The Story of How Gautam Buddha Attained Enlightenment - Tales
The Prince's Dilemma
In the heart of ancient India, amidst the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas, lay the kingdom of Kapilavastu. It was a land of prosperity, ruled by King Shuddhodhan, a just and powerful king. His son, Prince Siddhartha Gautama, was the ray of hope for the kingdom. Even before the prince was born, it was prophesied by a sage that the young prince would either become a great king or renounce the world to become a spiritual leader.
To ensure that Siddhartha followed the path of kingship, King Shuddhodhan made every effort to keep him away from the harsh realities of life. No old or sick person was allowed to come in front of the prince. The prince was kept in luxury, surrounded all the time by beauty, music and every pleasure the palace had to offer. King Shuddhodhan got Siddhartha married to Princess Yashodhara at an early age. The two also had a son, named Rahul. Despite the splendor that surrounded him, Siddhartha always felt a deep, unexplainable void within his soul.
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At the age of 29, Siddhartha's curiosity about the world beyond the palace walls grew even stronger. He wanted to understand the true nature of life and the suffering he had only heard whispers about but had never seen. Eventually, he persuaded his charioteer, Channa, to take him on several journeys beyond the confines of the palace.
On these journeys, Siddhartha encountered "four visions" that changed his life forever. The first was an old man, feeble and bent, struggling to walk. The second was a sick man, writhing in pain. The third was a corpse, lifeless and cold. The fourth was a wandering ascetic, calm and restrained. These visions shook Siddhartha to the core, revealing to him the inescapable truth of old age, illness, death, and the possibility of liberation from suffering.
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The realization that all worldly pleasures are fleeting and ultimately lead to suffering shook Siddhartha to his foundations. He knew he could no longer live the life of a sheltered prince. His mind was consumed with the need to find the truth – an end to the cycle of suffering that plagues humanity.
The Great Renunciation
One night, when the palace was quiet under the cover of darkness, Siddhartha made the most difficult decision of his life. He quietly slipped out of his chamber, leaving behind his beloved wife Yasodhara and their infant son Rahula. With a heavy heart, he mounted his horse Kanthaka and rode into the forest, leaving behind a life of luxury to walk the unknown path of a wandering ascetic.
Siddhartha's journey took him deep into the forests into the company of sages and ascetics who practiced rigorous penance. He joined them in the hope of finding the truth through self-punishment. For six long years, he subjected his body to extreme deprivations, until his body was nothing more than skin and bones. But despite these rigorous exercises, he did not find enlightenment. His body grew weak, but his mind remained unharmed.
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One day, Siddhartha realized that this path of extreme asceticism was not leading him to the truth. He had tried a life of luxury as a prince and a life of extreme deprivation as an ascetic, and neither of these had brought him closer to the end of suffering. He realized that neither luxury nor self-suffering could lead to enlightenment. This realization marked the beginning of what later became known as the "middle way"—a path of moderation between extremes.
With new clarity, Siddhartha accepted a bowl of rice milk served by a village girl named Sujata, breaking his long fast. His strength gradually returned, and he decided to seek enlightenment through meditation rather than physical suffering.
The Final Struggle
Siddhartha arrived at a quiet grove near the village of Bodh Gaya, where he found a large fig tree – later known as the Bodhi Tree. He spread a mat of grass beneath the tree and sat down, vowing not to get up until he had attained enlightenment. The night was quiet, the air was full of anticipation, and Siddhartha fell into deep meditation.
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As he concentrated his mind, the evil Mara became aware of Siddhartha’s resolve. Mara, the lord of illusion, was determined to prevent Siddhartha from attaining enlightenment, for he knew that this would break the cycle of suffering and death. Mara sent his army of demons to attack and distract Siddhartha, filling him with fear, desire and doubt.
But Siddhartha stood firm. He understood that these demons were nothing but manifestations of his own inner conflicts – his fear, desire and attachment. He faced each with unflinching calm, driving them away with the light of his wisdom. The demons' arrows turned into flowers as they fell before them.
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Mara saw that his forces were unable to shake Siddhartha, so he made one last move. He appeared before Siddhartha himself and challenged his right to sit under the Bodhi tree, claiming that this place of enlightenment belonged to him. In response, Siddhartha reached down and touched the earth with his right hand, calling the earth to testify to his virtuous deeds of countless lifetimes. The earth trembled in acknowledgement, and Mara, defeated, disappeared into the darkness.
As the night deepened, Siddhartha's mind became clearer and more focused. He entered the deepest state of meditation, passing through layers of consciousness and profound insight. He saw the cycle of birth, death and rebirth in its entirety, and understood the causes of suffering - ignorance, desire and attachment.
With the dawn, Siddhartha finally attained the supreme enlightenment he had been seeking. He became the Buddha, the "awakened one", freed from the bonds of ignorance and suffering. He discovered the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path – fundamental principles that would lead countless beings to salvation.
The First Sermon
After attaining enlightenment, the Buddha spent several weeks in deep contemplation, enjoying the bliss of liberation. He wondered whether he should share his newly found wisdom with the world. The truth he had discovered was deep, subtle and not easily understood. He feared that people entangled in the pleasures and sufferings of the world would not understand the path to enlightenment.
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However, his compassion for all beings was strong. The Buddha decided to teach the Dharma, the universal truth, to those who were willing to listen. He set out for the deer park at Sarnath, where he knew his former companions, the five ascetics, lived. They had abandoned him when he had given up the path of severe asceticism, but now, they would be his first disciples.
When the Buddha approached, the five ascetics saw him coming and initially hesitated. They had rejected him before, but now the effect of his presence was somewhat different – calm, bright and filled with a profound sense of peace. They decided to listen to him.
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The Buddha's first sermon, known as the "Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta" or "Setting the Wheel of Dharma in Motion," was a momentous occasion. He spoke about the Four Noble Truths: the truth of suffering (dukkha), the truth of the cause of suffering (samudaya), the truth of the end of suffering (nirodha), and the truth of the path leading to the end of suffering (magga).
He explained the Eightfold Path - a practical guide to moral and mental development that includes right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right meditation, and right concentration. He taught that this path is the middle way between enjoyment and self-suffering, leading to enlightenment and liberation.
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The five ascetics listened attentively, and as the Buddha spoke, the truth of his words resonated deeply within them. Kondanna, the eldest of the five, was the first to understand the essence of the Buddha's teachings. His mind opened to the truth, and he attained the first stage of enlightenment, becoming a stream-enterer.
With this the Sangha—the community of monks—was born. The Buddha had begun his mission to guide others on the path to liberation, a mission that was to continue for the next 45 years.
The Legacy of Enlightenment
The Buddha's teachings spread far and wide, reaching all corners of ancient India and beyond. His message was simple but profound: suffering exists, but there is a way to overcome it. He taught that by following the Middle Way and following the Eightfold Path, one could achieve nirvana - a state of liberation from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
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The Buddha's enlightenment was not just a personal victory; it was a beacon of hope for all of humanity. His teachings inspired countless individuals to seek the truth within themselves, to develop compassion, wisdom and mindfulness. His disciples, monastic and lay, carried his message forward, preserving his teachings in scriptures, art and oral traditions.
As the years passed, the Buddha's influence grew and the Sangha expanded. His teachings transcended social, economic and cultural boundaries, offering a universal path to inner peace and understanding. Kings, merchants and common people all found solace in his words and many dedicated their lives to the practice of the Dharma.
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The Buddha's legacy lived on for centuries and guided millions on their spiritual journey. His life story, from sheltered prince to enlightened teacher, became a symbol of the potential within every human being to overcome suffering and achieve true freedom.
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