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