Unit 1 · The Prince Who Asked Why

Buddhists tell a story about a boy named Siddhartha. He lived about 2,500 years ago. His home was in the north of India, near Nepal today.

His father was a king. His mother was a queen named Maya. Siddhartha was a prince. He would grow up to be called the Buddha.

The king loved his son. The story says he wanted the prince to see only happy things. So the palace had high walls.

Inside the walls, no one was sick or old where the prince could see. Siddhartha did not know about sadness yet. Buddhists say he had never seen it.

Buddhists tell that the prince went outside the walls. First he saw a man who was very sick. Then he saw a man who was very old.

The prince was surprised. His driver said that all people can get sick. All people grow old. The prince felt sad for them.

Next the prince saw people carrying a man who had died. His family was crying. This was a funeral. The prince felt very sad.

Last, he saw a holy man in a plain robe. The man looked calm and peaceful. Buddhists call these four the Four Sights.

The prince kept thinking about what he saw. Why do people get sick? Why do they grow old? Why are people sad?

Buddhists say he wanted to find a way to help. He wanted to understand suffering. Suffering means hurting or feeling sad.

One night the prince made a hard choice. He left the palace. He left his fine clothes and his riches.

Buddhists tell that he wanted to find an answer to his question. He became a traveler looking for wisdom. His search had begun.

After he left the palace, Siddhartha looked for answers. Buddhists tell that he tried to be very hard on himself. He ate only a few grains a day.

He grew very thin and weak. He could hardly think. The story says he learned that hurting his body did not bring an answer.

Buddhists tell that a young woman named Sujata brought him rice cooked in milk. She shared her food with a stranger.

Siddhartha ate it and felt strong. Buddhists remember Sujata’s kindness. Her small gift helped him on his way.

In the palace, the prince had too much. In the forest, he had too little. Neither one helped him find his answer.

Buddhists say he found a middle way. It is not too much and not too little. The Buddha later taught this in his first talk.

Buddhists use the middle way to think about many things. Eat enough, but not too much. Play hard, and rest too.

You can see balance in your day. Too much screen time feels bad. Too little sleep feels bad. Just enough helps.

Siddhartha sat under a big fig tree. He sat very still and thought for a long time. Buddhists tell that it was a full-moon night.

Buddhists believe that, by morning, he understood why people suffer and how it can end. From then on he was called the Buddha. Buddha means "the awakened one."

The place is called Bodh Gaya, in India. The tree is called the Bodhi tree. Bodhi means awakening.

Buddhists say the tree there today grew from a cutting of the old one. Visitors come from all over the world. They bow and leave flowers to show respect.