| Siddartha Gautama was born in Lumbini. He was born | | | | Enlightenment is attained in Buddhism when one is able |
| into royalty as a prince in Kapilvastu. He had three | | | | to let go of all his fleshly desires. When one no longer |
| palaces that were built specifically for him. His father, | | | | craves anything, and eliminates delusion he is said to |
| King Suddohodana, wanted Siddartha to follow in his | | | | have reached Enlightenment. The only way someone |
| footsteps and become a king. His method of doing this | | | | can reach this is by following a path that is laid out by |
| was sheltering Siddartha from human suffering and of | | | | buddah. |
| religious teachings. Siddartha spent 29 years in | | | | Middle Way is a practice that is said to have been |
| Kapilvistu getting pampered and receiving everything | | | | discovered by Gautama Buddha. One aspect of the |
| he wanted and needed. The life that he lived is what | | | | middle way is that one who practices it cannot be |
| many western Americans long for. | | | | extreme things for self indulgence. It is strictly based on |
| In America capitalism and wealth is praised. There is a | | | | moderation. For example: eating too much would be |
| strong connection between belief in God and money. If | | | | against it, sleeping too much, or even talking too much. |
| majority of Americans practiced Buddhism there | | | | An instance where Siddartha did not act according to |
| wouldn't be so many wealthy individuals in America. | | | | this was when he was eating just peanuts and he |
| What separates Siddartha from many other people is | | | | fainted and nearly drowned near a river. In this |
| that this was not enough for him. He wanted to look | | | | example of how his fasting became an extreme, it |
| beyond material wealth because he felt that it was not | | | | nearly cost him his life. One of the other paths that |
| the meaning of life. Many people spend a life time | | | | Siddartha followed was the four noble truths. These |
| trying to attain happiness by acquiring material wealth, | | | | are the fundamentals of Buddhist teaching and they |
| most are unable to become satisfied even after they | | | | relate to the origin, and cause of suffering that |
| become extremely wealthy. | | | | Guatama realized while he was experiencing |
| Siddartha realized that peace and happiness does not | | | | Enlightenment. |
| come from riches. | | | | Truth one was the nature of suffering, this suggests all |
| At age 29 he decided to leave the palace and meet | | | | of the things that result in suffering such as: birth, aging, |
| the people who worked under him. His father tried to | | | | illness, death, sorry, and grief. Everything listed under |
| hide the suffering from him but later he saw an old | | | | truth one is what average humans would consider |
| man and was disturbed when he found out all people | | | | suffering, accept for birth. In America most people look |
| must grow old. If Siddartha was exposed to all the | | | | at birth as a positive aspect of life. Truth two is the |
| suffering of the world at a young age it most likely | | | | origin of suffering, which is believed to be craving. As I |
| would not have had such a dramatic impact on his life | | | | mentioned earlier Buddhists believe that craving leads |
| goals. | | | | to destructive practices. Truth three is Nirodha which is |
| Siddartha began his journey when he silently escaped | | | | letting go of the craving and freeing your mind. And |
| his palace aboard his horse. The first place he went | | | | Truth four was the truth leading away from cessation. |
| was ragahaga where he became a street beggar. | | | | A method of doing so was through the eight precepts. |