Siddhattha Gotama (Sanskrit: Siddhārtha Gautama), commonly dated by modern scholars to approximately 480–400 BCE, was the historical figure known as the Buddha.
It should be noted that “Buddha” is a title, not a name; the word means “Enlightened One.”
Siddhattha Gotama was the founder of Buddhism and a pivotal figure in world spiritual history.
Royal Beginnings: Birth and Early Life
Born into royalty in the Shakya clan near the Himalayan foothills of present-day Nepal, he was raised in luxury and shielded from the hardships of life. His father, King Suddhodana, hoped Siddhattha would become a great ruler and kept him isolated from suffering.
According to tradition, Siddhattha’s birth was marked by auspicious signs, including a prophetic dream and miraculous events. His mother, Queen Māyā, died shortly after his birth, and he was raised by her sister.
Marriage and Family
As a young man, Siddhattha excelled in education and martial training. At sixteen, he married Yasodharā, and they later had a son named Rāhula.
The Four Sights: Awakening to Suffering
At age 29, Siddhattha encountered what are known as the Four Sights: an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a wandering ascetic. These experiences awakened him to the realities of suffering and impermanence. He left his family and royal life to seek spiritual liberation.
The Search for Liberation
For six years, Siddhattha practiced under various teachers and engaged in extreme asceticism. Eventually, he rejected both indulgence and self-denial, adopting a balanced approach known as the Middle Way.
Enlightenment Under the Bodhi Tree
After regaining his strength, he meditated beneath a tree in Bodh Gaya and vowed not to rise until he attained enlightenment.
During this meditation, Siddhattha faced inner and archetypal challenges, including temptations and fears. After seven days, he reached full awakening, realizing the nature of suffering and its cessation. He became the Buddha and spent the next 45 years teaching across northern India.
The First Teachings: Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path
His first sermon, delivered in Deer Park near Sarnath, introduced the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. These teachings emphasized the reality of suffering, its causes, the possibility of its end, and the path to liberation.
The path to liberation was systematized into eight interconnected aspects. The Eightfold Path, symbolized by the eight-spoked wheel, includes right view, intention, speech, action, livelihood, effort, mindfulness, and meditation.
Building the Sangha: A Community of Seekers
The Buddha also established the Sangha, a monastic community of monks and nuns, supported by lay followers. This community played a vital role in preserving and transmitting his teachings.
Final Days and Last Words
At age 80, the Buddha fell ill and passed away in Kushinagar. His final words urged his followers to remain diligent, recognizing that all conditioned things are subject to decay.
His body was cremated, and his relics were distributed among several groups, leading to the construction of stupas that became pilgrimage sites.
Legacy and Global Influence
The Buddha’s teachings spread widely after his death, evolving into major traditions such as Theravāda, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna. His emphasis on direct experience, ethical living, and the pursuit of wisdom continues to influence spiritual seekers around the world.
Jay N. Forrest
Rev. Dr. Jay N. Forrest, D.Min., is the founder of Zentheism and an ordained Interfaith minister with over forty years of spiritual leadership. A certified meditation teacher with deep theological training and decades of ministry experience, he is deeply rooted in Christianity and Buddhism, drawing also on the mystical wisdom of Daoism, Stoicism, Neoplatonism, and Advaita Vedānta. Zentheism is a synthesis of these traditions, blending meditative awareness with theistic devotion and inviting seekers into union with God.