The Life of The Buddha

Early Life

Born as Siddhartha Gautama into the royal Shakya clan, traditionally in 563 BCE, in Lumbini, modern-day Nepal.
A prophecy at his birth spoke of how he might become either a universal monarch or a great teacher. His father, King Suddhodana, desired him to become a great king, thus isolated him from the harsh realities of the world.

Prince Siddhartha’s Sheltered Life

Siddhartha was raised with every luxury amidst great affluence and married a princess named Yasodhara. They had a son, Rahula.
Despite his comfortable and privileged life, Siddhartha was dissatisfied, seeking the answer to the problem of human suffering.

The Four Sights

Stepping out of his palace for the first time, Siddhartha encountered the Four Sights: an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a monk.
The sights revealed the truth about aspects of life such as ageing, illness, death, and asceticism, making him realise that suffering is an inherent part of human existence.

Siddhartha’s Renunciation

Siddhartha decided to leave his old life of luxury and begin a spiritual quest for enlightenment. This marked his “Great Going Forth” at the age of 29.
He participated in numerous practises, such as asceticism and yogic meditation, and even studied under different spiritual teachers but found none of these methods satisfactory.

Enlightenment

Siddhartha sat in meditation under the Bodhi tree and vowed not to rise until he had found the truth.
After a long period of deep meditation, Siddhartha attained a transformative experience and became enlightened, thus earning him the title of “The Buddha”, or “The Enlightened One”. He discovered the Middle Way, a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.

The Buddha’s Teachings - Dhamma and Vinaya

After achieving enlightenment, the Buddha decided to share his realisation with others.
He began teaching the Dhamma (his teachings) and established the Sangha (the monastic order), and the rules for this monastic life are known as Vinaya.
His first discourse to his five former companions at Deer Park became known as the “First Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma”, where he presented the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

The Buddha’s Parinirvana

After 45 years of teaching and travelling, at the age of 80, the Buddha entered Parinirvana, the final death from which an enlightened being does not return.
His last words are reported to have been: “All conditioned things are subject to decay. Strive diligently for your liberation”.

Remember, although historical accuracy about the Buddha’s life events is subject to debate, their metaphorical meanings hold significant importance in Buddhist thought and practise. Review each phase of his life, considering its relevance to the Buddhist teachings and values, and relate it to larger Buddhist concepts such as Dukkha (suffering), Anicca (impermanence), Anatta (non-self), and Nirvana (liberation).