Buddha

Buddha as per me is one of the greatest man to have walked on planet earth. Most of his teachings are very relevant even today. Unlike other great religions of the world Buddhism is not based around god. Buddha never accepted or denied the presence of god. The word Buddha means the “awakened one” or the “enlightened one”. Buddha’s teachings gave birth to the first global religion Buddhism. Till 19^th centaury Buddha was an unknown figure in the west. In 1860 British archeologist set out to find the birth place of Buddha. Research shows that Buddha was born 2500 years ago in a place called Lumbini in present day Nepal to a Hindu king Suddhodana. Just like Jesus it is believed Buddha was born out of divine conception. As per the Buddhist accounts his mother Maha Maya had a dream in which she was told that a great being named Buddha was to take birth through her .She in her dream was carried away by four guardian deities of the world to the Himalaya. A white elephant with six tusks descended from heaven to earth with a white lotus in its trunk. The elephant entered into her womb and she gave birth to a child called Siddhartha.

The Kings astrologer looking at the marks on the body of the boy predicted that he will become a great saint or a King. His father always wanted his son to be his successor and a great political leader. As his father was afraid that Siddhartha may renounce the royal life to be a saint he never allowed him to go out of palace and experience real life. Siddhartha was provided with all the luxuries of royal life. But since childhood Siddhartha had an enquiring mind was more interested in finding out the meaning of life than any military pursuits. Siddhartha even got married and had a child. His father was happy that finally Siddhartha got involved in worldly life and would become his successor. One day Siddhartha asked his father to grant him permission to go out of palace .As he had grown up and was suppose to take over reign of kingdom his father could no longer deny him worldly experience. Siddhartha set out to see the world on a horse with his charioteer Channa.

Siddhartha had undergone four journeys with his charioteer and discovered four profound truths of life.

1.During his first journey he met an old man. He asked to his charioteer the reason for the old mans plight.Channa told him  that as years go by everyone grows old and becoming old is inevitable. This was first great realization for Siddhartha.

2.During his secondary journey Siddhartha saw a sick disfigured man. On enquiry his charioteer explained that anyone can become sick and disfigured in life. This made Siddhartha realize that good health is not permanent.

3.
During his third journey Siddhartha saw a corpse (dead body) being carried one a pyre for funeral. This made Siddhartha realize that we all are going to die one day.

4.
During his forth journey he saw a man with robe on and a begging bowl in hand .Siddhartha asked Channa why some one would like to leave worldly pleasures and live like a beggar. For this Channa answered that the man had renounced his worldly life to understand why we have to suffer in life and what is path to liberation.

After his journey’s Siddhartha was shaken and was possessed with a deep desire to understand the way to end misery in life and attain Liberation. On one dark night he fled away from the palace in search of truth. He met with some Gurus who initiated him into meditation. In those days two types of meditation were practiced. One by controlling breath and other was byintense fasting. Siddhartha excelled in meditation and even had five followers. But even after many years of meditation he didn’t have answers to his questions. Siddhartha decided to intensify his meditation by fasting. He did this till only bones and skin was what was left of him. When he was about to die a girl offered him with rice and milk which saved him from death. Siddhartha understood  intense fasting was of no good. Torturing his body by fasting will only kill him and he will die without achieving anything. Siddhartha understood one needs to take a middle path in life.He again kept on travelling and finally arrived at Gaya which is presently part of Bihar.Under the Banyan tree at Gaya Siddhartha meditated and was tested by the demon of ego and elusion Mara. Siddhartha in meditation overcomes fear, lust, passion and desire. Siddhartha realized that Mara is nothing but his own nature. But overcoming these tendencies he attained enlightenment.
At age of thirty five, after six years of intense practise Buddha attained Enlightment. He realized if we remove desire we can remove pain and suffering from life.