Copyright of BMSM
The Search for EnlightenmentHe renounced the worldly life at the age
of 29. During the years that followed,
he studied the orthodox teachings· and
practiced many severe austerities. For six
years he meditated, practicing the
utmost physical austerities until he
wasted away.He held his breath until pain pierced his
belly as if it had been ripped open with a
sharp butcher’s knife. He reduced his
intake of food until his hips stood out like
a camel's hoof, his backbone stood out like
a string- of beads and his eyes were sunk like
stars reflected in the water of a deep well -
so determined was he in his search.He conquered fear; subdued all lust of the
flesh: developed and controlled his mind,
but still, he did not find
Enlightenment. In a state of utter
exhaustion, he found that not only was self -
indulgence useless in this spiritual quest,
but so was self-mortification. He became
aware that the answer lay between these
two extremes.Abandoning his ascetic practices at age 35
years old, he accepted a bowl of milk rice
from a maid, Sujata. Having eaten and
bathed, he sat under the Bodhi tree at
Buddhagaya and resolved to remain there
until supreme Enlightenment had been
attained.As the full moon of May rose above the
trees and lighted up the forest with its
silver beams the Blessed One subdued the
host of Mara the Evil One, and
passed into deep meditation. He
attained Full Enlightenment, unaided
and unguided by supernatural powers. With
his own effort and wisdom, he eradicated
all mental defilements and
comprehended the Truth.Thereafter, he was known as the Buddha or
the Enlightened One.His MinistryThe decision was made. The Buddha
wouldpreach the Dhamma to mankind. "I
will beat the drum of the Immortal in the
darkness of the world."
On the night of the full moon of July, he
preached to five ascetics his first sermon of
'Setting in Motion the Wheel of
Righteousness.' He spoke of the two
extremes of sensuality and mortification,
and of the Middle Way which lies between.
He taught the Four Noble Truths of
Suffering and its cause, the removal of the
cause, and of the Eightfold Path which
leads to the end of suffering. There in the
Deer Parkof Samath near Benares, the
Buddha proclaimed his Dhamma.
Kondanna, the leader of the ascetic, was
first to perceive and realize the Truth.
Soon, the other four ascetics perceived the
Truth of the Dhamma and they too (with
Kondanna) attained the state of Nibbana,
the final goal oflife.
The Buddha spent the remaining 45 years
of his80 years· as a wandering teacher,
transforming the lives of hundreds of
thousands.
He taught that all of us have the same
potentiality as himself, and could realize
Enlightenment as he had done. His aim
was to rescue us from the chains of passion
and to convince usof an ideal higher than
mereworldlygood.
Hewas the perfect embodiment of all the
virtueshe preached. Even those jealous
of him did notsay otherwise. Endowed
with deep wisdom and boundless
compassion, he worked untiringly for
the good and happiness of mankind.
Even at his final moments, the Blessed
One allowed Subhadda toquestion him
in order to clear all doubts, Subhadda
was converted and was the last person
to be ordained by the Buddha.
In his eightieth year, he passed away
between two sala trees at Kusinara after
having successfully completed his noble
mission. As a manhewas born, as an
extraordinary man he lived and as a
Buddha he passed away.
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