Gautam Buddha was born in Nepal in the 14th century. He was born as Prince Siddhartha. Siddhartha was born on the full moon day of Baishak when his mother was on her way to her father’s home. Though he was the son of a Nepali mother, he has won the hearts of people the world over.

There was a belief that Siddhartha would become a great ascetic (sadhu) in the coming days. So, he was kept in great comfort far away from the worries of society. However, when Siddhartha went out of his palace, he saw the miseries of life that a person has to bear from sickness and even death.

Many questions arose within him. “If a person is born, then why does s/he have to die?” Many such questions plagued him. So, he left his beautiful wife Yashodara, and son Rahul, and went in search of answers to these questions.

After meditating for six years under a bodhi tree, Siddhartha gained enlightenment on Baishak Purnima. He was then called the Gautam Buddha.

We should learn many things from the life of Gautam Buddha. He was a person of great determination and courage. He wanted to know the answers for all human sufferings. Though he meditated for six years, he didn’t find answers to human sufferings. Finally he said that if a person is born, then s/he has to die.

If a prince can forgo (sacrifice) every comfort in order to find remedies for human sufferings, then s/he should be remembered. Gautam Buddha is the example of good living, someone who hated murder, sacrificing of animals, among others.

To show our respect to him, we celebrate Buddha Purnima. We should not only celebrate Buddha Purnima, but should also put his sayings in practice.