Buddha was named Siddhartha Gotama and was born in a town called Lumbini, in India, near Nepal about 2500 years ago
QUEST FOR ENLIGHTENMENT
I'm distraught to leave my family but I must embark on this quest.
Before and after his birth there were signs that the child would be important; His Mother, Queen Maya, had a dream a special dream which meant the Buddha was going to be important.
LIVING AS A HOLY MAN
The key to life is balance: simple with aspects of luxury
The King did not want his son to see suffering so he decided Siddartha should live a life of luxury, sheltered from the realities of the world. He had everything he could ever want and at an early age married a beautiful princess Yasodhara
REACHING ENLIGHTMENT BECOMING BUDDHA
Resisting temptation is a way to connect more with my spiritual being.
Each of the four sights made Siddartha sad, and made him think about life. The day after his son was born Rahula, Siddartha decided that he must leave home in a quest for enlightenment. It was tough for him to leave his family but he thought he was doing it for the best and as soon as he reached enlightenment he would return.
Gotama then lived as a Holy man. He had no money, clothes or luxury. He ate very little and was near to death when he realised this was not the answer. He gave it up and decided a middle way was better between extreme luxury and extreme poverty.
Gotama did not give up his search, instead he sat himself under a Bodhi tree and meditated, determined to find the truth. Whilst under the tree he was faced with many temptations sent by Mara – the force of evil. Then gradually as morning came he saw things in a new way, he became enlightened and the supreme Buddha