Buddha means “enlightened one,” but he was born as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama. As a young man he decided to leave his royal life, and became an aimless wanderer, searching for answers to the pain and suffering he saw in people. Eventually he came to a sacred tree and sat beneath it to meditate. The belief is that at this moment, he reached a state of perfect joy, bliss and peace, becoming enlightened. This state of completeness is called nirvana. At this moment, it is said that Buddha also learned how to live a spiritual life despite earthly suffering. Buddha and his followers continued to live a wandering and austere life, eating only the food given them, and asking for shelter only at night, spreading his teachings as they went.
Buddha taught that life on Earth consists of suffering and pain, and that finding peace in the midst of it is the way to heaven, or nirvana. Buddha said that the way to reach nirvana was to detach yourself from earthly life and to let go of all desires. His first teaching is called the Four Noble Truths. These are that there is suffering, the cause of suffering is wanting, suffering can end completely, and that the Eightfold Path is the way to the cure.
Food For Thought
Think about a time in your life where you figured something out, perhaps you figured out where your mom hid your birthday presents or you figured out a crossword puzzle you had been working on. How did you feel when you figured it out? Did you want to call or text your friends and family? That is how Buddha felt after sitting under the tree.
