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Siddhartha Gautama also known as 'The Buddha' was a historical figure of the sixth century B.C. Son of a king giving all the riches and pleasures of the royalty and never witnessing any sort of pain. He journey off from his sheltered palace and witnessed something that was a turning point in his life. It then pursued him to leave his life as a prince and go on a search for spiritual understanding. On his journey discovered the keys to enlightenment and became the founder of Buddhism.

Before Birth

Before the birth of the Buddha people were questioning religion and philosophy [03]. Brahman were the Hindu priest that where places above the gods and were called 'the absolute' also meaning eternity of life. They taught that "salvation lay not in the animal sacrifice but in the spiritual realization that Brahman was identical to one’s deepest self". When people grew understanding of the absolute rebellion broke out against the vedic faith lead by sages in the west Gangetic. Anger grew when the people found out they could achieve the ultimate within themselves without the cost of sacrifice[5]. It was the birth of Siddhartha that gave hope to the controversy of religion and philosophy. People claimed he came from the heavens into his mothers womb[03]. The night Siddhartha was conceived his mother Queen Mahamaya had a dream of a white elephant with six tusks float down from the sky and enter her womb. Then suddenly thousands of gods appeared before her and sang her the immortal song[3]. The Brahman interpreted it "A son will be born to you, distinguished by the favor of the Gods. If, one day, he should renounce royalty, leave the palace, cast love aside; if, seized with compassion for the worlds, he should live the wandering life of a monk, he will deserve marvelous praise, he will richly deserve magnificent gifts. He will be adored by the worlds, for he will give them that which they hunger after. O master, O mistress, your son will be a Buddha[3]"! His father Suddhodana king of Sakyas in the city of Kapilavastu feared this maybe his sons fate and was determined to keep him sheltered from suffering and shower him with wealth[4].

Birth and Sheltered Life Style

He was born in Lumbini today known as Nepal in 563 B.C[6]. His mother shortly died after his child birth and his father began to spoil his with riches and always surrounded by loyal friends so he would never know what it would feel like to be unhappy and he will never want to leave[3].The prince grew up within the palace walls, having no contact with the outside world. He learnt the skills and engaged in the pastimes of princes[1]. The time came to take Siddhartha to the temple of the Gods. By the king's command, the streets of the city and the public squares were superbly decorated; drums were sounded and bells joyously rung. While Mahaprajapati was dressing him in his richest apparel[3]. Prince Siddhartha married a beautiful princess named Yashodhara and they had a son. The little boy was named Rahula.[1]

The Great Escape

Siddhartha finally persuaded his father to journey outside the place walls and see the city[1]. The king demanded the city be cleaned out of the poor and ill before his son entered town, though not all were out of sight. Siddhartha came across a feeble old man. He had never seem someone in that state of health and asked his host what was wrong with him. His host had replied that he was old and that it happens to everyone. This encounter had steered him and he decided he'd journeyed out into the city three more times. During those excursions he saw a sick man, a dead man and a sage. These encounters lead him to discover the fundamental truths of life being all men who are born eventually have to die, sickness comes to all men, old age comes to all men, and renouncing worldly possessions is the way to attaining peace and salvation[1]. Siddhartha could no longer enjoy his life of luxury and wealth after witnessing the suffering in the world. On his fourth trip to down he crossed a path of a monk who had giving up everything to find an end in suffering. That's the idea struck Siddhartha that he must do the same[4]. He set out in finding salvation and understanding leaving behind his wife, son, and all his worldly possessions[1].

Struggles

He was 29 years old when he made his great escape[6]. Leaving his kingdom behind he traveled to the to kingdom of Magdha[2]. On pursuit of his journey He was set out to find a way which would save all mankind all creatures from rebirth in the world of suffering [6] and adapt to the lively hood of a monk which consist of poverty, celibacy, and non violence[3]. he saw that most people were more interested in their person liberation than interested in the the nature of ultimate reality. Siddhartha set out toward the woods to find knowledge and understanding from wise men and ascetics, though became sorely disappointed with their approach on obtaining spiritual wisdom[1]. The ascetics and yogis go about obtaining spiritual wisdom in that they must deny themselves all worldly pleasures. Siddhartha argued that going to extreme measures and bring upon self-inflicting pain will not release you from the wheel of birth and rebirth[6].

Enlightenment

Siddhartha after six years of searching for enlightenment became extremely frustrated with the failed attempts he had put forth to find enlightenment. It wasn't till he came across a tree that he began to reminisce on the rose-apple tree back home at the place where he sat meditating that he discovered his key to finding enlightenment[5]. Decided that calm meditation was the way and that it could on be properly achieved by a person whose body was not worn down by the trains of hunger and thirst[6]. He sat under the Bodhi tree in deep meditation and told himself that he would not leave the spot under the tree till he has found the end to human suffering. During the night of his meditation he was visited by the evil one Mara who attempted breaking his trans by first tempting him with his beautiful daughters to lure him with sexual pleasure. He then threw down bolts of lightning, fast winds and heavy rain. Last he sent his demonic armies with weapons and flaming rocks.Though none of his attacks could defeat Gautama's virtue[4]. At dawn of the fourth watch he finally reached enlightenment[6]and discovered how to remove suffering and was crowned the name Buddha, 'The Awakened One'. From then on, he was called Shakyamuni Buddha[4].He began to spread his message starting with 5 holy men who became his follower and started the first Buddhist community[4].

Travel and Teachings

His first sermon in Sarnath he talked to the people about his discover enlightenment that he gained through meditation. He also discussed the Wheel of the Law in motion also known as dharmachakra that represents some of the most important teachings of the Buddha[1]. He preached the two extremes that cause suffering;life is bodily pleasure (ignoble, fruitless) and life of severe penance (sorrowful, bitter)[03]. This was the first set of rules that Siddhartha applied to the Buddhist religion.

Rules

Many other factor of achieving enlightenment followed after the two extremes. During his enlightenment, the Buddha found the answer to these questions. He discovered what he calls "the three great truths". 1. Nothing is lost in the universe. Matter turns into energy, energy turns into matter. 2. Everything Changes 3.The law of cause and effect known as karma. Nothing ever happens to us unless we deserves it.

"The four noble truths"

1. There is Suffering Suffering is common to all. 2. Cause of Suffering We are the cause of our suffering. 3. End of Suffering Stop doing what causes suffering. 4. Path to end Suffering Everyone can be enlightened

"The noble eightfold path" 1. Right View. The right way to think about life is to see the world through the eyes of the Buddha--with wisdom and compassion. 2. Right Thought. We are what we think. Clear and kind thoughts build good, strong characters. 3. Right Speech. By speaking kind and helpful words, we are respected and trusted by everyone. 4. Right Conduct. No matter what we say, others know us from the way we behave. Before we criticize others, we should first see what we do ourselves. 5. Right Livelihood. This means choosing a job that does not hurt others. The Buddha said, "Do not earn your living by harming others. Do not seek happiness by making others unhappy." 6. Right Effort. A worthwhile life means doing our best at all times and having good will toward others. This also means not wasting effort on things that harm ourselves and others. 7. Right Mindfulness. This means being aware of our thoughts, words, and deeds. 8. Right Concentration. Focus on one thought or object at a time. By doing this, we can be quiet and attain true peace of mind

"The five precepts" Most important rules 1. No killing Respect for life 2. No stealing Respect for others' property 3. No sexual misconduct Respect for our pure nature 4. No lying Respect for honesty 5. No intoxicants Respect for a clear mind

[4]

Death and the Impact After

Siddhartha lived up to 80 years-old. It was then that he was poisoned with mushrooms and became extremely sick. With barely any strength to speak he tells his loving disciple Ananda[3]directions about his funeral. His asked for his ashes to be treated like those of a Cakkaratti; his body should be wrapped in a cloth and cremated with perfume woods and the remains buried at the crossroads of a great city[5]. After his body was cremated, his ashes were divided up and taken to eight different sites. At each of these sites, a mound-like structure called a stupa was built to contain the ashes. Over time, many stupas were built and rebuilt, serving as centres of worship for the Buddha's followers[1]. The Buddha died in 483 B.C. Upon his death he attained Nirvana the ultimate state of spiritual enlightenment where one is released from the cycle of birth and rebirth on earth[1].

Only his doctrine remained. This didn’t exist in written form for 4 centuries, but was kept in memory of the monks. [6] During his enlightenment, the Buddha found the answer to these questions. He discovered three great truths. He explained these truths in a simple way so that everyone could understand them

== References ==

1. http://www.ancientindia.co.uk/buddha/home_set.html)

2. Michael Carrithers, The Buddha, 1983, pages 13, 14. Found in Founders of Faith, Oxford University Press, 1986.

3.(http://www.sacred–texts.com/bud/lob/lob04.htm)

4. "Following the Buddha's Footsteps." The Basic Teachings of Buddha. Instilling Goodness School City of Ten Thousand Buddhas, Web. 18 Oct 2009. <http://online.sfsu.edu/~rone/Buddhism/footsteps.htm>.

5. Armstrong, Karen. The Buddha: a short biography. New York: Penguin Group, 2001. Print.

6. Rawding, F.W. the Buddha. Cambridge: Syndic of the Cambridge University Press, 1975. Print.