From Siddharth to Sakyamuni and finally to the Budha or the Enlighted one - an incredible transformation of a prince to an enlighted teacher, who walked the earth more than 2500 years ago.

Upon Seeing sorrow, misery, pain and death, in the prime of his youth, prince siddhath decided to discover their causes and means of overcoming their
occurences.

Thus renouncing worldly pleasures and leaving home and family behind, he travelled from place to place until finally attaining enlightment by fixed meditation under the Bodhi Tree.

He then Preached the truth he discovered and exhorted his disciples to follow the Eight Fold Path for the cessation of the endless cycle of birth and re-birth.

Buddhism as a religion (a system of teachings & practices) was founded by Gautam Buddha & propagated by his followers. It's a way of life taught by Buddha. Buddha means "Awakened One or who is awake (to the truth." He achieved supreme enlightenment. He remembered his previous lives, saw others dying & being reborn according to the law of Karma (law of volitional actions).

Buddha gave his first discourse on four noble truths at Sarnath, India.

1. Suffering (Unsatisfaction)

2. The origin of suffering (craving for selfish desire).

3. The cessation of suffering (Nirvana).

4. The way leading to cessation of suffering (The noble eight fold path).

Suffering is Birth, Diseases, Old age, Death, not getting what one desires or getting what one does not desires. The origin of suffering is however craving (selfish desires) which is a result of ignorance. Nirvana (Cessation of Suffering) can be achieved by extinction of craving, greed, hate and delusion & consummation in peace and understanding. To achieve this he suggested 'the noble eight fold path.' These are understanding, thought, speech, action, livelihood, action, mindfulness, concentration.

If we wish to have inner peace, if we wish to live in a peaceful world, here and now & in the future, we must abandon the causes of suffering and cultivate love and understanding.

He also preached five percepts or rules of conduct:

1. Abstain from intentionally harming living beings.
2. Abstain from taking what is not given.
3. Abstain from sexual misconduct.
4. Abstain from lying & unkind speech.
5. Abstain from intoxiting drinks and drugs.

Loving Kindness Meditation
May I be well and happy,
May you be well and happy,
May all beings be well and happy
Peace, Peace, Peace.

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