This is an extraordinary tale from over 2600 years ago, of a Prince who is endowed
with everything he needs and more. Luxury, palaces and all heart’s desires, are
provided to him by his father, a warrior King of the kingdom of Sakya. The story
unfolds dramatically with the Prince leaving all his luxuries and possessions as well as
his new born son and loving wife, caring parents, to an unknown journey of finding the
end to human sorrow and suffering.
This Prince, born auspiciously, was named Siddhartha, meaning; the one who fulfills
his aim. Brahmins and Seers predict the Prince to be a Universal Monarch; yet highly
respected Sage Asita and Brahmin Kondanna predicts firmly, to the King’s
disappointment, that the Prince will leave all his worldly possessions and attain
enlightenment.
At a tender age, the Prince is enticed into marriage, with beautiful Princess
Yashodhara; in spite of the Prince giving a list of qualities which are almost impossible
to find as his perfect match. King Suddhodhana strategically appoints the Prince as
Yuvraj (deputy to the King), to further tie him down to worldly life.
Prince Siddhartha and Princess Yashodhara fall deeply in love and enjoy life happily
for several years. In spite of this bond, Siddhartha is in search for the truth which he
finds difficult to discover within the luxury of the palace walls.
During brief tours of duty around the kingdom, he witnesses the life of commoners
and is confronted with the harsh reality of life. He decides to leave his kingdom to seek
the truth. After fulfilling his dear wife’s wish of having a child as to keep her from
loneliness, Siddhartha leaves the palace into the unknown, to become an ascetic.
Deep in the wilderness away from all royal comforts, Ascetic Siddhartha goes
through many challenges in his search. He elevates his intellect with the interaction
with Sages and Brahmins during his spiritual journey, but is unable to reach his goal of
finding the end to human suffering. Having experienced austerities, his near-death
experience makes him realize that the extremes are not the answer to his quest.
Ultimately, discovering that the middle path is the only way to end worldly
suffering, Ascetic Siddhartha attains supreme enlightenment, becoming the Buddha.
