Throughout the ages, Buddhist’s practices have flourished and extended to a multitude of regions throughout the world. Although, these practices never reached the western culture until close to the end of the 19th century, Buddhism is the fifth most populated religion with approximately three hundred seventy-six million followers. Furthermore, it is also one of the oldest religions, originating about 2,500 years ago in the 6th century BCE. From this widespread expansion, there has been a modernizing effect on Buddhism, especially from our western cultures that have been constantly and rapidly changing. Since this changing in our culture, there are people who want to practice Buddhism, but not fully dive into the heart of a religion. Nonetheless,
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He was born as a member in a warrior caste, but became unsatisfied with his lifestyle that was filled with inner longing and emptiness. Once he realized this, Siddhartha left behind his wife and two children to embark on a six year quest to discover the purest virtues of life and to escape suffering of material existence. Upon his journey, God sent him four passing sights: one with sickness and disease, one with old age, one who had died, and a content monk who was perfectly pleased with his life. These viewings showed that if he were to continue remaining in his life it would only ultimately result in experiencing suffering. Within his search, he attempts asceticism by surviving on a scarce diet of only consuming a single grain of rice a day. His efforts to attain happiness were still in vain as he nearly starved himself to death, fainted in a river, and thus discontinued in humiliating defeat. He grew to realize that his life of luxury in the palace or as an ascetic in the forest could not grant him the path to freedom of obtaining true enlightenment. Just when he was about to throw in the towel he ventured to a last resort. He tried sitting under a Bodhi tree, unmoving, until he achieved enlightenment. While he meditated, Mara, the God of desire and death strived to entice and lure him back to his older life of desire. Siddhartha refused and through an extensive time of meditation came to a realization
He was born as a member in a warrior caste, but became unsatisfied with his lifestyle that was filled with inner longing and emptiness. Once he realized this, Siddhartha left behind his wife and two children to embark on a six year quest to discover the purest virtues of life and to escape suffering of material existence. Upon his journey, God sent him four passing sights: one with sickness and disease, one with old age, one who had died, and a content monk who was perfectly pleased with his life. These viewings showed that if he were to continue remaining in his life it would only ultimately result in experiencing suffering. Within his search, he attempts asceticism by surviving on a scarce diet of only consuming a single grain of rice a day. His efforts to attain happiness were still in vain as he nearly starved himself to death, fainted in a river, and thus discontinued in humiliating defeat. He grew to realize that his life of luxury in the palace or as an ascetic in the forest could not grant him the path to freedom of obtaining true enlightenment. Just when he was about to throw in the towel he ventured to a last resort. He tried sitting under a Bodhi tree, unmoving, until he achieved enlightenment. While he meditated, Mara, the God of desire and death strived to entice and lure him back to his older life of desire. Siddhartha refused and through an extensive time of meditation came to a realization