| Buddhism originated in the border lands | | | | subject to old age, sickness and death - that |
| between what is today India and Nepal some | | | | no one, not even a king's son, could escape |
| 2,500 years ago. Around the world there are | | | | these three sufferings and pains. |
| over 300 million people that consider them | | | | |
| self to be Buddhist. The word Buddha itself | | | | On his fourth visit outside he encountered a |
| comes from the word "Budha" which means "to | | | | holy man, a so called Sadhu completely |
| awaken". | | | | content and in peace with the world. |
| | | | Siddharta decided to follow the same path as |
| Awaken was just exactly what the Prince | | | | this Sadhu when he believed it could lead him |
| Siddhartha Goutama did at the age of 35 when | | | | to no-suffering. On that day Siddharta |
| he became the Buddha. | | | | decided to leave the palace for good and |
| | | | search for the cure to all suffering. |
| Siddharta was born in a royal family in | | | | |
| Lumbina, present day Nepal. It his told that | | | | Siddharta wondered around for over six years |
| he had a privileged and protected upbringing | | | | in his search while putting him through |
| with all the luxuries one could imagine. | | | | thorough self mortification due to the |
| | | | ascetic life. He placed himself under a Bodhi |
| In time Siddharta grew restless and developed | | | | tree to meditate. He was determent to find |
| an urge to see more of the world outside the | | | | the answers and gain enlightenment. He |
| walls of the palace. | | | | entered a series of trances, and he even went |
| | | | beyond these trances until he finally gained |
| He finally went outside the palace with one | | | | insight of the true nature of life. |
| of his servants. On this first visit | | | | |
| Siddhartha encountered an old man. On the | | | | Siddharta at the age 35 had managed to become |
| second visit outside he encountered a sick | | | | the enlighten one - a Buddha. After a few |
| man. On his third visit he encountered a | | | | weeks of enlightenment he left and went out |
| corpse being carried to be cremated. Such | | | | among the peoples to spread his knowledge. He |
| sights brought home to him the prevalence of | | | | brought together a group of five ascetics he |
| suffering in the world and that he too was | | | | had formerly been a part of. |