Lord Buddha

Who "I" am is arbitrary, what is important is the impact ones life has on others. What defines me is the attainment of bodhi, or enlightenment.

My history:

In the sixth century before the Christian era, religion was forgotten in India. The lofty teachings of the Vedas were thrown into the background. There was much priestcraft everywhere. The insincere priests traded on religion. They duped the people in a variety of ways and amassed wealth for themselves. They were quite irreligious. In the name of religion, people followed in the footsteps of the cruel priests and performed meaningless rituals. They killed innocent dumb animals and did various sacrifices. The country was in dire need of a reformer of Buddha's type. At such a critical period, when there were cruelty, degeneration and unrighteousness everywhere, reformer Buddha was born to put down priestcraft and animal sacrifices, to save the people and disseminate the message of equality, unity and cosmic love everywhere.

My father was Suddhodana, king of the Sakhyas. My mother was named Maya. I was born in B.C. 560 and died at the age of eighty in B.C. 480. The place of my birth was a grove known as Lumbini, near the city of Kapilavastu, at the foot of Mount Palpa in the Himalayan ranges within Nepal. This small city Kapilavastu stood on the bank of the little river Rohini, some hundred miles north-east of the city of Varnasi. As the time drew nigh for me to enter the world, the gods themselves prepared the way before me with celestial portents and signs. Flowers bloomed and gentle rains fell, although out of season; heavenly music was heard, delicious scents filled the air. My body at birth bore the thirty-two auspicious marks (Mahavyanjana) which indicated my future greatness, besides secondary marks (Anuvyanjana) in large numbers. My mother died seven days after my birth. I was brought up by my mothers sister Mahaprajapati, who became my foster-mother.

I spent my boyhood at Kapilavastu and its vicinity. I was married at the age of sixteen. My wife's name was Yasodhara. I had a son named Rahula. At the age of twenty-nine, I suddenly abandoned my home to devote myself entirely to spiritual pursuits and Yogic practices. A mere accident turned me to the path of renunciation. One day I managed, somehow or the other, to get out of the walled enclosure of the palace and roamed about in the town along with my servant Channa to see how the people were getting on. The sight of a decrepit old man, a sick man, a corpse and a monk finally induced me to renounce the world. I felt that he also would become a prey to old age, disease and death. Also, I noticed the serenity and the dynamic personality of the monk. Let me go beyond the miseries of this Samsara (worldly life) by renouncing this world of miseries and sorrows. This mundane life, with all its luxuries and comforts, is absolutely worthless. I also am subject to decay and am not free from the effect of old age. Worldly happiness is transitory".

I left home for ever, wealth, dominion, power, father, wife and the only child. I shaved my head and put on yellow robes. I marched towards Rajgriha, the capital of the kingdom of Magadha. There were many caves in the neighbouring hills. Many hermits lived in those caves. I took Alamo Kalamo, a hermit, as my first teacher. Though I was not satisfied with his instructions. I left him and sought the help of another recluse named Uddako Ramputto for spiritual instructions. At last I determined to undertake Yogic practices. I practiced severe Tapas (austerities) and Pranayama (practice of breath control) for six years. I was then determined to attain the supreme peace by practicing self-mortification. I abstained almost entirely from taking food. Unfortunately I did not find much progress by adopting this method. I was reduced to a skeleton and I became exceedingly weak.

At that moment, some dancing girls were passing my way singing joyfully as they played on their guitar. I heard their song and found real help in it. The song the girls sang had no real deep meaning for them, but for me it was a message full of profound spiritual significance. It was a spiritual pick-me-up to take me out of my despair and infuse power, strength and courage. The song was:

"Fair goes the dancing when the Sitar is tuned,
Tune us the Sitar neither low nor high,
And we will dance away the hearts of men.
The string overstretched breaks, the music dies,
The string overslack is dumb and the music dies,
Tune us the Sitar neither low nor high."

I realized then that I should not go to extremes in torturing the body by starvation and that I should adopt the golden mean or the happy medium or the middle path by avoiding extremes. I then began to eat food in moderation. I gave up the earlier extreme practices and took to the middle path.

Once I was in a dejected mood as I did not succeed in my Yogic practices. I knew not where to go and what to do. A village girl noticed my sorrowful face. She approached me and said to me in a polite manner: "Revered sir, may I bring some food for you ? It seems you are very hungry". I looked at her and asked, "What is your name, my dear sister ?". The maiden answered, "Venerable sir, my name is Sujata". I responded, "Sujata, I am very hungry. Can you really appease my hunger ?"

The innocent Sujata did not understand me. I was spiritually hungry. I was thirsting to attain supreme peace and Self-realization. I wanted spiritual food. Sujata placed some food before me and entreated me to take it. I smiled and said, "Beloved Sujata, I am highly pleased with your kind and benevolent nature. Can this food appease my hunger ?". Sujata replied, "Yes sir, it will appease your hunger. Kindly take it now". I began to eat the food underneath the shadow of a large tree, thenceforth to be called as the great 'Bo-tree' or the tree of wisdom. I sat in a meditative mood underneath the tree from early morning to sunset, with a fiery determination and an iron resolve: "Let me die. Let my body perish. Let my flesh dry up. I will not get up from this seat till I get full illumination". I plunged into deep meditation. At night I entered into deep Samadhi (superconscious state) underneath that sacred Bo-tree (Pipal tree or ficus religiosa). I was tempted by Maya in a variety of ways, but I stood adamant. I did not yield to Maya's allurements and temptations. I came out victorious with full illumination. I attained Nirvana (liberation). My face shone with divine splendour and effulgence. I rose up from my seat and danced in divine ecstasy for seven consecutive days and nights around the sacred Bo-tree. Then I came to the normal plane of consciousness. My heart was filled with profound mercy and compassion. I wanted to share what he had with humanity. I traveled all over India and preached this doctrine and gospel. I became a saviour, deliverer and redeemer.