How Did Buddha Attain Enlightenment ?

As the legend goes …

Buddha, originally known as Siddhartha Gautama, attained enlightenment through a process of deep spiritual practice and meditation. After years of searching for answers to human suffering, he realized that extreme asceticism was not the path to liberation. He adopted a middle way, balancing asceticism and indulgence.

Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, vowing to meditate until he discovered the truth. After meditating for 49 days, he reached enlightenment, gaining profound insights into the nature of existence, suffering, and the path to its cessation. This realization became the foundation of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, which form the core of Buddhist teachings.

Before his renunciation, Buddha, born as Siddhartha Gautama, led a life of luxury and privilege. He was born into a royal family in Lumbini (present-day Nepal) as the prince of the Shakya clan. His father, King Suddhodana, sheltered him from the harsh realities of life, ensuring he grew up surrounded by comfort, wealth, and pleasure in the palace.

Siddhartha was married to Princess Yasodhara, and they had a son named Rahula. Despite all the pleasures and comforts, Siddhartha felt a deep dissatisfaction. He was curious about life outside the palace, and during his rare excursions, he encountered the “Four Sights”—an old man, a sick person, a dead body, and a wandering ascetic. These experiences profoundly impacted him, revealing the inevitable sufferings of life: aging, sickness, and death.

This realization led Siddhartha to leave his royal life, wife, and newborn son in search of the truth about suffering and its end. This marked the beginning of his spiritual journey, which eventually led to his enlightenment.

After renouncing his royal life, Siddhartha Gautama embarked on a spiritual journey to find the solution to human suffering and achieve liberation. His journey to enlightenment can be divided into several stages:

1. Seeking Teachers (6 Years of Searching)

Upon leaving the palace, Siddhartha cut his hair, donned simple robes, and began his search for spiritual guidance. He sought out the most renowned teachers of his time, hoping to learn the path to liberation.

Alara Kalama

Siddhartha first studied under Alara Kalama, a well-known teacher who specialized in meditation. Alara taught him the practice of reaching a deep state of meditation called the “Sphere of Nothingness” (a high state of meditation but not ultimate enlightenment). Siddhartha mastered this practice quickly, but he realized that this meditation alone did not provide the answer to permanent liberation from suffering.

Uddaka Ramaputta

Siddhartha then sought out another spiritual teacher, Uddaka Ramaputta. Under his guidance, he learned to meditate in an even higher state of consciousness known as the “Sphere of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception.” Once again, Siddhartha mastered the practice but found that it did not lead to the complete end of suffering.

Both teachers offered him leadership roles in their communities, but Siddhartha declined, as he knew that neither teaching had brought him closer to true enlightenment.

2. Extreme Asceticism

After leaving Uddaka, Siddhartha decided to seek enlightenment through severe asceticism, a practice that involved extreme self-denial and mortification of the body. For six years, he lived in the forest near the town of Uruvela with a group of five companions. He ate very little, sometimes only a few grains of rice or a single fruit per day, and subjected himself to extreme hardships, including prolonged fasting and painful body postures.

Siddhartha’s body became weak and emaciated, but he still did not find the answers he sought. He realized that neither luxurious living nor extreme asceticism could lead to enlightenment. His body, on the brink of death, could no longer sustain him.

3. The Middle Way

One day, a young village girl named Sujata saw Siddhartha’s weakened state and offered him a bowl of milk rice (kheer). Accepting her gift, he regained some strength and realized that neither indulgence nor extreme self-denial were paths to enlightenment. He understood that a balanced approach—a “Middle Way”—was necessary.

This realization marked a turning point. Siddhartha decided to abandon asceticism and focus on deep meditation and mindfulness.

4. Meditation Under the Bodhi Tree

Determined to discover the truth, Siddhartha sat under a Bodhi tree (the Tree of Awakening) in Bodh Gaya, India, vowing not to rise until he had achieved enlightenment. He entered into deep meditation, where he faced various internal and external challenges. These included:

– **Mara’s Temptations**: Mara, the evil deity who represents temptation, sent his army to distract Siddhartha with fear, lust, and doubt. Siddhartha remained steadfast, using his wisdom and mindfulness to overcome Mara’s challenges.

During his meditation, Siddhartha reflected on the nature of existence, the causes of suffering, and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara). He recalled his past lives and understood the Law of Karma and how actions lead to future consequences.

5. Enlightenment (After 49 Days)

After meditating for 49 days under the Bodhi tree, Siddhartha attained enlightenment at the age of 35. He realized the profound truth of existence, encapsulated in the following:

– The Four Noble Truths:

The Truth of Suffering (Dukkha): All beings experience suffering, both physical and mental, throughout life.
The Truth of the Cause of Suffering (Samudaya): The cause of suffering is craving, attachment, and desire.
The Truth of the End of Suffering (Nirodha): By eliminating craving and attachment, one can end suffering.
The Truth of the Path (Magga): The way to end suffering is through the Eightfold Path, a set of principles for ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom.

6. Becoming the Buddha

Upon his enlightenment, Siddhartha Gautama became the Buddha, meaning “The Awakened One.” He had attained Nirvana, the state of ultimate freedom from suffering and the cycle of birth and rebirth.

7. Teaching the Dharma

For the next 45 years, Buddha traveled across northeastern India, teaching others the Dharma (the truth and teachings he had discovered). His first sermon, known as the “Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta” or “Setting in Motion the Wheel of Dharma,” was delivered to the five ascetics who had once been his companions. In this sermon, he introduced the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

8. The Sangha and the Spread of Buddhism

The Buddha’s teachings gained followers from all walks of life, including kings, merchants, and commoners. He established a monastic community, known as the Sangha, where monks and nuns dedicated their lives to practicing the Dharma.

The Buddha’s teachings emphasized compassion, mindfulness, and the path to enlightenment for all beings, regardless of caste or social status. His teachings spread widely across India during his lifetime and, over time, throughout Asia and the world.

Summary of the Time Taken

Siddhartha spent **6 years** in his search for enlightenment after renunciation. This includes his time with teachers and practicing extreme asceticism. He meditated for **49 days** under the Bodhi tree before finally attaining enlightenment.

—“Siddhartha Gautama was a prince protected by his father from all the hardships of the external world. He used to spend all his time on luxuries and care.
But once he came into contact with worldly miseries he became so depressed and overwhelmed that he left his home and went on to find the cause of all suffering (Dukkha).

He spent almost 7 years in strict austerities and intense meditation…he went to all the extremes to find that truth.
Finally, he realized avoiding the extremes e.i., the middle path is the best path for attaining enlightenment.
With the help of his momentous willpower and pure heart, he attained Buddhahood on this very night of Purnima.

Most of us must have this question in our minds.

What enlightenment really means? How does it feel to get enlightened?

We can get the answer with the help of scriptures, learned people, scholars, or even enlightened ones.

But let me tell you it’s of no use…unless and until we don’t experience it by ourselves.

It’s like …asking another person to tell about the taste of an apple.
First, it’s quite difficult to explain even the taste of an apple which is perceived by our only one sense organ – our tongue.
How is it possible to explain something which is beyond all the senses?

When Buddha was asked the same question…
after being reluctant Buddha agreed to explain the taste of the knowledge that he gained through enlightenment.
We can get the idea from his teachings which are compiled in various scriptures like pali Tripitaka, Sanskrit vibhasa , Tantra text, or Mahayana sutras.

But still only studying these texts is not enough, we have to follow the rules and practice the Dharma diligently. Then only it is possible to experience the touch of the divine which we call enlightenment.”—

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