The Buddha provided the world with a concept for understanding the world of pain. Here is a quick narrative of his life and the events that taught him the road to samasara and the end of pain.

Birth

Siddhartha Gautama, often renowned as Buddha, the “Awakened,” was the child of Suddhodana, the king of the Sakhyas, an area northeast of Oude in north India that is today within the Himalayan State of Nepal. Queen Maya, the spouse of King Suddhodana, is said to have seen a dream in which a bright light emerged in the sky, surrounded her, and dissolved into her body. The queen, overjoyed, told her spouse about her dream, and the two of them went to see a great man to learn the significance of the dream. The king was overjoyed by the great man’s words, which revealed that the king will have a successor to the kingdom. The queen delivered birth to a handsome boy in the Lumbini gardens, fulfilling the prophecy. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood and had a good time. “Siddhartha,” which translates “the one that has delivered about all goodness,” was the overjoyed parents’ choice for the adorable little Prince.

Asita’s words

Asita was a holy instructor who came to see the baby. He spotted many positive traits in the youngster and informed the royal that if the baby decided to remain with him, he will grow up to become one of humanity’s greatest rulers, capable of ruling a vast empire and keeping the people cheerful. If, on the other hand, the baby wishes to leave the kingdom in search of a means to eliminate all human misery, he will gain the ultimate wisdom and become the finest spiritual guide ever.

Childhood

Maya, the queen, couldn’t remain with Siddhartha for long, so she requested her sister to look after him. The Prince was born and raised to be a charming young man with a generous heart. When other youngsters his age were engaged in rough games, he preferred to be alone in the yard. He grew up in Kapilavastu and the surrounding area, and he was devoted to all living things, even wildlife. The prince’s enthusiasm, affection, and kindness are described in several incidents from his boyhood. In school, the prince was clever and smart, but he disliked learning how to manage a kingdom.

Marriage

The monarch was overjoyed to learn of his son’s intellect, but disappointed because the prince was so gentle. As a result, he and the ministers devised a strategy and identified the Prince’s ideal match. Siddhartha wedded Princess Yasodhara when he was sixteen years old.

Renunciation is a path that leads to enlightenment

Prince Siddhartha was truly happy with his bride, and the couple had a son, Rahula. The prince, who was twenty-nine years old at the time, was curious about his society and the country outside his royal gardens. With the help of his servant Channa, he was able to escape the castle and walk the streets. The prince’s life was transformed when he saw a shabby old man, a sick man, and a dead, and he chose the path of renunciation. These images prompted him to abandon the castle, his fortune, position, parents, spouse, an only child to find a way to escape the society of misery and despair.

Enlightenment

When the prince arrived in Magadha, he encountered and studied the monks Arada and Udraka. He went to the Nairangana River, nearby the sacred town of Gaya, since he was dissatisfied with their preaching. Over several years, he practised yoga, extreme austerities, and Pranayama. Finally, he attempted to achieve ultimate peace via self-mortification. He sat underneath the holy Pipal tree or fig tree at Bodhi Gaya, refrained from all urges, his mind became peaceful and pleasant, and by midnight, he achieved nirvana. He awoke joyfully, smiling calmly and peacefully, and his face radiated celestial brightness and effulgence. He took the name Buddha, which means “Awakened One.” Sakhya-Muni was another name for him.

His Dharma (teaching)

Buddha visited several villages and farmland in Banaras, intending to spread knowledge to all mankind and relieve them of the sorrows of this world. His lessons were so strong that people began to pay heed to him regardless of their circumstances, caste, culture or religion, or kinds of men and women. They discovered that self-realization seems to be the only method to realize supreme calmness and pleasure. 

The Last Journey

Buddha believed it was time to go back to the castle where he grew up at the age of 80. He gathered his devoted Followers and set out for Kapilavasthu. Buddha and his followers travelled through Kushinagar on their journey. Ananda was told by Buddha that this is where he will die.

Buddha, also known as “the enlightened one,” travelled teaching the Dharma and was effective in preventing many individuals from slaughtering innocent creatures as part of their religious rituals. The originator of Buddhism, Buddha, is recognised for his extreme ideology and agnosticism in his teachings.