Siddhartha, the Buddha - to - be was born in the MahŒ Era 68 ( 623 BC ) in the cool peaceful atmosphere of the Lumbini Gardens of Nepal. According to the common cultural tradition of the region a daughter would travel to her mother’s home for confinement and care of her baby and Siddhartha’s mother MŒyŒdev´ acted like wise and it was while on the journey to her parents and passing through Lumbini Gardens that she gave birth to him. The birth marked the final incarnation of the Buddha and the earth trembled in recogni-tion of this memorable event. It was on a Friday of the Full moon Day of Kason.
At the naming ceremony, King Suddho-dana asked the wise men to look into the future of his son Prince Siddhartha. Out of the eight, seven predicted that should he choose to remain a layman, he would become a universal monarch, but if he should decide to become a recluse, he would become the Buddha. The eighth, however, had just one answer. He pre-dicted that the prince would definitely become the Buddha. Taking the predicat-ion seriously the King took all precautions to keep all knowledge of worldly woes from the eyes of the prince. In his 29th year, however, while on his way to the royal park, the prince for the first time saw an old man, a sick man and a dead man and he learned that all men without exception were subject to birth, old age and death and that all worldly pleasures were only a prelude to pain. It was only when he saw a monk that he realized that in order to learn the way to overcome man’s sufferings he must give up worldly attachments and accordingly he renounced his Kingdom and became a recluse.
For six long years he meditated practic-ing the utmost physical austerities. Finally he discovered that the truth could not be found in austerities. Accepting the eight bunches of grass donated by a grass cutter, he proceeded to the Bodhi tree. The bun-ches of grass were spread at the foot of the Bodhi tree to become the throne of grass on which he sat and meditated with the resolution that he would not stir from this seat until he attained enlightenment.
Then, MŒra, the Evil one approached to claim the throne of grass which he had made for himself. MŒra’s assaults by fire and darkness and violence failed and he withdrew. The Buddha-to-be over-came MŒra’s attempt to take over the throne from him by responding not with physical force but with the over powering strength of his mettŒ and forbearance for his tormentor. One cannot help but be struck by how the Buddha-to-be dealt with the threat of physical force with a force far superior to that being used to dethrone him.
Soon after defeating MŒra, the Buddha-to-be eventually extinguished all defile-ments to finally attain enlightenment, and the earth which he had called to witness his approach to Buddha-hood knew of his achievement and the forces of nature rejoiced that another Buddha was born. Thus, Siddhartha after abandoning his princely life for that of a recluse finally gained the goal of enlightenment on a Wednesday of the Full moon of Kason in the MahŒ Era 103. He was 35 years old.
Having thus achieved enlightenment for which he had strived for so many exist-ences, the Buddha for the last time was assailed with doubts by MŒra, the Evil One. He who had given up all to seek release from all, what was the use of telling all men of the path leading to the end of suffering? The earth trembled and awaited his reply. Then the Buddha with his infinite compassion wakened to man’s eternal need. Brahma himself pleaded for mankind. As Buddha gazed out upon the world his heart was touched by deep compassion for those in need of discover-ing the way leading to the release from suffering and he decided to go forth and teach the Dharma. With the decision thus made, the Buddha devoted the next 45 years of his life moving from place to place, organizing the expansion of the Order, and preaching to all who came to him. Eventua-lly having done so much, Buddha entered Nirvana and achieved the ultimate goal of liberation from the cycle of rebirths. That was on a Tuesday of the Full moon Day of Kason in the MahŒ Era 148 ( 543 BC ).
That 3 important events in the life of our Lord Buddha should take place on the Full moon Day of Kason is something unusual and unique and we consider him an out-standing historical personality in human history who gave expression to truths of everlasting value.
Having briefly touched on 3 important events in the life of our Lord Buddha, we may now turn to his teachings and find out what they have to offer in dealing with the problem of suffering.