Siddhattha Gotama

......The Buddha was born as Siddhattha Gotama (or, Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit) 2,600 years ago in north India. He was a prince — his father ruled the kingdom of Sakyas (in modern Nepal). As was the custom of the time, he was married at the age of 16.
......The young prince and his beautiful wife lived in the lap of luxury and had every convenience at their command. In fact, the royal family was so separated from the common world of humanity, that all forms of misery were not seen in their presence.
......However, one day, as chance would have it, Siddhattha suddenly was confronted with the reality of life and the suffering of mankind. This experience shook him to the roots of his being.
......At the age of 29, soon after the birth of his only child, he left his kingdom, gave up his possessions, and went in search for a solution to  human suffering. For 6 years he wandered as an ascetic in the valley of the Ganges River, meeting many spiritual teachers and studying their systems and methods. Nothing satisfied him, and in fact, a few of the practices nearly cost him his life.
......After trying his best and getting no substantial results, Siddhattha discarded all claims of authority concerning religious revelations and traditions, and went his own way.

......It was thus one evening, at the age of 35, seated under a bodhi tree, he went into deep contemplation. During this meditation, Siddhattha Gotama realized the highest enlightenment, and discovered the fundamental truths of human suffering … and the Middle Path that leads to freedom from misery.
......After enlightenment, Siddhattha became the Buddha (the Enlightened One), and delivered his first sermon to five ascetics, his old friends, in Deer Park near Benares.
...From that day on, for 45 years he taught the Way to all classes of people — kings and beggars, women and men, young and old, bankers and robbers — anyone and all who were ready to understand and follow it. The Buddha passed away at the age of 80.
...... He was a master of communication and full of compassion. The Buddha had the ability to penetrate into the mystery of life, and express his insights most effectively. He was so successful as a teacher, possessing a rare dynamic presence, that people could not help but listen and understand his words. His power as a spiritual teacher is clearly seen in his disciples: literally thousands of his students became fully enlightened.
......To learn more about what the Buddha taught, please go to the next section which contains many pages of his most important sermons.

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