The Buddha and the Four Truths

A Young Prince

More than 2,000 years ago, a famous man was born in Nepal, a country in Asia. His name was Siddhartha Gautama. His father was a king. The king wanted to protect his son from all the bad things in the world. He built a beautiful palace with everything Siddhartha could want or need so that he never had to leave. Siddhartha grew up and married. He had a son and lived happily in the palace for years.

But as Siddhartha grew older, he began to wonder what life was like outside his palace. So the prince ordered one of his father’s drivers to take him out into the world.

Learning about the World

On his first trip outside the palace walls, Siddhartha saw something strange. A man was walking along the road. He had white hair and weak, skinny legs. Walking was very hard for him and he had to lean on a cane. Siddhartha asked his driver why the man was having so much trouble. The driver explained that the man was very old, and his body didn’t work as well as a young man’s body does. Siddhartha was shocked. He had never known that people aged and grew weaker.

Siddhartha spent more time outside the palace and saw people who were sick and in pain. This upset the prince. He had never known that there was pain and illness in the world.

On his last trip outside the walls, Siddhartha saw a holy man. The driver explained that the holy man led a simple life. He did not have a home. He owned very few things. He traveled through the land, praying and searching for knowledge.

Siddhartha was very unhappy to learn that other people felt so much sadness and pain. He wanted to be like the holy man. He wanted to find a way to help people live without pain. 

Search for Wisdom

When he was 29, Siddhartha left the palace. He gave up all his riches, his family, and his fine things. He went searching for wisdom.

Siddhartha wandered for six years. He studied with holy men. He visited holy places. He prayed for knowledge.

He also practiced meditation. When people meditate, they sit quietly and still. They think about a single question for a long time. They wait and hope for new ideas.

Siddhartha meditated under a fig tree for an entire day and night. His mind cleared. He realized the way to end people’s pain. This is how Siddhartha got a new name: the Buddha. Buddha means “the one who is awake.” Siddhartha was awake in his mind because of the big new idea he had.

The Four Truths

The Buddha called his new idea the Four Truths. They are:

1. All people feel pain sometimes.  

2. People feel pain for two reasons:

A. Everything changes. Think of how a green summer tree will turn brown in winter and drop its leaves. But some people want things to stay the same. When something makes a person happy, like a party, the person wants that thing to last. When the party ends, the person feels sad.

B. Other people feel pain from being greedy or wanting more than they need. These people don’t enjoy what they have. Instead, they are always thinking about what they don’t have. This makes them sad.

3. People can change their thinking and feel less pain. They can learn to enjoy what they have instead of wanting more. They can learn to be okay with changes instead of sad about them. This will make their lives happier.

4. People change their thinking by acting right. This means being kind, speaking the truth, and taking care of their bodies and minds. The Buddha also said meditating is important for a healthy mind.

Teaching Others

The Buddha wanted to share his new idea with other people to help them. For 45 years, he traveled through northern India, teaching people the Four Truths. Many people came to hear him teach. They shared his ideas with family and friends.

Over time, the Buddha’s ideas spread across India and then across Asia. South, to places like Thailand and Cambodia. North, to places like China and Japan. People who study the Buddha’s teachings are called Buddhists. They practice the religion known as Buddhism. Today, more than 488 million people around the world try to live the Buddha’s way.