sick man, a dying man and a holy man.

Siddhārtha’s journey taught him that there was more

to the world than what he seen and experienced.

He began his search for answers, and began a life of self-denial.

Siddartha denied himself of the luxuries of life and for a period of his life lived on one
grain of rice a day. However, this did not bring him any answers to his questions.

Siddartha then concluded that the Middle Way would bring enlightenment and wisdom as his
life of luxury in the palace and extreme self-denial on his journey failed to bring wisdom.

With this newfound realisation, Siddartha sat beneath a

Bodhi tree, a tree of enlightenment and meditated.

He finally achieved enlightenment.

And is now referred to as the Buddha.

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