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The history and life of Siddhartha Gautama

The journey and life of Siddhartha Gautama (the first buddha).

Mark_Buddhist · History
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10 Chs

The beginning of the search for eternal happiness and inside peace.

The more people try to set an order on, the more messed up it is going to be. But in the end, what determines it isn't us, there is destiny for a reason. In this case despite how much King Tịnh Phạn try to keep his son out of becoming a monk and to be aware of the four signs. The life of Siddhartha Gautama is the greatest example of this statement, despite having money, power, and a splendid life. Prince Siddhartha still wants to explore more about the world outside of his father's castle.

He asked his father which was King Tịnh Phạn to approve of him having a journey to investigate about lives of the civilians in his country. At first King Tịnh Phạn wants to reject it, but he has to think again since this is the right thing to ask for and there is no point in stopping his son. He then approved it, but secretly King Tịnh Phạn ordered people to make up the way Prince Siddhartha would pass by. He tried his best to make everything as nice-looking, beautiful, and rich as possible. However, all of his efforts were washed off when Prince Siddhartha traveled by a small village. At a forlorn, he saw an old man with wrinkles all over his forehead. This is the first among the four signs, the sign of age. He was surprised and asked his coachman about what he just observed. Not so long after that, he caught sight of a man who was currently having sickness, the guy then began to cough continuously. One more time many questions flashed through Prince Siddhartha's mind that he didn't have an explanation or an answer to it. He asked his coachman again and he remained silent. This is the second sign: sickness. Finally, he met a monk at a funeral, who forgot all of the joys in this life including food, love, money, and any stuff that normal people would enjoy to find his inner peace and eternal happiness. And those were the two final signs, happiness inside ur soul and death. But one of the things that stood out for Prince Siddhartha was the compassionate peace on the monk's face. He asked his coachman and this time the coachman himself couldn't hide it anymore. He went on and explained to Prince Siddhartha about things that he was supposed to know much earlier. He said to his master: "Dear prince Siddhartha in this life there isn't only happiness, everything colour wasn't pink. there is a thing called age that can take your life away if you are old enough, there is a sickness which doesn't have a cure, and there is death that everyone needs to experience a certain lifetime" After hearing all of those with his potential and duty that was born to become a monk and eventually will reach the state of buddha in a near future. Prince Siddhartha noticed that everything in life will only remain for a while, nothing is eternal. There is only one true thing eternal of life, inner peace is what he needs to search for, his peace that he could enjoy in any situation without relying on anything.

When Prince Siddhartha returned to his palace, he asked for King Tịnh Phạn permission for him to leave this castle, to stay out of life to search for eternal life and inner peace. As common sense, his father rejected him and made an increment on guard to increase safety so that his son could not leave the palace. He also commanded others to have more parties new hobbies new things that could satisfy his son and keep him at this palace. However, it didn't work Prince Siddhartha has made up his iron mind and nothing can affect it. Just right at that time, his wife Princess Yashodhara was born to his son, a boy who was named right after Rahula, in terms meaning restriction to holding Prince Siddhartha.

Prince Siddhartha has made his decisions. He perceived the uselessness of having everything that he currently has knowing they were not permanent. He got on his horse Kiền Trắc with the help of his teacher Sắc Na. Before leaving he looks at his son and his wife for one last time. He used a sword to cut off his long hair, took off his cloaks, and gave it to his teacher as a sign showing that he is no longer related to this place and will continue this journey on his own until he accomplishes his goal. Buddha's action of cutting off his hair leaving a bald head now has become a symbol of many monks.