Finding Buddha: Who is Siddhartha Gautama?

Siddhartha Gautama was born in 6^th Century BCE in Lumbini, what is now the border of India and Nepal. He was born a prince to King Suddhodana, ruler of the Sakya Tribe. His mother, the queen, died seven days after his birth. There are many legends surrounding the birth, life, and death of Siddhartha Gautama, passed down through the generations-for this reason, his exact life story is difficult to tell.

Shortly after his birth, an oracle predicted Siddhartha would grow to be either a powerful leader, like his father, or a holy man-depending on his experiences beyond the castle walls. King Suddhodana, like any doting father, wanted his son to follow in his footsteps. He vowed he would do whatever it took to prevent Siddhartha from following the path of the holy man. The king kept Siddhartha confined to the palace, spoiling him with treasures and every pleasure his heart could desire, praying he'd never find an excuse to leave. Siddhartha spent his youth studying to become a warrior.

When he turned 16, Siddhartha was presented with a beautiful bride, Princess Yasodhara, and together they had son, Rahula-who later became a Buddhist monk. Siddhartha and his family spent 13 years together in the palace of his father, but Siddhartha had grown tired of his lavish lifestyle. He wanted to see the world beyond the paradise his father had created for him. One night, Siddhartha snuck out of the palace while everyone was sleeping. He shaved his head and exchanged his princely garb for the rags of a poor man. This was the beginning of the spiritual journey that would transform him into the Buddha-and his father, the king, unwittingly planted the seed when he confined Siddhartha to his luxury prison for the whole of his childhood.

Along the road, Siddhartha encountered "The Four Sights," an old man, a diseased man, a rotting corpse, and an ascetic. The Four Sights opened Siddhartha's mind to the truth about suffering and death-a realization that changed him forever. He became an ascetic himself, foregoing all pleasure, sustenance, and desire on a quest to obtain spiritual enlightenment. He came to understand that want creates suffering... but denying oneself all the joys of life didn't resolve the issue- it only caused greater suffering. To become enlightened, and fulfill his life's purpose, he had to find a middle ground.

It was then Siddhartha sat beneath the sacred Bodhi Tree to meditate. He vowed not to rise until he had achieved Nirvana, a state of complete harmony and peace with oneself and one's life. Here, he discovered the Four Nobel Truths and the Eightfold Path to Enlightenment, achieved Nirvana, and finally became the holy man the oracle had predicted he'd become. He spent the remainder of his life teaching his philosophy to his
disciples, traveling all over Northern India. He really made his mark. Today, Buddhism is the world's 4^th most widely practiced and fastest-growing religious faith, with more than 365 million believers worldwide.

Budh means to awaken or understand. To be a Buddhist, one strives to obtain perfect spiritual enlightenment following the path of the Buddha.

Four Nobel Truths

1. Life is suffering

2. Suffering is the result of craving

3. Suffering ends when craving ends

4. This liberated state may be achieved using the Eightfold Path

Or

1. The Truth of suffering

2. The Truth of the cause of suffering

3. The Truth of the end of suffering

4. The Eightfold Path to Enlightenment

The Eightfold Path

1. Right View

2. Right Intention

3. Right Speech

4. Right Action

5. Right Livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Concentration

Right View- See the world as it really is, not as it appears to be.
Right Intention- Your intentions should always be pure.
Right Speech- Say something nice, or don't say anything at all. Don't lie.
Right Action- Always act out of love, never act out of anger or fear.
Right Livelihood- One should earn one's living in a righteous way.
Right Effort- Spend your mental energy where it is required and deserved.
Right Mindfulness- Stop jumping to false conclusions. Think things through.
Right Concentration- Concentrate on the positive instead of the negative.