Who was Buddha?

Siddhartha Gotama was born a prince in 6th century Northern India. “Buddha” was given to him once He had reached Enlightenment and knew the Truth. Buddha means “awakened” or “enlightened one”. His family was wealthy and he grew up in luxury. Both sides of his family were of pure lineage and he was heir to the throne. At age sixteen as was custom he was married by arrangement to his cousin Yasodhara. They had a son named Rahula. Despite having an idyllic life he was not content and felt trapped like a bird in a gilded cage.

While visiting the city he saw what became know as the “Four Sights” – four men, a holy recluse, one old, one sick, and one dead. He discovered the universal truth that there is no where in earth that can escape from aging or death. How could he escape from that Truth? The only way was through Renunciation (leaving the way of the ordinary man). He was led to this revelation by the holy recluse. At the age of twenty nine, at the height of his earthly power in the land that he ruled, he decided to leave it all. He got on his horse after bidding his sleeping wife and son farewell and rode into the forest.

He left with nothing but what he wore to become like the holy recluse, renouncing all earthly trappings of wealth and power to find the “Truth”. For six long years Siddhartha studied with the most learned masters of his time. He learned everything the religious teachers could teach and still could not reach the state of eternal truth. After joining a group of ascetics that believed you could achieve your desires through austerity he realized that moderation rather than deprivation was part of the answer. At age 35 he finally realized his goal and became Buddha, the Enlightened One.