Teachings Now the Buddha wanted to tell other people how to become wise, good and do service for others. He advised his followers to follow the Middle Way, avoiding the two extremes of self-indulgence and self-torture. H
Early Life
Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama on the foothills of Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, in about 563 BCE. His father, King Shuddhodana was the ruler of the Shakya clan and his mother was Queen Mayadevi. The legends surrounding Buddha suggest that both his conception and birth were miraculous. His mother, Queen Mayadevi, conceived him when she dreamt that a white elephant entered her womb. She gave birth to him in a standing position while holding onto a tree in a garden. The child emerged from Mayadevi's right side, fully formed. He then proceeded to take seven steps and proclaimed, "I am the foremost of all. This is my last birth. I will cross the ocean of existence." 1 Queen Mayadevi died seven days after the birth and Siddhartha was raised by his aunt Mahaprajapati, the King's second wife. It was predicted at his birth that Siddhartha would become either a world ruler or a world teacher. Siddhartha's father felt very strongly about him taking over as ruler. He therefore gave Siddhartha everything he wanted and every luxury he could have. Siddhartha was kept inside and was not permitted to see the elderly, the sickly, the dead, or anyone who had dedicated themselves to spiritual practices. King Shuddhodana was afraid that these things would cause him to become disillusioned with his life at home and cause him to take a spiritual path in life. Only beauty and health surrounded Siddhartha.2 Because Siddhartha was a prince, he was taught the skills of archery, horsemanship, swordplay and martial arts. He was given the staff of beautiful young women to care for him and to look after him. When he was sixteen, he married a princess named Yasodhara. She chose Siddhartha after a number of competitions between princes, which included things such as sports and the singing of love-songs. They then had a son whose name was Rahula. Although Siddhartha lived a life of luxury he was still dissatisfied. He wished to see what lay beyond the place walls. The following is the Buddha's recollection of his youth: "I was delicate, most delicate, supremely delicate. Lotus pools were made for me at my father's house solely for my use; in one blue lotus flowered, in another white, and in another red. I used no sandal wood that was not from Benares. My turban, tunic, lower garments and cloak were all of Benares cloth. A white sunshade was held over me day and night so that I would not be troubled by cold or heat, dust or grit or dew...Yet even while I possessed such fortune and luxury, I thought, 'When an unthinking, ordinary person who is himself subject to aging, sickness, and death, who is not beyond aging, sickness, and death, sees another who is old, sick or dead, he is shocked, disturbed, and disgusted, forgetting his own condition. I too am subject to aging, sickness, and death, not beyond aging, sickness, and death, and that I should see another who is old, sick or dead and be shocked, disturbed, and disgusted---this is not fitting.' As I reflected thus, the conceit of youth, health, and life entirely left me." 3 Upon leaving the palace with a charioteer, he sees an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a holy man. Seeing the first three, he realized that everyone grows old, everyone may face disease and everyone has to die. A deeper analysis of these sights led him to realize that there is no release from suffering. After this critical moment, Siddhartha could now no longer enjoy any of the luxuries which had been set out for him, as he was conscious of the fact that none of these could save him from age, disease, or even death. Then, he saw the fourth sight, the holy man. This last sight led him to decide that he too, could go and "seek after the unborn, unageing, unailing, deathless, sorrow-less, undefiled supreme surceases of bondage, nibbana." 4 He had felt so uneasy about human suffering that he thought by becoming an ascetic he would understand and comprehend everything there is. Eventually, he decided to leave his family behind and live a spiritual life. His charioteer drove him out of his father's city, where he cut off all his hair, took off all his fine clothes and, wearing just a simple robe, set out to a live a spartan life. He was twenty-nine years old.
Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama on the foothills of Lumbini, in what is now Nepal, in about 563 BCE. His father, King Shuddhodana was the ruler of the Shakya clan and his mother was Queen Mayadevi. The legends surrounding Buddha suggest that both his conception and birth were miraculous. His mother, Queen Mayadevi, conceived him when she dreamt that a white elephant entered her womb. She gave birth to him in a standing position while holding onto a tree in a garden. The child emerged from Mayadevi's right side, fully formed. He then proceeded to take seven steps and proclaimed, "I am the foremost of all. This is my last birth. I will cross the ocean of existence." 1 Queen Mayadevi died seven days after the birth and Siddhartha was raised by his aunt Mahaprajapati, the King's second wife. It was predicted at his birth that Siddhartha would become either a world ruler or a world teacher. Siddhartha's father felt very strongly about him taking over as ruler. He therefore gave Siddhartha everything he wanted and every luxury he could have. Siddhartha was kept inside and was not permitted to see the elderly, the sickly, the dead, or anyone who had dedicated themselves to spiritual practices. King Shuddhodana was afraid that these things would cause him to become disillusioned with his life at home and cause him to take a spiritual path in life. Only beauty and health surrounded Siddhartha.2 Because Siddhartha was a prince, he was taught the skills of archery, horsemanship, swordplay and martial arts. He was given the staff of beautiful young women to care for him and to look after him. When he was sixteen, he married a princess named Yasodhara. She chose Siddhartha after a number of competitions between princes, which included things such as sports and the singing of love-songs. They then had a son whose name was Rahula. Although Siddhartha lived a life of luxury he was still dissatisfied. He wished to see what lay beyond the place walls. The following is the Buddha's recollection of his youth: "I was delicate, most delicate, supremely delicate. Lotus pools were made for me at my father's house solely for my use; in one blue lotus flowered, in another white, and in another red. I used no sandal wood that was not from Benares. My turban, tunic, lower garments and cloak were all of Benares cloth. A white sunshade was held over me day and night so that I would not be troubled by cold or heat, dust or grit or dew...Yet even while I possessed such fortune and luxury, I thought, 'When an unthinking, ordinary person who is himself subject to aging, sickness, and death, who is not beyond aging, sickness, and death, sees another who is old, sick or dead, he is shocked, disturbed, and disgusted, forgetting his own condition. I too am subject to aging, sickness, and death, not beyond aging, sickness, and death, and that I should see another who is old, sick or dead and be shocked, disturbed, and disgusted---this is not fitting.' As I reflected thus, the conceit of youth, health, and life entirely left me." 3 Upon leaving the palace with a charioteer, he sees an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a holy man. Seeing the first three, he realized that everyone grows old, everyone may face disease and everyone has to die. A deeper analysis of these sights led him to realize that there is no release from suffering. After this critical moment, Siddhartha could now no longer enjoy any of the luxuries which had been set out for him, as he was conscious of the fact that none of these could save him from age, disease, or even death. Then, he saw the fourth sight, the holy man. This last sight led him to decide that he too, could go and "seek after the unborn, unageing, unailing, deathless, sorrow-less, undefiled supreme surceases of bondage, nibbana." 4 He had felt so uneasy about human suffering that he thought by becoming an ascetic he would understand and comprehend everything there is. Eventually, he decided to leave his family behind and live a spiritual life. His charioteer drove him out of his father's city, where he cut off all his hair, took off all his fine clothes and, wearing just a simple robe, set out to a live a spartan life. He was twenty-nine years old.
