One day on the banks of the Nairanjana river, when he was close to death as a result of his extreme fasting, he accpeted  a bowl of milk and rice offered to him from a young girl and renewed his strength. Siddhattha Gotama sat in the shade of a Bodhi tree and entered deep meditation. Deeply absorbed in meditation and solely relying on his own efforts and wisdom, he eradicated all defilements, purified Himself, and, realizing things as they truly are, he attained Enlightenment and became a Buddha, at the age of 35.  

This path became the subject of the Buddhas first teaching the and was written down later as the  “Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta”. The teaching of the FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS and the NOBLE EIGHTFOLD PATH.

Siddhattha Gotama was not born a Buddha, (the word Buddha only means “Enlightened one”), he became a Buddha by his own practice and determination and as Buddha Shakyamuni, he devoted the rest of his life to serve humanity both by example and precept, and dominated by no personal motive whatever.

For 2500 years followers of Buddhism has had time to develop many layers of doctrine and ritual influanced by different cultures and by the many schools and eminant teachers that have developed over the millenia. But the fundimental teaching has remained the same, not as a set of dogmas to be learnt and adhiered to at all cost, but rather as a set of “propositions” for each individual to investigate for himself. The Buddha was not a special or divine being and therefore being a Buddha is being nothing other than being an ordinary person who is aware of “this” state in their life. The development of this inner life state can therefore enable all people to overcome their problems and live a fulfilled and active life, engaging fully with others and with society.