Chapter 01 [Short Notes]

PRINCE SIDDHARTHA, THE ASPIRANT BUDDHA, WHO OVERCAME

ALL CHALLENGES

1. The Supreme Buddha, the greatest Spiritual Leader ever appeared in the world. His
birth was miraculous as well as the life was full of challenges.
2. The Bodhisatva considered the five great observations (Panca Maha Vilokana / Pas
Maha Balum) when he was in the Thusitha heaven, before he was reborn in the human
world.
3. The Five Great Observations (Panca Maha Vilokana) :
(a) Kalaya - The suitable time - 623 B.C.
(b) Deepaya - The suitable country - The present Nepal
(c) Deshaya - The suitable region - Jambudveepaya / Dambadiva
(d) Kulaya - The suitable caste - Shakya Clan
(e) Mava - The suitable mother - Queen Mahamaya

4. Prince Siddhartha was born on a Vesak Full Moon Poya day at Lumbini Sal Park.
5. Bodhisatta's walking immediately after the birth, blossoming of seven lotuses to accept
his steps and utterance of a stanza, were miraculous events which never been
associated with anyone else's birth.
6. King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya were the parents of Prince Siddhartha.
7. He completed his education successfully under Brahmin Sarva Mitra.
8. The Prince Siddhartha was not proud of his wealth and attended to his activities
portraying as to how a young person would overcome challenges
9. Prince Siddhartha married Princess Yashodhara (Baddakacchana), the daughter of King
Suprabuddha) at the age of 16.
10. King Suddhodana’s sole dream was to make his son a Universal Monarch (Sakvithi
King).
11. King Suddhodana built three palaces named Ramya, Suramya and Subha for his son and
provided a life full of luxury, in order to keep him attached to the Royal life.

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12. The mother of Bodhisatta passed away seven days after his birth.
13. Prince Siddhartha’s main intention was to discover the truth / the reality of life and
attain Enlightenment (Nibbana).
14. Prince Siddhartha happened to witness the four pre-indications (Satara Pera Nimiti),
when he went out of the palace :
1. An old man
2. A sick man
3. A dead body (A corpse)
4. A monk

15. He was pacified with the presence of an enrobed monk with a calm demeanour walking
along.
16. While contemplating the calm personality of the monk, the Bodhisatta heard the news
from a messenger who arrived from the palace that queen Yasodara had given birth
to a son.
17. On his way back to the palace, he heard about the birth of his baby son, he uttered “Rahulo
jato Bandanan jatam” (which means “An obstacle is born; another bond has arisen.”)
Therefore the new born baby was named Rahula.
18. On his way back to the palace, Prince Siddhartha could hear the ‘Nibbuta pada’ (a verse
of appreciation over the calm and serene apppearance of Prince Siddhartha) uttered by
Kisa Gotami.
• Stanza :
Nibbuta nuna sa mata
Nibbuta nuna so pita
Nibbuta nuna sa nari
Yassayam idi so pati
• Meaning :
Appesed is the mother, of an appeased son like this.
Appeased is the father, of an appeased son like this.
Appeased is the wife,
of an appeased husband like this.

19. The Prince who was pleased by hearing the word ‘Nibbuta’ (Appeasement), presented
His precious necklace as a token of thanks to Kisa Gotami.

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20. Prince Siddhartha renounced the palace on an Esala full moon Poya day at the age of 29.
It is known as the Great Renunciation (Maha Abhinishkramanaya).
21. He reached the bank of river Anoma with Channa and His white horse Kanthaka and
became a recluse. Thereafter He was known as ‘Ascetic Gautama.’
22. He studied under the guidance of the spiritual teachers named
• Bharghava,
• Alara Kalama
• Uddaka Ramaputta

23. Ascetic Gautama realized that their teachings cannot lead him towards the liberation
from all sufferings and left those teachers.
24. He started practising torturing his body (Self mortification/ living a life of austerity) and
experimented on that extreme path for six years.
25. Finally, Ascetic Gautama followed the Middle Path (The Noble Eightfold Path) and
attained the Supreme Enlightenment on a Vesak Full moon Poya day at the age of 35 at
the bank of river Neranjana at Uruvwela.
26. The life of the Bodhisatva was full of challenges, but he was able to overcome those
challenges successfully, through his patience, commitment and determination.
27. The Buddha was able to enlighten so many people, by preaching the Noble Dhamma and
made them all free from the sufferings in Samsara.
• Gatha
Ārabhatha nikknamatha - yunjetha Buddha Sāsane
Dhunatha maccuno senaṃ - nalagarancha kunjaro.
• Meaning
Start, proceed and get engaged in Buddha Sasana, defeat the 'Mara crowd as
an elephant entered the forest of reeds