The earliest Buddhist sources state that the future Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama, the son of a local king in Kapilavastu on what is now the Indian-Nepalese border around the fifth century BC. In her dream, his mother saw a huge white elephant come into the room, carrying a lotus flower.
The Queen gave birth to the Buddha in a lovely garden called Lumbini.
All the trees were in flower and a gentle breeze sang to the music of the birds and the animals of this lovely forest garden. The bees hummed as they flew gathering honey. It was as if all nature was happy about the birth of this Prince
The sage Asita came to see the baby and predicted that the baby will be a Buddha one day. This Fully Enlightened One, who would teach the whole world how to find true happiness and relief from sorrow.
Seven days after the birth of the Prince, Queen Maha Maya died. One day, his father took him to the festival. But the Prince did not enjoy the festivities. He sat and meditated, concentrating on his breath. They found him in a deep trance. His father was puzzled and worried.
Siddhartha was very kind to animals. He saved the life of a bird that had been shot by his cousin who responded with anger. Wise men settled the matter: a life belongs to the one who saves it and not the one who tries to destroy it. Siddhartha's compassion disturbed the King so much that he isolated his son from the outside world.
The King ordered that only the happy and beautiful aspects of life should surround the Prince. Old and sick people were kept out of his sight. Death was not mentioned. Young attendants served him. Dancing girls and musicians entertained him. The Prince became a young man of great strength, beauty and master of many skills.
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Siddhartha married his cousin Yasodhara. This made the King very happy. They lived in great splendour in a new palace surrounded by everything delightful and pleasant. But within all the luxuries, the Prince was bored and restless. One day, he summoned the royal charioteer, Channa, to take him for a drive on the outskirts of the palace.
Driving through the streets the Prince saw a hunched-up old man. He stopped and asked. Channa replied: "That is an old man." "Does everyone get old, Channa? Will my beautiful Yasodhara get old, and you, yourself? Will I get old, too?" Then he saw a sick man. Then he saw a funeral procession. Siddhartha was greatly disturbed by what he had seen.
Channa explained that death is common to all that are born. "Yes, even you and your Princess, Yasodhara, must die one day." Channa said. Later they saw a Sage; one who had given up home and family to find a way to end suffering. Siddhartha had now seen the four Special signs, which would change his life as predicted by the Sages and wise men at his birth.
The King was deeply troubled by his son's thoughts. But then Princess Yasodhara gave birth to a son. A great feast was held with musicians and dancers. But the Prince did not enjoy himself. He fell asleep. When he woke up, everybody around him was fast asleep, snoring and grinding their teeth.
He asked Channa to saddle his favorite horse, Kanthaka. Then he went to see Yasodhara. She was fast asleep embracing the baby in her arms. Siddhartha was only twenty-nine years old. With a heavy heart but with a strong determination, he tore himself away from them and rode out of the palace gates with Channa. When they reached the river, Neranjara, he dismounted, cut off his hair and took off all his princely clothes and jewelry.
Siddhartha dressed like a beggar and walked alone & homeless: Gotama, in search of the Truth. He found famous teachers: "Can you teach me how to escape from death, illness and old age?" "No one in the world knows that." they answered. Together with five companions he practices self-control, refusing food and rest. The ascetic Gotama became so weak that one day he collapsed. A kind shepherd saved him from certain death.
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Now Gotama understood that a life of mortification was as useless as his earlier life of luxury has been. He therefore decided to follow a course between these two extremes – "The Middle Path". He was determined to see the Truth alone, unaided by teachers and companions. His five companions left him in dissapointment. He sat under a Banyan tree and a beautiful woman offered him a bowl of rice.
He resolved not to move until he achieved Full Enlightenment and so he sat in this meditation posture under the shady tree. Thoughts and temptations tried to discract him. His mind became pure and clear and he emerged as the Fully Enlightened One, the Buddha. His search had lasted six years. He was thirty-five years. For a week, following Enlightenment, he sat enjoying the state of perfect happiness that he had achieved.
Eventually he decided to take on the difficult task of teaching the Truth (Dhamma) that he had discovered. His former companions were resolved to ignore him. But much had changed and they were taken by his radiance. That full mooned evening the Buddha gave his First Sermon: "Monks, a recluse should avoid the two extremes. The Middle Way, as I understand and practice it, gives vision and knowledge and leads to Enlightenment."
The Buddha then explained to them the Four Noble Truths, which form the basis of his teaching. 1. Suffering exists. 2. Suffering arises from attachment to desires.
3. Suffering ceases when attachment to desire ceases. 4. Freedom from suffering is possible by practising the Eightfold Path.
The Buddha said, "Go forth, Monks. Teach this Dhamma which is excellent in the beginning, in the middle and at the end. There are some who have only a little 'dust' in their eyes; they will understand." The Buddha himself walked from village to village. One day the Buddha saw a lame deer that belonged to a King. The Buddha carried the sick deer to the King. He explained that life is sacred. The King and his people accepted the teaching.
The King sent a messenger to the Buddha to see him before he died. The Buddha and his disciples arrived and he preached the Dhamma. The King was sceptical and usept that a king's son was begging for food. "Your Majesty," said the Buddha. "You may claim descent from Kings but mine is from a long line of Buddhas. They always begged for their food." The Buddha also saw Yasodhara who fell at his feet and wept.
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Yasodhara took her seven year old son to see his Buddha father. He was ordained as a monk. King Suddhodana was very sad and told the Buddha respectfully that he should not ordain children without the permission of their parents. The Buddha explained the Truth he had discovered so simply and persuasively that his father consequently accepted his Teaching and many members of the royal family became monks.
Devadatta, his cousin and childhood playmate, became jelalous of the Buddha and tried to kill him several times. Another time, he set the drunken elephant, Nalagiri, to attack the Buddha. The raging elephant rushed towards him in a mad fury. The Buddha used his strong mental powers to calm the elephant, which then knelt down at his feet. Devadatta later repented and begged the Buddha to bring peace to his troubled mind.
In grief and despair a mother took her dead child to the Buddha. He told her to fetch some mustard seeds. "But remember, they must come from houses where nobody has died. If you can bring me a handful, I will restore life to your child." The mother went from house to house, family to family. All had mustard seeds but they all replied. "Oh, there have been many deaths here." Eventually she understood the Buddha's lesson: that death is common to all.
Although the Buddha said that women would understand his highest teaching, he did not want to create an Order of Bhikkhunis (female monks) because he knew that such an Order would only last for 500 years. Because Gotami had looked after him so kindly when he was young, he did ordain her and all the Sakyan women who were with her, but it was as the Buddha said, the Order of Bhikkhunis has not continued in the same way as the Sangha.
The Buddha was thirty-five when he attained Enlightenment and everywhere he went, crowds gathered to see him and hear his teaching. For the next forty-five years, he walked with his monks in northern and eastern India teaching the Dhamma. Kings, noble men and wealthy merchants generously donated monasteries and parks in which he and his monks could live. Their lives were simple and calm and at the service of the people.
When the Buddha lay dying his last words were: "All things decay. Be mindful, be righteous and be vigilant. Be lamps, unto yourselves. Transient are all component things. Therefore, strive earnestly to attain perfection." The Buddha passed away at the age of eighty. There was to be no more birth or death for him.
