Siddhartha Buddha was born a prince in Nepal, at the foot of the Himalayan Mountians, in 560 B.C. His father was King Suddhodana, his mother, Maya, died seven days after his birth. When he was born, astrologers predicted that Siddhartha would either become a great king or he would become disillusioned with life and end up a monk.
His father wanted him to become a king. So he raised Siddhartha in absolute luxury and indulgence, never allowing him to see suffering so that he would not have any spiritual questions or inclinations. He placed his son in a magnificent walled palace with gardens, fountains, music, dancing and beautiful women. Siddhartha married a woman named Yasodhara at age sixteen. Throughout these early years of his life, he knew nothing of the sufferings that were taking place outside of the palace.
Then one day, Siddhartha and his servant Channa took a chariot and snuck out of the palace. As they traveled through the country outside, Sidhhartha saw a very old man. He was suprised because he had never seen an old person, but he quickly realized that everyone is doomed to grow old. Each of us has a limited time to live. Next he saw a very sick man. He had never seen a sick person. But he realized that all people suffer from illnesses: the physical illnesses of disease, the emotional illnesses of anger and depression, and the social illnesses of poverty and injustice. He realized that everyone suffers. Finally Siddhartha and Channa drove by a dead body. Until that moment he had not known about death. But he realized that he would die, everyone he knew would die, and that every living being would die.
After seeeing these three sights Siddhartha Buddha fell into deep thought. He now knew that life was suffering. Everyone suffers. And we only have a limited amount of time before death annihilates us. He realized that all the luxury and comfort and pleasure of his palace was superficial and transitory. And, when the time came, it would all be stripped away and meaningless.
And then Siddhartha saw a monk sitting and meditating. He realized that the monk was calm and peaceful. And so Siddhartha decided to become a monk in order to find the solution to human suffering. Siddhartha left the palace forever. He shaved his head and wore yellow robes. He lived in a cave in the mountains.
Siddharta fasted for many days. He practiced meditation till his body was stiff and aching. And he allowed himself almost no sleep. But nothing worked. Finally he realized that he was just continuing the suffering he wanted to solve. He decided he needed to find a "middle path" between the luxurious life of the palace and the harsh life of the cave.
A woman appeared and gave him some food (he had not eaten in many days). He found a beautiful tree to sit under and eat. As soon as he tasted the food he became enlightened - he understood the nature of suffering and the way to avoid it and he felt an incredible compassion for all beings. He had an overwhelming desire to share his illumination with humanity.
At age 35, Siddhartha had become a Boddhisatva (one who has achieved enlightenment but chooses to remain in this world to help those who are suffering). He left his wondrous tree behind and ventured out into the world to teach others. He taught the four noble truths and the eightfold path. These teachings became the foundation of the religion of Buddhism.
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