Happy Birthday, Buddha!

If we were waking up in some other countries around the world today, such as in Japan, we just might be taking the day off; for it is on this date, April 8, that many people celebrate the birthday of Buddha. What motivated a wealthy prince to renounce his worldly possessions and choose to live as a simple monk, teaching how to find happiness and to let go of suffering? Legend has it that Buddha was born around 560 BC, in a kingdom that was on the borders of present-day India and Nepal, and that his name was Prince Siddhartha Gautama. At age twelve, it was foretold that the prince would become a great spiritual teacher if he were allowed to see sickness, suffering and death, so his father, the king, did everything he could to shield his son from seeing the “real world.” However, at age thirty, the prince escaped, and after coming to the realization that all of his wealth and power could do nothing to stop the pain and suffering of the world, he came upon a monk who was calm and peaceful, despite his own many hardships. Filled with zeal and great compassion to help the world, the prince renounced his title, gave away his possessions and began devoting his life to discovering the way to eliminate human suffering. After years of study, meditation and sacrifice, legend has it that he found what is known as “Nirvana” (the cure to the ills of the world), and became the Buddha, or the “completely enlightened.” Buddha adopted the life of a religious teacher from the age of 35 until his death at the age of 80, and he attracted many followers. In the centuries following his death, Buddhism has become a very popular religion in many countries throughout the world, not just in Asia, and it all began with the young prince who advised his followers to teach this “triple truth” to all: “A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”