THERE WERE SIGNS BEFORE AND AFTER THE BIRTH OF THE PRINCE THAT WOULD BECOME A SPECIAL PERSON. HIS MOTHER, QUEEN MAYA, HAS A SPECIAL DREAM THAT HER SON WAS GOING TO BE A VERY SPECIAL SPIRITUAL LEADER.
THE LIFE OF THE PRINCE WAS ONE OF GREAT PRIVILEGE. HE WAS SHELTERED FROM ANY EXPOSURE TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD. HE WAS NEVER ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE GROUNDS OF THE PLACE.
SIDDHARTHA GREW FRUSTRATED OVER THE YEARS AND WHEN HE WAS29 YEARS OLD, HE SNEAKED OUT OF THE PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. HE SAW FOUR THINGS THAT HE HAD NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND THESE CHANGE HIS LIFE FOREVER.
THE PRINCE WAS DEEPLY AFFECTED BY THE THINGS HE SAW. HE FELT THAT HE NEEDED TO UNDERSTAND WHY THERE WAS SO MUCH SUFFERING IN THE WORLD. HE TOOK OFF HIS ROYAL ROBES, PUT ON SIMPLE CLOTHES, AND SHAVED HIS HEAD. HE DECIDES TO BECOME A HOLY MAN TO TRY AND FIND OUT THE ANSWER TO THE QUESTIONS.
SIDDHARTHA SPENT 6 YEARS TRAVELLING AROUND NORTHERN INDIA. HE MET A GROUP OF ONKS WHO THOUGHT THAT IF YOU ATE AND DRUNK AS LITTLE AS POSSIBLE AND SPENT TIME THINKING, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND THE MEANING OF LIFE.
HE CAME ACROSS A HOLY FIG TREE AND SAT UNDERNEATH IT TO MEDITATE, HE STAYED THERE FOR 46 DAYS, PAYING NO ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING AROUND HIM. AS HE SAT MEDITATING UNDER THE TREE, HE FOUND THAT HE UNDERSTOOD THE ANSWER TO HIS QUESTION. HE BECAME ENLIGHTENED, HE BECAME THE BUDDHA