1. Higher RMPS World Religions: Buddhism
Introduction to Buddhism
The Life of the Buddha

2. Siddhartha Gautama
Siddhartha Gautama is the name of the man who became the Buddha
He lived in northern India 2500 years ago
He was born in Lumbini which is in modern day Nepal
He spent 45 years travelling and teaching
He passed away at the age of 80 in Kusinara less than 200km from where he was born

3. Conception
The Buddha’s conception and birth are marked by miraculous events
As his mind descended into his mother’s womb from one of the heavens, a great light appeared in the world
His mother Queen Maya dreamed that a magnificent white elephant entered her body
Her pregnancy lasted 10 months which is normal for enlightened beings
She had no pain in child birth

4. Birth of the Buddha
According to the story, queen Maya gave birth standing up
The baby emerged from her right side with no blood or water
As soon as he was born he was able to walk and talk
Lotus blossoms appeared in his footsteps, he declared that this would be his last rebirth
He was given the name Siddhartha which means ‘fulfilment of wishes’
The renowned holy man Asita visited the palace, he prophesised that Siddhartha would become a great leader like his father or a homeless holy man depending on how much suffering he saw

5. Life in the Palace
Siddhartha was a Hindu prince brought up with the greatest luxury and splendour
The prophecy of Asita determined how his father brought him up
He was excellent at all he did, sport, wrestling, archery, mathematics,, music etc.
He was tall and handsome, kind and well mannered
When he was a child his father took him to a ploughing competition where he fell into the fist state of meditation

6. A Life of Indulgence All suffering was kept hidden from Siddhartha
All possible comforts were provided for him
He was given 3 palaces, one for each season
He was surrounded by parks, gardens, music and beautiful young attendants
At 16 he married the beautiful Yashodhara
They had a baby son whom they named Rahula
It seemed Siddhartha had everything he could want

7. Leaving the Palace
Siddhartha decided that he wanted to see the world outside the palace, he went with his servant Channa
His father had arranged for him to follow a specific route on which all suffering had been removed
Young healthy people lined the route that Siddhartha was supposed to take
He came across an old man at the side of the road, he had no teeth, white hair, his legs were so weak that he needed a stick
Siddhartha was shocked by the sight and asked Channa what was wrong with him
Channa replied that he is old; old age comes to everyone, it destroys youth and beauty
Siddhartha was filled with compassion
Siddhartha was so upset that he returned to the palace
He made three more trips out of the palace

8. The First Sight: Old Age

9. The Second and Third Sights: Sickness and Death
The second time he left the palace he saw a very sick person, not knowing what was wrong he asked Channa
Channa explained that sickness would happen to everyone at some point in their lives
The next time he left the palace he saw a dead body being carried to the cremation ground
Never having seen death he asked Chann
“Death is the end of life which no one can escape”
Siddhartha was deeply sadened by this

10. The Fourth Sight
On his final journey out of the palace Siddhartha saw a homeless holy man
He owned nothing but what he carried
He told Siddhartha that he was seeking the Truth and had given up all worldly pleasures
He was happier than he had ever been
Siddhartha was inspired by this man
He wanted to find a way to be happy

11. Finding the Answers
Why do people suffer and is there any way to overcome it? These were the questions that Siddhartha was now asking
He was so affected by suffering that he could no longer live a life of luxury
He escaped from the palace, cut off his hair as a symbol of renunciation and
He practiced meditation with 2 masters for a number of years but still had no answer to his questions

12. Asceticism
On giving up meditation Siddhartha decided to try something else to help him find answers
He found 5 ascetics in the forest and spent a number of years with them
He practiced an extreme form of body mortification known as asceticism
He fasted, held his breath for long periods of time, sit in the burning sun all day or bathe in ice cold water
He became very weak from lack of food and realised that he would die if he did not eat

13. The Middle Way
Siddhartha accepted some food from a village girl and gave up this extreme way of life
He decided to practice a middle way; a life between the two extremes
The extremes had not brought him any closer to the answers
He had experienced life in the palace, indulgence and life as an ascetic and neither had worked
He decided that the only way to live was to live a balanced life between the two extremes

14. The Enlightenment
Siddhartha decided that meditation was the only way to uncover the truth
While meditating under a bodi tree he was tempted by Mara
Mara is the demon which represents sensual desire and death, he corrupts the mind
Mara used fear to distract Siddhartha and then he used his daughters to seduce him
Nothing worked, Mara failed and fled
Siddhartha experienced unimaginable joy and an awakening known as the enlightenment