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Siddhartha Gautama – The BuddhaBiography

Who Was Siddhartha Gautama? Today, Buddhism is one of the world’s five major religions. Although it is often associated with China, it actually started in India. It began with a man named Siddhartha Gautama. It is thought that he lived from approximately 563 to 483 BCE. However, scholars now argue that he may have lived up to a century later. There is some confusion about the dates because the first written accounts of Siddhartha’s life were written about 500 years after his death. Throughout his life, Siddhartha sought spiritual enlightenment. Once he reached this stage, he became known as the Buddha. The word Buddha means “awakened one” in Sanskrit.

One of countless statues depicting Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha.

The Buddha is not considered a god, though some stories tell of his supernatural powers and contain supernatural elements. Because storytelling was such an important part of the culture, the written accounts are interwoven with myth. Nonetheless, the accounts shed light on how one man became such a revered religious figure. They tell of a man transformed—one who would eventually inspire followers all over the world. Becoming the Buddha Siddhartha was born near Nepal into the warrior caste. His father was a tribal chief of the powerful Sakya clan. Many accounts call Siddartha Gautama a prince. Historical details about Siddhartha’s life are vague, but legends have been passed down through the centuries about his life. According to legend, he was miraculously conceived when his mother, Maya, dreamed that a white elephant vanished into her right side. In the legend, she gave birth to Siddhartha while reaching for a blossoming tree in a garden. After being born, he immediately stood and took seven steps. Astrologers were summoned to help predict the boy’s future. One astrologer predicted he would become a great king or a religious teacher. He was given the name Siddhartha which means "he who achieves his goal.” However, Siddhartha’s father did not want him to be a religious leader. For this reason, according to legend, Siddhartha was restricted to the palace. His father tried to shield him from suffering and make his life as pleasant as possible. His father surrounded him with pleasures and arranged a marriage for him. Siddhartha married a woman named Yasodhara, and together they had a son. At the age of 29, Siddhartha decided he wanted his life to change. He asked his

   

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Siddhartha Gautama – The BuddhaBiography

father for permission to leave the palace, and his father allowed him to take a chariot ride ouside the palace gates. On this chariot ride he encountered a sick man, a dead man, and a poor man—in that order. He had never seen such suffering before. He asked the driver of his chariot, Channa, about the meaning of these sights. Channa told him that sickness, death, and poverty are a common part of life. Siddhartha then encountered a wandering ascetic, someone who gives up all possessions. Siddhartha was inspired to do the same. He left his family behind and set off on a journey. On this journey, Siddhartha hoped to learn more about why humans suffer and to learn what happened after death.

The bodhi tree is an important and often depicted symbol in Buddhist art.

For six years, he traveled around northern India, studying under various teachers. He lived a very strict and simple life, without luxuries, and refused to eat or bathe. It was only when he was near starvation that he realized that excessive fasting and self-mortification, or denial, was not the way to truth. He ate and felt nourished, but was determined to meditate until he found the right path. Meditation is the practice of sitting still and quieting one’s mind, with the hope of finding spiritual truths about life and death. Siddhartha sat under the bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya and meditated all night. Triumphing over Mara, the evil demon of desire, Siddhartha reached nirvana, or enlightenment. Enlightenment refers to a spiritual awakening through which one abadons all desire and becomes content and at peace. Thereafter, Siddhartha became known as the Buddha, or “the awakened one.” After being tempted again by Mara, who encouraged him to keep his enlightenment to himself, the Buddha decided instead to help others reach enlightenment, too. Dharma and Truth The Buddha traveled, teaching what he called the Middle Way. He encouraged people to live their lives in balance and not to give in to extremism, or radical views about religion or politics. He delivered his first sermon at a deer park in Sarnath, near modern Banares in northern India, to his first five followers. And for the first time, he proclaimed the Four Noble Truths:

1) Human suffering is universal. In other words, everybody suffers. 2) Suffering is caused by desire. We suffer because we cannot have

everything we want.

   

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Siddhartha Gautama – The BuddhaBiography

3) Suffering can be ended by ending desire. 4) The way to end desire, and thus suffering, is by following the

Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path, like its name suggests, has eight different parts.The eight parts are right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration, right attitude, and right view. These elements of the path provide guidelines for living and encourage all Buddhists to be respectful of others. These Noble Truths help Buddhists live ethically, be active learners, and respect the environment. They became the central ideass of Buddhism. The Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path still guide Buddhists today as they seek to live better lives and understand the human condition. The Buddha continued to travel across northeastern India, teaching and sharing his wisdom. He organized his disciples into a sangha, a kind of Buddhist monastic order. Missionaries set out across Asia spreading the religion. The Buddha is thought to have died around the age of 80. His body was cremated and the remains distributed among groups of his followers. His remains and relics were placed in large circular mounds called stupas. These shrines became important pilgrimage sites throughout Asia. The site at Bodh Gaya, where the Buddha achieved enlightenment, is the most important pilgrimmage site today. Followers still come to Bodh Gaya, where a temple now stands, to learn more about the founder of their faith.

   

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Siddhartha Gautama – The BuddhaBiography

After reading the passage, answer the following questions:

1. What does the name Siddhartha mean? A. “he who achieves his goal” B. “the enlightened one” C. “he who will never suffer” D. “royal prince”

2. How did Siddhartha become the Buddha?

A. An astrologer gave him a new name. B. He achieved enlightenment through meditation. C. He became a monk and was renamed. D. He changed his name after learning about human suffering.

3. What is the Middle Way according to the Buddha?

A. the steps required to become a Buddhist monk B. a habit of meditating in the middle of a worship hall C. the path that the Buddha traveled through India D. living a balanced life and avoiding extremism

4. Buddha’s teachings were inspired by the suffering he witnessed. How

do you think the Buddha’s early life led him to preach the Four Noble Truths? Support your answer with details from the reading passage.