The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha - Search for Truth
Siddhartha travelled through the Gangetic plain in search of truth. He paused now and again to study with renowned
teachers and in time came to the city of Vaishali. He had heard of a great teacher living there named Kalapa
Arada who lived with 300 disciples in strict monastic discipline. Siddhartha listened and practised the instructions
of the sage but remained unsatisfied. He realised that Kalapa Arada's path was not the one he wished to pursue
and so he moved on.
Soon afterwards he came to the city of Rajagriha in the state of Magadha. As he walked through the streets people were struck by his look of calm contemplation. Word reached Bimbisara, the King of Magadha that a great monk had arrived in the city and so courtiers were sent to give alms to Siddhartha.
The King's men brought back the news that the monk was sitting in meditation at the foot of Pandava Parvataraja hill, so early the next morning King Bimbisara hastened to pay his respects to Siddhartha. He too was awed by the sense of great peace and serenity that seemed to emanate from the monk. Bowing to Siddhartha he begged him to make his home in Magadha, promising him land, a home and all the comforts that he desired. Siddhartha thanked the King but refused his offer, explaining that desire for worldly comforts was a poison to him. Desire, he explained, was the source of all the miseries of mankind and he had renounced worldly life to find an answer to mankind's misery.
He then made his way to the home of Ramaputra, a famous sage who lived near Rajagriha with seven hundred disciples. Siddhartha joined them and devoted himself to learning all that the sage taught. He mastered the sage's system of meditation and faithfully carried out all the wise man's instructions. However, after some time he realised that Ramaputra's path was not the one he sought. He took leave of the master with respect and affection and continued his quest.
Five of Ramaputra's disciples decided to go with Siddhartha and so, accompanied by these five followers he made his way to Gaya. Here they lived for a time at Gayashirsha Hill and Siddhartha pondered deeply all that he had learned since leaving the palace. He then realised that one would only be able to achieve ultimate knowledge if one were absolutely detached from worldly desires, and the mind was still and tranquil.
Moving on, Siddhartha came to the banks of the Niranjana river near the village of Uruvela. The place was quiet and tranquil, so he decided to settle here and undertake rigorous austerities. Here he meditated, stilling thought and bodily needs. He ate less and less, until his daily diet consisted of a single grain of rice. His body became thin and then skeletal.
Siddhartha meditated this way for six years. He was disturbed neither by hunger nor by the scorching sun or torrential rains. He remained fixed in his purpose, his mind unswerving from the truth he sought. At the end of six years he realised that severe penance would not bring the enlightenment he sought. He broke his fast, eating a little rice pudding offered to him by the girl Sujata who lived in the village of Uruvela. Then he went to the Niranjana river to bathe.
In the days that followed, Siddhartha returned to his former life as a wandering ascetic. He regained his health and strength and continued his quest. However, he remained in the vicinity of the Niranjana river. He was preparing himself for his final struggle to attain the supreme truth.
