Gautama Buddha's birth and early life

The Bodhisatta who overcame the Challenges

• A Bodhisatta is invited by the chief of gods to be born as a human to become the Buddha
• When Gauthama Bodhisatta was in Thusitha heaven, Brahma Sahampathi invited him to appear in the human world and become the future Buddha

The Five Great Observations

• Before accepting, Gauthama Bodhisatta observed five conditions:
  • Time (Kala)
  • Continent (Dipa)
  • Country (Desha)
  • Clan (Kula)
  • Mother (Mata)
• These conditions were called "Panca Maha Vilokanaya"

Gautama Buddha's Birth & Early Life

• Upon birth, the newborn Prince walked seven steps, with lotuses appearing at each step
• He uttered a joy of Udana with a lion's roar, raising his index finger
• At the end of the utterance he declared it as his last birth
• On the fifth day, 108 Brahmins invited to the Royal Palace for the naming ceremony
• King Suddhodana requested 8 leading Brahmins to observe the prince's physical features and suggest a name
• Kondanna predicted the prince would become the future Buddha because of the ‘Urna Roma Dhatuva'
• The prince was named "Siddhartha," meaning ‘The Wish Fulfilled'
• His mother, Queen Maha Maya, passed away seven days after he was born
• He was then raised by Queen Maha Prajapathi Gothami, the sister of Queen Maha Maya
• At age 8, he sent to the teacher named “Sarvamithra” for his education
• He learns:
  • Archery
  • Horse riding
  • Elephant riding
  • Swordmanship
  • Mathematics
  • Geography
  • Law
• He quickly learned and acquired everything, showing intelligence and obedience
• He was humble, honest, and never showed pride because of his royalty

Marriage

• At 16, the prince was suggested to marry a princess
• King Suddhodana wanted to make him a universal monarch and tried to provide comfort and happiness
• Kings were invited to send their daughters to the ‘Swayanwara Ceremony'
• The kings doubted the prince's skills but he responded to their request and he took up the challenge and showed skills and talents
• Prince Siddhartha selected princess Yashodhara / Bhaddakaccana, the daughter of King Suprabuddha from Kolian Clan
• It fulfilled his wishes
• King Suddhodana took steps to keep him in the royal palace to avoid exposing him to the ugly side of life and provided him with every comfort
• Three palaces were erected named Ramya, Suramya, and Subha
• Servants, maids, musicians, and dancing girls were employed for his pleasure

The Four Omens

• Siddhartha had a curious mind to seek the delusion that people experienced
• He wanted to find a path to end samsaric journey
• At some point, he desired to see the world outside the palace and ventured to the royal park with Channa and the horse Khanthaka
• Then he saw:
  • an old man
  • a sick man
  • a dead body
  • a monk
• The four omens showed the realities in life
• He realized everyone had to face old age, sickness, and death
• He thought as it was necessary to find a way to release from those sufferings

"Rahulo jatho – Bandhanam jatham"

• The turning point was the calmness he endured after seeing the monk
• He realized that a simple life could lead to overcoming challenges in Samsara
• A messenger brought news that Queen Yashodhara had given birth to a baby son
• The prince felt it was another strong bond that would be an obstacle
• He said, “Rahulo jatho – Bandhanam jatham” meaning 'An obstacle has appeared, a bond created'

Nibbuthapada

• Prince Siddhartha did not change his ambition to Nibbana
• A princess named ‘Kisaghothami' uttered ‘Nibbuthapada'
• The meaning of Nibbuthapada is:
  • Happy indeed is the mother
  • Happy indeed is the father
  • Happy indeed is the wife
  • Who has a husband like this
• Siddhartha's good quality: outside challenges were not considered obstacles by him
• All of his suffering combined to make the prince retire from worldly life