Buddhism - The Buddha

1. The Buddha means, ‘the one who is awake’.

2. The Buddha was Siddhatta Gautama, a royal prince born over two thousand years ago in Nepal.

3. His father wanted to protect him from the sufferings of life and kept him inside the palace.

4. Siddhatta married and had a son.

5. One day Siddhatta left the palace and saw an old man, a sick man and a dead body.

6. These things troubled him and he decided to seek a greater understanding of life.

7. He gave up all his riches and went to live as a homeless holy man.

8. He meditated and nearly starved to death, but still did not solve the mystery of life.

9. Finally he sat down under a bodhi tree and stayed there until he became enlightened.

10. He discovered the truth about human suffering and the Middle Path that frees people from misery.

11. Before the Buddha was born, Indian wise men said that thirty-two marks could be found on a truly great man.

12. The Buddha had the marks, which included, a bump of knowledge on his head and thousand-spoked wheels on the soles of his feet.

13. The Buddha travelled for remaining years of his life spreading his teachings.

14. He knew it was time for him to die when he was eighty.

15. A couch was prepared for him between two trees.

16. He gathered his followers around him, rested his head on his right hand and went into a deep meditation.

17. A light spread over the Buddha’s face and body and sweet smelling flowers fell on him from the trees nearby.

18. As he died, there was an earthquake and thunder was heard.

19. The Buddha’s body was cremated.

20. His ashes were divided into eight and buried in a number of different places.

21. Stupas were built over the remains.

22. Buddhist pilgrims may visit stupas on pilgrimages.