Siddhārtha Gautama, more commonly known as Buddha, was born around 563 BC (Chopra 3) He was born to a wealthy family and never needed anything. However, Buddha felt that his life was incomplete and devoid of happiness despite having a wife and son. I will talk about the life of Buddha and his journey to enlightenment. I chose to cover this topic because I find the life and teachings of the Buddha very interesting. Although he was much older before receiving the title Buddha, I will refer to him as such throughout my report. As a child, Buddha knew only luxury and knew nothing about what the world was really like. He felt that something was missing in his life and decided to find out what it was. He achieved enlightenment 6 years after he began his search for truth and planned to share his newfound peace with the world until his death. Here is his story. Buddha was born to King Suddhodana and Queen Maya, into wealth, luxury and happiness around 563 BC. His father and mother wanted their son to "...know only luxury and never see suffering". (March 6) Some scholars disagree on the place of birth, some say present-day Nepal while others say present-day India. (wikipedia.org) Buddha was given three palaces and everything he could want or need; he only knew happiness. As a child he was protected because his father wanted him to know nothing of the evils of the outside world. Throughout his young life, he knew nothing about the real world, the suffering and agony that some endure. Buddha lived in these ideal situations into adulthood, although he came to feel that something was missing in his life. He married Princess Gopa and together they had a son. Buddha named his son Rahula, which means “chain” or “stump.” He felt the b... center of the paper... m. He needed to make sure there were no questions or concerns before he finally left them. After everyone said there was no doubt, Buddha blessed them all and lay down on the sofa. He passed away peacefully with his head facing north. The day of Buddha's death is celebrated as Parinirvana Day. Buddhism had many followers, and still has them today. Likewise, Buddha was much loved and appreciated, just as he is today. The Dharma teachings are still relevant and people seek enlightenment every day. Buddha set out to find enlightenment and then share it with the world. I don't know if he thought it would become as widespread as it did, but he was very successful and convinced others that his path was the one to follow. Anyone looking for a simple and peaceful life, Buddhism is a great choice for them. Works Cited The Buddha and Buddhism by Karen Marchant