Biography of Lord Buddha

Siddhartha, who later became known as the Buddha – or The Enlightened One – was a
prince who forsook the comforts of a palace to seek enlightenment. He realised the
essential unreality of the world and experienced the bliss of Nirvana. After his
enlightenment, he spent the remainder of his life teaching others how to escape the
endless cycle of birth and death.

Daibutsu Buddha Kamakura, Japan

Buddha was born approximately 400 BCE in the area now known as Nepal. He was
brought up in a palace with all the comforts and luxuries possible. Growing up a
young noble prince, it is said his father sought to shield the young prince Siddhartha
from the pain and suffering of the world. It is said his father had a premonition that
Siddhartha would one day renounce the world.

However, at one point in his early adult life, Siddhartha sought to find a greater
meaning to life. In disguise, he left the palace and wandered around the kingdom.
Here, Siddhartha came across different people suffering from old age and illness and
witnessed death. This showed him the transitory nature of life, which had a great
impact on him. As a consequence, Siddhartha resolved to seek a deeper meaning of
life.
Secretly, Siddhartha left the palace – leaving behind his wife, son and all the worldly
comforts that he had enjoyed. He devoted himself to meditation, seeking
enlightenment amongst the ascetics of the forest.

In his intense quest for enlightenment, Siddhartha fasted excessively so his body
wasted away; however, despite his great efforts enlightenment still remained a far cry.
At one point, a passing woman gave him some food to eat and Siddhartha realised it
was a mistake to seek enlightenment by torturing the body. He regained his strength
and resolved to follow a ‘middle path’, avoiding excesses of both fasting and feasting.

On one day, Siddhartha resolved to sit under a Bodhi tree until he attained
enlightenment. For several days, he sat in meditation seeking Nirvana. He was tested
by various forces which tried to prevent him realising the goal.

However, Siddhartha was successful and entered into the blissful consciousness of
Nirvana for several days. On returning to normal consciousness, Siddhartha the
Buddha (Buddha means ‘enlightened one’) made the decision to spend the remainder
of his life teaching others how to escape the inherent suffering of life.

For many years, Buddha travelled around India, especially around the Ganges plain
and in Nepal, teaching his philosophy of liberation. His teachings were transmitted
orally and not written down until many years after his death.

Many stories relate to the life of the Buddha in this teaching phase. His essential
teachings were of love, compassion and tolerance. The Buddha taught that a seeker
must have compassion for all living beings and this was the most important teaching.
Although the Buddha disliked formal rules, a monastic following sprung up for those
interested in following his path. He advocated strict celibacy for those wishing to
follow his monastic path.

The Buddha would often give talks on enlightenment, but on one occasion, he simply
held up a flower and maintained silence. Many left not understanding the point, but
when later questioned, the Buddha replied that his real teaching could only be
understood in silence. Talks could only give limited intellectual information which
was not real enlightenment.

The Buddha sought to avoid deep philosophy, he avoided using the term God,
preferring to talk about the practical way that a person may escape the cycle of birth
and rebirth and attain enlightenment. Like many spiritual teachers, he often taught in
parables to keep his teachings simple and practical.

The Buddha attracted hostility from those jealous of his popularity and spiritual
development. One of his own monks Devadatta later became jealous of the Buddha
and sought to split the community. He even tried on three occasions to kill the
Buddha, but on each occasion, he failed.
The Buddha passed away after many years of teaching and travelling throughout
India. On his deathbed, he told Ananda (his dearest disciple) that he should now rely
on his teachings and own ethical conduct to be the guide of his life.

“For centuries the light of the Buddha has shone as a beacon beckoning men from
across the sea of darkness. Like lost children, millions of seekers have reached out to
the light with their heart’s inmost cry, and the Buddha has shown them the Way. The
world stood before the Buddha with its ignorance, and the Buddha, the Enlightened
One, gave man Truth. The world offered its age-old suffering to the Buddha’s heart
and the Buddha, Lord of Compassion, showed man the Dharma.”