Gautam Buddha was born in 563 BC in Lumbini Village of Nepal, and his real name was Siddharth, which his family kept. His father’s name was King Suddhodana, and His mother’s name was Maya Devi.
His mother died after seven days when he was born. He was brought up by His aunt, Mahaprajapati Gautami. His Birth was celebrated with a huge celebration, like a festival, because a sage said. He will become either the great emperor or maybe a great Monk.
After listening to it, the king Suddhodana decided that he would provide his son with all the happiness and luxury so that he would not have to see the outside world ever. He was scared that his son would become a monk, as the sage had said.
He didn’t want to lose his son. So He gave him every luxury his son asked for, like a luxurious palace, imported clothes, entertainment, etc, so that He doesn’t have to deal with sadness.
He got married to Princess Yashodhara at the age of 16, and after some years of a happy married life, they were blessed with a son named Rahul. His life was the most perfect. After some time, he started to feel that something was missing from his life. Siddharth was feeling a kind of emptiness in his life. He wanted to understand the true meaning
Siddharth’s Realisation About Life
One day, Siddharth finally went out of the palace and decided to visit his village, as he wanted to know why people suffer, and for the first time in his life, he saw four things that changed his life forever.
- The Old Man- he saw an old man first with a bent back who was looking extremely weak. Siddharth gets shock after he sees that, because he had never seen old age before.
- The Sick Man- Then he saw a sick man who was suffering from a terrible disease, which disturbed him very much.
- The Dead Body- thirdly, he saw some people carrying a dead body for cremation, and this is where he knew that death is the final stage of life.
- The Monk- then at last, he saw a peaceful monk who had left everything behind but was still living with calmness and fulfilment.
These four sites made him realise that nothing in life is permanent, neither happiness nor life.
His Journey Of Becoming Gautam Buddha
After Siddharth’s realisation about life, he started to feel restless. All his luxuries felt like a cage to him, and he started to feel like life was calling him to greater purposes. Days passed, but his restlessness didn’t fade; it felt deeper with the time passing.
But then, one night when everyone was sleeping, he decided to leave everything behind, as he wanted to know more about what life actually is. He left his sleeping child and wife behind and went away from the palace to the forest. He removed his royal things, and that’s when his journey as a seeker began.
Siddharth went from one place to another in search of life. He was living on very little food, wearing simple clothes, and sleeping under trees. Siddharth studied under many teachers of meditation and philosophy, who taught him many teachings, but still, something was amiss.
He then joined the five wise people who believed that suffering would lead to spiritual awakening. Siddharth then reduced his food intake, but it led him to extreme weakness, and that’s when he realised that “Self-torture cannot lead to self-awareness. Pain is not the answer.” he then decides not to suffer much and keep balance in everything.
Meditation And Enlightenment Of Gautam Buddha
Siddharth sat under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya in a meditative posture and vowed not to rise from that place until he found the truth behind life. All day, he sat in meditation; all the illusions tried to distract him, but he remained calm and still.
The next day, Siddharth’s mind began to clear, and all his illusions faded. He finally saw the world with clarity; he finally got to know the meaning of birth, death, and suffering, etc. Siddharth finally found the answer to all his questions.
He finally understood the cause of suffering and the path to freedom; he understood everything. At that moment, he was not Siddhath. He became Buddha, the enlightened one.
After the enlightenment, he decided that he wouldn’t just keep his knowledge to himself. Siddharth decided to share it with the world, and after that day. He shared his wisdom with the world for 45 years and helped people to know about life.
Conclusion
Gautam Buddha gave us life lessons that teach us that true wisdom and knowledge do not come from power or wealth. They come from understanding the world around us and ourselves. His journey from a Prince to a Monk shows that anyone can gain the balance of life and wisdom, no matter where they are from.
Buddha’s teachings still guide millions of people. He shows that suffering is a part of life, but through mindful living. We can rise above it and experience the inner stillness, peace, and freedom. His message is to be kind, be aware, and seek the truth within yourself.
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