the birth of buddah
Siddhartha was born the son of a prince of they Shakya tribe in what is today Nepal, in the lower Himalaya Mountains. Maya, his mother dreamt that a white elephant entered her side- this was the moment of conception of the future Buddha- and that Siddhartha was born miraculously from her side. Siddhartha was predestined to two completely different paths fr his life; he would either be his fathers proceeder and reign after his death or he’d be an illustrious person. Siddhartha’s father chose his destiny and limited him to stay on the royal land, but Siddhartha disobeyed and saw the poverty surrounding him and decided to leave his father’s home. Every version of his origin story talks of his struggle with hunger, thirst, doubt and weakness. Siddhartha resisted all temptation. He reached a state of profound understanding called his Awakening or Enlightenment. He saw suffering, aging, and death in a new way, recognizing them as an inevitable part of life, but also seeing the possibility of release. Buddha’s lifestyle incorporated: moderate eating, no alcohol, daily walking, regular mediation, and pure air.
Citations: Molloy, Michael. Experiencing the World's Religions: tradition, Challenge, and Change. Sixth Edition. McGraw Hill, New York, NY 2012. |