Buddhas Birth, Life of Luxury, Four Sights

Four Sights: Context

• Siddhartha grew more curious about life outside the palace

• Travelled out to a nearby city

• Story = Jataka 75

Four Sights

• Old Age = frail old man - everyone will age

• Illness = someone lying in the road in agony - illness is the reality of life

• Death = funeral procession - everyone will die

• Holy man = walking peacefully - inspired Siddhartha that a spiritual answer to suffering was possible

Leaving the Palace

• wouldn’t find answers to suffering in his life of luxury

• abandoned his horse

• cut off his hair

• gave back his jewellery and clothes

• left his newborn son and wife to pursue spiritual enlightenment

• Siddharthas renunciation (letting go)

Buddhas Birth

• born 500BCE

• southern Nepal

• parents = King Suddhodana, Queen Maya

Story of Buddhas Birth

• QM dreamed of a white elephant from heaven, told her she would have a holy child

• Gave birth to Siddhartha Gautama in Lumbini Gardens

• Siddhartha could immediately walk/talk, walked 7 steps, lotus flowers sprung beneath his feet, declared he wouldn’t be reborn

• A prophecy was made that he would be a great king or a holy man

Life of Luxury

• QM died 7 days after birth

• KS wanted to protect Siddhartha from hardship (suffering)

• Grew up in a palace of luxury

• Preparing him to become king

Life of Luxury: Anguttara Nikaya

• Delicately nurtured

• Entertained by female dancers

• Lotus ponds of many colours

• Always protected by sunshade

• 3 mansions (winter, summer, rainy seasons)