In the form of a lengthy poem, The Light of Asia is the classic book by Edwin Arnold in which the author describes the life
of
Gautama Buddha.
When he was born, astrologers predicted that he would either become a great emperor – or renounce life to be a Buddha (enlightened one). He grew up in the company of his cousins Ananda and Devadatta. While Ananda would become his most devoted follower, Devadatta was to be a lifelong rival.
Gautama married the princess Yashodhara and, secluded from the outside world, they lead a life of pleasure in the closed confined of their palace walls.
Accompanied by his charioteer, Gautama left the palace to see the city of Kapilavastu. It is only then that Gautama saw the “Four Signs” (an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a monk) and learned that:
i) All men are subject to ageing
ii) That men are subject to illness
iii) That all those who are born must die one day
iv) And that renunciation is the path to salvation
After the birth of his son (Rahula), Gautama decided to leave the comforts of his home and palace; and lead the life of one who has renounced the world. Gautama studied philosophy under the tutelage of Kalama and Rudraka, but came to the conclusion that the pursuit of knowledge alone cannot lead to salvation. Along with five other students, he began to practice austerities; but to no avail. He abandoned his five companions, and led the life of a wandering ascetic. After seven years of wandering, enlightenment came to him (in sudden revelation) under the Bodhi tree…
Rather than seek his own salvation, the Buddha decided to stay behind and preach to all mankind. He approached his five former companions, and taught to them the “Four Holy Truths” (this is known as turning the wheel of the law):
i) That old age, sickness and death are the cause of sorrow
ii) That attachment (to life and to earthly things) is the cause of desire
iii) That desire can be extinguished
iv) The way to extinguish desire is to follow the holy path consisting of right belief, truthfulness, right conduct, right living and self-control.
Gautama Buddha’s ministry upon the earth lasted for some forty-five years (he was thirty-five years old at the age of enlightenment)… Buddha’s way is known as the middle path, because it is the middle way between the two extremes of asceticism and self-indulgence. However, to many of his lay followers,
Buddhism remained a strict and distant creed. As a result, many of the age old traditional (Hindu) practices came back into Buddhism. Buddhism – as it is practiced today – is a mixture of Buddha’s teachings and traditional practices.