Hayley's History Narration - Siddhartha

11 September 2008

Siddhartha - A "History Narration" by Hayley Ridley

Today I learned about Siddhartha. His father was a king. After being tended in the palace for a few years, he began to get restless in wondering what was outside the palace walls. He begged his father to see the land outside. Finally, after being persistent long enough, the father had everything cleaned in the streets. Then, finally, he let Siddhartha go outside the palace walls. He thought the homes and streets were very nice at first. But then when he turned the bend, he saw an old man walking with the help of two sticks. He was horrified. Did everyone get old and sick? They turned another corner and Siddhartha was more disgusted when he saw an old man begging for help from people. Siddhartha asked the drive what was wrong with the man. The driver said, “He is a poor man. He’s “an un-seeable” – no one touches that man; he is soon going to die.” Siddhartha returned to the palace wondering how he would defeat death and sickness. So he cast off his princely garments and got on beggar clothes and went out in the world as a beggar to find out how to defeat sickness and death. One day, as he was sitting under a tree, a thought came to him. The thought was that he could never defeat death or sickness but to lead a good life was the answer. He was soon known as “The Buddah.” People who followed him were called Buddhists. He taught them to have a good life, to be honest, and have hospitality.