A Brief History of Buddhism

It is said that Siddhattha Gotama, was born on the full moon day in May 563 B.CE, in a place called Lumbini which today is in Southern Nepal. His father was king of the Shakya Kingdom. As a prince, Siddhattha Gotama grew up in a life of luxury within the confines of the palace. At the age of 16 his father arranged a marriage to his cousin Yashodhara with whom he  had a son, Rahula.

At the age of 29 and in the prime of his life, he renounced all worldly pleasures of the  Palace and dressed in the simple yellow robe of an ascetic, alone and penniless he left the comfort of the palace in search of Truth and Peace.

For six years he lead a life of strict asceticism but the more he tormented his body, the farther his goal receded from him. The painful, unsuccessful austerities which he strenuously practiced proved futile. With his  body almost reduced to a skeleton he realised the utter futility of self-mortification which weakened his body and resulted in lassitude of spirit.

Siddhattha Gotama, had experienced two extremes of life, one of self-indulgence as a prince living a life of luxuary in a grand palace, the other, a life of self-mortification as an asetic. The self indulgant life he discovered retards his spiritual progress, and the life of the asetic weakens his intellect. Siddhattha Gotama decided to follow a Middle Path, (Majjhima Patipada), which subsequently became one of the salient characteristics of his teaching.