In the Sakyan kingdom of Kapilavastu, in the foothills of Himalayas in the present-day Nepal, a remarkable prediction was made at the birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha. Astrologers foretold two potential destinies: if Siddhartha remained within the comforts of royal life, he would become a universal monarch, an enlightened Buddha; if he renounced the world, he would attain enlightenment as a Buddha.
His father, King Suddhodana, yearned for his son to embrace the path of rulership. Determined to shield Siddhartha from the harsh truths of existence, the king created a world of unparalleled luxury. Every desire was fulfilled, every sorrow hidden, and every effort made to bind Siddhartha to the pleasures of palace life.
But fate had other plans. Despite the king’s attempts, Siddhartha’s heart was restless, seeking meaning beyond the gilded confines of his royal home. And so, the veil of illusion began to lift when Siddhartha encountered the Four Divine Messengers who revealed the inescapable truths of life.
The First Sight: Old Age
One fateful day, Siddhartha ventured beyond the palace walls with his charioteer, Chandaka, to explore the royal gardens. As they traveled, he came across a frail, bent-over man, his face lined with wrinkles and his body weakened by time.
Siddhartha, who had never seen an elderly person before, was perplexed. Turning to Chandaka, he asked, “What has happened to this man?”
Chandaka explained, “This is old age, my prince. It is the destiny of all who are born.”
The revelation shook Siddhartha to his core. Deeply troubled, he returned to the palace, pondering the inevitability of aging and the fragility of human life.
The Second Sight: Sickness
Sometime later, Siddhartha ventured south of Kapilavastu with Chandaka. Along the way, he encountered a man writhing in pain, his body ravaged by illness.
“Who is this man, and why does he suffer so?” Siddhartha asked.
“This is sickness,” Chandaka replied. “It can afflict anyone, and there is no escape from it.”
Once again, Siddhartha returned home, burdened by the knowledge that suffering was an inescapable part of existence.
The Third Sight: Death
On another journey, Siddhartha witnessed a funeral procession. He saw grieving relatives carrying a lifeless body to its cremation. The wails of sorrow filled the air, and Siddhartha’s heart grew heavy.
“Why are they crying? What has happened to this person?” Siddhartha inquired.
Chandaka responded, “This is death, my prince. It is the final destiny of all who live.”
Siddhartha’s mind spiraled into deep contemplation. Old age, sickness, and death—these were the inevitable truths of life. Was there no escape from this cycle of suffering?
The Fourth Sign: A Path of Peace
Shortly after witnessing death, Siddhartha ventured north of the city. There, he encountered a serene figure dressed in saffron robes, carrying a simple bowl. Unlike the others Siddhartha had seen, this man exuded a profound sense of peace and contentment.
“Who is this man, and why does he look so calm?” Siddhartha asked Chandaka.
“This is an ascetic,” Chandaka explained. “He has renounced worldly possessions to seek liberation from suffering.”
In that moment, Siddhartha saw a glimmer of hope—a path that might lead beyond the sorrows of life. The image of the ascetic remained etched in his mind, inspiring him to search for a way to end the suffering caused by old age, sickness, and death.
A Life Transformed
The four signs—old age, sickness, death, and renunciation—profoundly impacted Siddhartha’s understanding of life. He realized that the pleasures of the palace could not shield him from the realities of existence. Fueled by compassion and a desire to uncover the truth, Siddhartha made the momentous decision to renounce his royal life.
Leaving behind his wealth, family, and titles, he set forth on a spiritual quest to discover the path to liberation. This journey would lead him to enlightenment, transforming him into the Buddha, the awakened one who shared the way to end suffering with the world.
Experience Siddhartha’s Journey
At Bodhisattva Travels, we invite you to walk in the footsteps of the Buddha and explore the sacred sites where his transformative journey unfolded. From the gardens of Kapilavastu to the serene forests of Bodhgaya, discover the places that shaped his extraordinary life.
Join us on a pilgrimage of awakening and reflection, where history, spirituality, and self-discovery converge. Let Siddhartha’s timeless story inspire your own journey toward understanding and peace.
(Photo credit to the Featured Image: Photo Dharma from Penang, Malaysia, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, via Wikimedia Commons)
