Chai & Matcha Diaries

Long before he became the Buddha, the Enlightened One, he was born as Siddhartha Gautama — a prince destined for greatness.

He was born in Lumbini, near Kapilavastu, in what is now southern Nepal, at the edge of ancient India’s Ganges civilization. Wise astrologers were summoned by the king to predict the newborn’s destiny. Seven said he would become either a Chakravartin — a universal ruler — or a Buddha, a fully awakened being. But one astrologer said that there was no doubt, the child would become a buddha.

But fate had its own path. Queen Maya, his mother, passed away just seven days after giving birth. Siddhartha was raised with deep love by her sister, Mahaprajapati.

A Life of Luxury

Siddhartha was brought up in the lap of luxury. His father, King Suddhodana, determined to shield him from all the sorrows of the world, built three palaces for him — one each for summer, winter, and the rainy season. The prince was surrounded by music, dance, and beauty, and stories say he had thousands of attendants.

At the age of 16, he married the graceful Princess Yashodhara, and they had a son named Rahula.

From the outside, it seemed he had everything.

The Four Sights That Changed Everything

At the age of 29, Siddhartha asked to be taken on a ride through the city in his chariot. The king gave his permission but first had all the sick and old people removed from the route. But life had other plans.

On four journeys, Siddhartha encountered:

1. An old man – he learned that everyone ages.
2. A sick person – he saw that health is not forever.
3. A dead body – he realized that death is inevitable.
4. A serene monk – someone who had renounced everything and found peace.

After seeing the painful realities of life — aging, sickness, and death — and learning that some people dedicate their lives to seeking peace beyond such suffering, Siddhartha felt deeply unsettled. He asked his father for permission to leave the palace and live in the forest to find answers. The king, desperate to keep him, offered him anything he desired if he would stay. Siddhartha calmly asked:

“Can you promise me that I will never grow old, never fall sick, never die, and never lose what I love?”

The king, with a heavy heart, admitted:

“No, my son. No one can promise that.”

The Great Renunciation

One night, as his wife and son slept, Siddhartha quietly left the palace. He exchanged his royal robes for simple clothes, cut his hair, and began his journey as a seeker.

He wandered, meditated, and studied with teachers. He fasted so severely that he almost died. But wisdom came slowly, and he realized:

“Neither luxury nor self-torture brings enlightenment. The Middle Way does.”

The Bodhi Tree & Enlightenment

Eventually, he reached Bodh Gaya, in modern-day Bihar, India. There, under a sacred fig tree — now called the Bodhi Tree — Siddhartha sat in deep meditation, vowing:

“I will not rise from this seat until I have attained the truth.”

For 49 days, he meditated, fought inner demons, and resisted illusions. On the 49th night, as dawn broke, he attained enlightenment.

He became The Buddha — the Awakened One.

Today, you can still visit that sacred Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, where pilgrims from around the world come to meditate in its shade.