Buddha (561-481 BC), born into the Gotama family of the Shakya tribe in Kapilavastu, was of the warrior class. The name bestowed on him was Siddhartha. After his spiritual illumination he was referred to as the enlightened one, the Buddha. His highest title was that of Tathagata, a word designating a savior or prophetic personality, one with an extraordinary spiritual mission to mankind. He is also referred to as Shakyamuni, the Sage of the Shakya.

Buddha was a historical person, but there is, however, little precise information on his life. Those who composed the stories of his life were so profoundly impressed with his spiritual mission that they speak of him in legendary language. Yet these writings are quite simple, direct, and believable in their basic message. The traits of Buddhas personality come through with surprising clarity: his experiential approach to life, his special concern for the inherent sorrow of human existence, his sympathy for the afflicted masses of the people, his capacity as a spiritual leader, his certitude concerning his mission, his sense of moderation.

In the early part of his life, Buddha was concerned with the general problem of suffering of old age and death, and the need to discover a way leading to the supreme peace of Nirvana. Buddha lived sheltered from pain during his younger years. Later, as a young man, while driving through the park with his charioteer, he came upon a man bent with age, haggard, skin shriveled, tottering along supported by a stick. When he asked what this might be, he was told: "This is an aged man, my Lord." To the question whether this is the lot of all men, the answer given was that all men would surely see their beauty, health, and possessions fall away into the decline of age and the dissolution of death. This so affected the young Siddhartha that he was plunged into an awful depression. Of what use were health, beauty, or joy in possessions if they were already caught within a process of disintegration? His father, seeing him so depressed, commanded that he not be permitted ever again to behold suffering of any kind.

It happened, however, that the next time Buddha went for a ride in the park he came upon a man burning with fever, lying in a ditch, soiled and helpless. Again he asked what this might be and the reply was, this is an ill person, my Lord. The he asked: "Are we all subject to such illness?" "Yes, my Lord was replied." Again he was depressed and he thought even more deeply on the tragic character of the human condition. The third time Buddha came upon a dead man being carried out to the funeral home. This so overwhelmed Buddha that he resolved to seek a more profound understanding of this tragic situation that he had yet attained. On a fourth ride in the park he came upon a mendicant, his face full of peace and joy. On inquiring, Buddha resolved that he too would undertake this supreme quest.

At the age of twenty-nine he left home and gave himself up to meditation under the direction of two teachers, Alara Kalama and Uddaka Ramaputta. With their guidance he was led to the extreme limits of inward illumination as had been attained at their time. Even at this level of highest insight, Buddha still did not feel that he had attained the liberation he was seeking. This seemed to require something much more severe, a transforming discipline that would liberate him entirely from the limitations of the human condition. Thus he entered upon his great fast. He did this with such severity that he was soon emaciated and near death. His skin darkened, his flesh withered, his bones stood out from his body, and his countenance shrank so that his eyes appeared as flickering water in a deep well. With all this effort he still did not attain release. He resolved finally with "There must be some other, some better way."

He then lived as a wandering mendicant for some six years. During this time he pondered on the sorrow inherent in the human condition and sought for an effective way of release. He meditated one night in Gaya and finally found the information he was seeking. All beings became full of great happiness; and all the different universes were illuminated with a great light. The happy earth shook in six different ways like an overjoyed woman.

Buddha remained in the area for some weeks, overcome with elation but also troubled as to the future course of his life. He was tempted to become a Muni, that is, a silent one who has gone apart from the world, who no longer has any converse with mankind except through his silent presence. He knew the difficulties of a ministry to the people. Yet he had a compassion for all those suffering the agony of the human condition, men with no adequate guidance, even though many spiritual leaders were wandering over the countryside at this time. The legends concerned with this period tell of the struggle that went through his mind. Finally the highest deity, Brahma, came to invite him to bestow this guidance on the people. From motives of compassion Siddhartha then went forth on his mission.