Introduction to Buddhism (pt.4)

Welcome back to this continuing series.  Last time we discussed the early events of Prince Siddhartha (Buddha), his birth and the four sights.  This time we will explore his renunciation of royal life and enlightenment.

King Suddhodana built three palaces (cold, warm and rainy season) to ensure Prince Siddhartha lived a luxurious life. At age 16 he was arranged to marry Princess Yasodhara and when the prince was 29 she gave birth to Rahula. Even though the prince appeared to live a happy and fulfilling life, his encounters outside the palace gates (old age, sickness, death and ascetic) solidify his decision to seek an answer to the end of life’s suffering. His solution was to become a sramana, a religious ascetic who renounces their worldly life and practices austerity and hard work.

At age 29, after he had secured an heir for his father, Prince Siddhartha secretly left the palace at night in search of ascetic teachers who could show him the path to liberation from suffering. King Suddhodana, knowing he couldn’t stop his son, sent five royal aides to follow and protect him by pursuing ascetic practices as well. 

Many ask why did the Prince leave his young family behind?  It seems like a selfish act?

Prince Siddhartha’s discontent for the suffering that accompanies life is a strong motivating factor for him to seek answers. Knowing the answers are unattainable if he continues his royal life, this drove Prince Siddhartha to finally renounce his old life.  He vowed not to return unless he attained enlightenment.  This act of sacrifice shows the compassion Prince Siddhartha had to not only his family but all sentient beings whose life is marked with suffering and hardship. 

In Mahayana Buddhism, the renunciation of his old life is observed on the eighth day of the second lunar month.

Prince Siddhartha began looking for a teacher that may guide him on his path. His first encounter was with the King of Magadha (neighboring country in ancient India).  The King offered Prince Siddharta his country’s military strength to defeat and unite rival nations.  The prince rejected this offer but promised to come back to share his teachings when he finds the solution to life’s suffering.

Next he encountered two ascetic teachers that taught him meditative practice. He first met Āḷāra Kālāma and learned to achieved the meditative state called "sphere of nothingness" (ākiṃcanyāyatana).  Āḷāra Kālāma observing his pupil’s meditative abilities offered to lead his followers together. Prince Siddhartha rejected this offer as Āḷāra Kālāma’s meditation teaching does not provide a solution to ending suffering.

The next teacher he encountered was Udraka Rāmaputra.  Under him, Prince Siddhartha was able to reach the state of "sphere of neither perception nor non-perception" (nevasaññānāsaññāyatana) which Udraka Rāmaputra was unable to reach.  Udraka Rāmaputra offered to be Prince Siddhartha’s student and let him guide his followers.  Once again he rejected this offer.

Why was Prince Siddhartha not satisfied with these meditative states?

He observed that when he entered these meditative states, he did not feel life’s unpleasantries, however every time he comes out of meditation the uneasiness persists.  In summary, this was not a solution to his question.

Unable to find the solution in mediation, Prince Siddhartha moved to extreme ascetic practice.  He subjected his body to various hardships over 6 years.  This practice believes renunciation of pleasure and self-mortification will lead to spiritual awakening.  Over 6 years his practice included minimal food intake, controlling breathing, sleeping on a bed of thorns etc.   In the Mahasaccakasutta of the Majjhima Nikaya. The Buddha described how his backbone was visible from the front, his skin became dry and lost its complexion etc.

Not only did his body become weak, his mind suffered as well. Prince Siddhartha came to the realisation this method of practice would not allow him to obtain enlightenment.  He abandoned this practice and accepted nourishment (milk) from a local village woman named Sujata. The five aides seeing this believed the Prince had given up on his path and turned away from him. 

This insight is what the Buddha later taught as the Middle Way.  A life of indulgence (luxury similar to his royal life) and a life of self mortification (extreme asceticism) will not lead to liberation, a balanced approach is required. The Middle Way is an important life lesson we can all take away and live a more balanced lifestyle that is not too lax and not too tense.

Prince Siddhartha after receiving nourishment decided to sit under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya and vow “I will not get up until I find the ultimate truth” For 28 or 49 days (depending on tradition), he contemplated on the nature of suffering, the reality of interdependence, impermanence, non-self, emptiness and faced the temptations of Mara (inner and external demons)*.  In the end he attained enlightenment and became a Buddha, “the awakened one”.

*Note: Each of these terms will be further explored in future posts!

At this point we have explored how Prince Siddhartha journeyed through six years of hardship to finally obtain Buddhahood. In Chinese Mahayana Buddhism the Buddha’s enlightenment is observed on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month.

From this point on, the blog will branch off to explore topics in four main pillars: history, biography, teachings and tradition and culture. 

This blog post is scheduled for the end of December, a time where most are spending time with family and loved ones, reflecting on the year and looking forward to a new beginning.  We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and similar to Prince Siddhartha awakening under the Bodhi Tree as the Buddha, we hope the coming year will be a new, rewarding and fruitful beginning for all.