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A Chronology of Events (Prince Siddharthas birth to becoming the

Buddha)
1. Queen Maya dreamt of a white
elephant entering her womb.
a.) The white elephant entering her
womb
represents a child who is pure and
powerful.
b.) The elephant came from the heaven
which also
represents that the child is from the
heaven.
2. The birth of Prince Siddhartha. The
name Siddhartha means one who has
accomplished his goals.
Miracle Stories surrounding his
birth:
a.) Queen Maya not feeling any pain
during
Siddharthas birth.
b.) Baby Siddhartha being mysteriously washed by
water.
c.) The earth shook during his birth.
d.) The baby Siddhartha walked 7 steps and
declared he will become chief of the world.
3. King Suddhodana asks a Brahmin to see into the princes future
a.) The Prince will become either a great king or a great religious man/the Buddha.

4. The prince grows up. He was a curious,

inquisitive and smart childboth in his studies
and skills.

5. The king sheltered the prince with luxurious

life. He was given many things to prevent him
from leaving the palace.

6. Prince Siddhartha was married to Princess

Yasodhara at the age of 16. They had a child
a.) The marriage was arranged by king
Suddhodana

7. Prince
kingdom.

Siddhartha was permitted by king Suddhodana to visit the

The Four Sights
a.) The prince saw a weak old man.
b.) The prince saw a sick man suffering from
the illness.
c. The prince saw a dead man and the weeping
relatives.
d.) The prince saw a monk/religious man in
meditation.
8. The prince was bothered by what he saw.
He contemplated on them.
9. Prince Siddhartha left behind the luxury of
the palace, his family and his chance to
become a king.

10. Prince Siddhartha went out, embraced an ascetic life and searched for the
answers for his four sights.
11. Prince Siddhartha learned meditation from teachers.

a.) It was not enough because sitting and being on one place while meditation
could not be extended
forever and will not help find the answers to his four
sights.
12. Prince Siddhartha joined Brahmin students
who practiced fasting and breathe control.
a.) This did also help him
b.) It is said that too much fasting almost
brought him to death (sources say he ate a few
grains of rice each day and that he consumed only
a spoonful of bean soup per day too)
13. Prince Siddhartha realized the middle
way which is largely defined by moderation
and meditation.
a.) He rejected the practices of the Brahmins
as it brought discomfort and death. He went on to
find his answers.
b.) A woman offered the prince nourishments
after almost dying because of the very long
meditating and fasting.

14. The Three watches of the

Night/ Three periods of the Night.
a.) First watch: he developed the
ability to recall the events of his
previous reincarnations in detail.
b.) Second Watch: he was able to
see how the good and bad deeds that
many living things performed
during their lifetimes led to
the reincarnation into their next life.
c.) Third Watch: he learned that he
had progressed beyond "spiritual
sins," desire, hatred, hunger,
thirst, exhaustion, fear, doubt,
and delusions.
15. The temptation of Mara

a.) In Buddhist literature, Mara attempted to stop Prince Siddhartha from attaining
enlightenment through temptation and fear. Mara tried persuading the prince that what
he was doing was useless and no one will stand witness to his enlightenment. The prince
touch the ground and declared earth will be my witness.
b.) Though tempted, according to Buddhist stories, the prince sat for 49 days
without being disturbed.
16. Prince Siddhartha attains enlightenment
a.) While sitting under a Bodhi tree, he begun to experience spiritual discovery.
16. Prince Siddhartha becomes the Buddha