The Full Story of Buddha Gautama

 

The Full story of Buddha - Lalitavistara Sutra

The Lalitavistara Sutra is a long and detailed text that describes how the Buddha manifested in this world and attained Enlightenment. The sutra begins with the story of the Buddha's previous lives, in which he takes on various forms and makes various vows in order to achieve enlightenment.

The sutra then goes on to describe the circumstances of the Buddha's birth, including the miraculous signs that accompanied his birth and the prophecies that foretold his future as a great spiritual leader. It also describes the Buddha's life as a prince, including his marriage and the birth of his son, and the series of events that eventually led him to leave the palace and become a wandering ascetic.

After many years of spiritual practice and study, the Buddha finally achieves enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The sutra describes the moment of his enlightenment in great detail, including the various visions and experiences he had during that time.

Following his enlightenment, the Buddha begins teaching and spreading his message of compassion and wisdom to others. The sutra describes the first teachings he gave after achieving enlightenment, as well as the many other teachings and stories he told throughout his life.

Brief and summarized story of The Buddha

The Buddha was born around  563 BCE or 480 BCE in ancient India under the name of Siddhartha Gautama, and he was the son of a king. He lived a life of luxury and pleasure, but he became disillusioned with the suffering he saw around him and decided to leave his royal life behind in search of enlightenment.

He practiced severe asceticism and meditation, and eventually he attained enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. From that point on, Siddhartha was known as the Buddha, or "awakened one." He spent the rest of his life teaching others about the path to enlightenment, and his teachings became the foundation of Buddhism.

The Buddha's teachings are based on the Four Noble Truths: that suffering exists, that suffering arises from craving and attachment, that suffering can be overcome, and that the path to the end of suffering is the Eightfold Path. The Eightfold Path consists of right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.

Long story of The Buddha, with chapters

Chapter 1: The Birth of the Buddha

Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha, was born around  2500 years ago (563 BCE or 480 BCE) as a prince in the kingdom of Kapilavastu, located in what is now modern-day Nepal. According to legend, he was born from the side of his mother, Queen Maya, while she was walking through the gardens of the palace.

The birth of Siddhartha was said to be miraculous, with many signs and omens appearing to indicate that he was a special child. For example, it is said that when Siddhartha was born, a white elephant appeared in the sky, holding a white lotus flower in its trunk. This was seen as a sign of his future greatness and enlightenment.

Siddhartha's father, King Suddhodana, was overjoyed at the birth of his son and went to great lengths to ensure that Siddhartha would have a comfortable and privileged life. He ordered that the palace be filled with musicians, dancers, and other entertainers, and he arranged for Siddhartha to be educated by the finest teachers in the kingdom.

As Siddhartha grew older, he became known for his intelligence, wisdom, and kindness. He was loved and admired by all who knew him, and it seemed that he was destined for a life of great success and happiness. However, as we will see in later chapters, Siddhartha had other plans for his life, and he would eventually turn his back on his privileged upbringing in search of something greater.

Chapter 2: The Early Life of the Buddha

As a young prince, Siddhartha Gautama was raised in great luxury and comfort, shielded from the suffering and hardships of the world outside the palace walls. He lived in a magnificent palace, surrounded by beautiful gardens and attended to by an army of servants.

“Monks, I lived in refinement, utmost refinement, total refinement. My father even had lotus ponds made in our palace: one where red-lotuses bloomed, one where white lotuses bloomed, one where blue lotuses bloomed, all for my sake. “ https://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/an/an03/an03.038.than.html

Siddhartha was given the best education available at the time, learning about literature, art, music, and other subjects. He excelled in all his studies and was known for his intelligence and wisdom.

However, as Siddhartha grew older, he began to question the purpose of his privileged life and became increasingly curious about the world beyond the palace. He was curious about the suffering that he knew existed in the world, and he wanted to understand the nature of life and how to find happiness.

Despite his father's efforts to keep Siddhartha confined to the palace, the young prince managed to sneak out and see the outside world for himself. On these trips, he encountered people who were suffering from poverty, illness, and other problems, and he was deeply moved by their plight.

These experiences planted the seeds of doubt in Siddhartha's mind about the value of his luxurious and sheltered life. He began to wonder if there was more to life than just pleasure and comfort, and he became determined to find out for himself.

Chapter 3: The Four Sights

One day, Siddhartha Gautama made the decision to leave the palace and venture out into the world to see for himself the true nature of life. He disguised himself as a commoner and set out on a journey, accompanied by his charioteer, Channa.

As Siddhartha traveled through the kingdom, he encountered four sights that would change the course of his life forever. The first was an old man, the second was a sick man, the third was a corpse, and the fourth was a wandering ascetic.

The sight of the old man reminded Siddhartha of the inevitability of old age, and the fact that everyone will eventually grow old and die. The sight of the sick man showed him the suffering that can come with illness, and the fact that we are all vulnerable to sickness and disease. The sight of the corpse reminded Siddhartha of the reality of death, and the fact that we will all eventually pass away.

Finally, the sight of the wandering ascetic showed Siddhartha that there was another way of life beyond the luxuries and comforts of the palace. The ascetic had renounced all material possessions and was seeking enlightenment through a life of simplicity and self-denial.

These four sights had a profound impact on Siddhartha, and he realized that his life of luxury and pleasure was meaningless and empty in the face of the suffering and impermanence that exists in the world. He made the decision to leave behind his privileged life and become a wandering ascetic, searching for a way to end suffering and attain enlightenment.

Chapter 4: The Renunciation

Upon seeing the four sights and realizing the suffering and impermanence that exists in the world, Siddhartha Gautama made the decision to renounce his royal status and become a wandering ascetic. He left the palace and his family behind, cutting off his long, luxurious hair and donning the robes of a monk.

Siddhartha's decision to leave his privileged life behind and become an ascetic was a radical one, and it shocked and saddened his family and loved ones. However, Siddhartha was determined to find a way to end suffering and attain enlightenment, and he believed that this could only be achieved through a life of self-denial and asceticism.

As a wandering ascetic, Siddhartha traveled throughout the kingdom, seeking out spiritual teachers and practicing extreme self-denial in the hopes of finding enlightenment. He fasted and abstained from all pleasures and comforts, believing that this was the path to enlightenment.

For six years, Siddhartha practiced extreme asceticism, hoping to find the answers he was seeking. However, despite his dedication and discipline, he was unable to find the enlightenment he was seeking. Finally, he realized that the path of extreme asceticism was not the way to enlightenment, and he abandoned it.

Instead, Siddhartha began to follow a middle path, one that balanced self-denial with self-indulgence. He realized that true enlightenment could not be achieved through either extreme, and that the path to enlightenment lay somewhere in the middle. This was a turning point in Siddhartha's journey, and it would eventually lead him to the enlightenment he had been seeking.

Chapter 5: The Quest for Enlightenment

After realizing that the path of extreme asceticism was not the way to enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama began to follow a middle path, one that balanced self-denial with self-indulgence. He realized that true enlightenment could not be achieved through either extreme, and that the path to enlightenment lay somewhere in the middle.

Siddhartha's search for enlightenment took him to many different teachers and spiritual masters, and he learned from each of them. However, he eventually realized that none of them had the answers he was seeking.

As he continued on his journey, Siddhartha encountered a group of five ascetics who were practicing a different approach to spirituality. Rather than seeking enlightenment through self-denial, they believed that enlightenment could be attained through the cultivation of the mind and the practice of meditation.

Siddhartha was intrigued by this approach and decided to join the group of ascetics. He began to practice meditation and to focus his mind on the present moment, rather than dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.

Through his practice of meditation, Siddhartha began to experience insights and insights into the nature of reality. He realized that the root of suffering is not external, but rather it is caused by our own mental states and our attachment to the ego.

As he continued to practice and to deepen his understanding of the mind, Siddhartha began to feel that he was getting closer to the enlightenment he had been seeking. However, he knew that he still had much to learn and much further to go on his journey.

Chapter 6: The Enlightenment

After years of searching and practicing, Siddhartha Gautama finally attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, or "Awakened One."

The story of the Buddha's enlightenment is a well-known one, and it is said to have occurred while he was seated under the Bodhi tree. According to legend, Siddhartha sat in meditation for 49 days, determined to achieve enlightenment or die trying.

On the morning of the 49th day, Siddhartha attained enlightenment and became the Buddha. He realized that he had finally found the answers he had been seeking, and that he had attained a state of perfect understanding and wisdom.

As the Buddha, Siddhartha spent the rest of his life teaching others the path to enlightenment and establishing the principles of Buddhism. He traveled throughout the kingdom, giving teachings and spreading his message of compassion and understanding.

The Buddha's teachings were simple but profound, and they resonated with people from all walks of life. He taught that suffering is a universal human experience, but that it can be overcome through the cultivation of the mind and the practice of mindfulness. He also taught that the path to happiness and enlightenment lies within each of us, and that we have the power to transform our lives and end suffering.

The Buddha's teachings had a profound impact on the people of his time, and they continue to inspire and guide people around the world to this day.

Chapter 7: The Death of the Buddha

According to legend, the Buddha's death, known as the parinirvana, occurred at the age of 80, after he had spent many years teaching and spreading his message of compassion and understanding. It is said that he passed into parinirvana in the city of Kusinara, surrounded by his followers and loved ones.

The Buddha's death was a moment of great sadness for his followers. The Buddha had spent his life helping others to find enlightenment and to end suffering, and his death marked the end of his physical suffering and the beginning of his final nirvana.

Buddha's teachings and principles continue to inspire and guide people around the world to this day. His message of compassion and understanding has had a lasting impact on countless people, and his legacy continues to thrive in the hearts and minds of Buddhists everywhere.