Buddha is one of the greatest philosophers of India. He was a prince and his original name was Siddhartha. Siddhartha spent his boyhood at Kapilavastu and its vicinity.
At the age of twenty-nine, Siddhartha suddenly abandoned his home, his wife and child to devote himself entirely too spiritual pursuits and yogic practices. Do you know why? One day, Siddhartha left the walled enclosure of the palace and roamed about in the town along with his servant, to see how the people were getting on. The sight of a weak old man, a sick man, a corpse and a monk finally induced Siddhartha to renounce the world.
Siddhartha realized that worldly life with all its luxuries was worthless, and that the pleasure obtained from worldly things was fleeting. At the same time, he noticed that the monk looked serene and peaceful, and decided that he too, would find a way to get relief from the endless cycle of birth, suffering and death.
Siddhartha left his palace and family, and wandered for many years in search of enlightenment. Finally, as he sat under a Peepul tree, he freed himself of all attachments and discovered the truth, and the secret of happiness. He became Buddha or ‘the Enlightened One’. According to Buddha, people can get free of the cycle of birth, suffering and death by leading a balanced life. He stressed the importance of being good, of learning not to care about worldly things, and of meditation. Buddha had many followers in his lifetime, and after his death, Buddhism, the religion he founded, spread throughout India and other parts of Asia.
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