The Buddha

• When Buddha was conceived, there was said to have been a bright light and earthquakes
• During the Buddha's birth, a white elephant came down from the sky and entered Queen Mahamaya's side. She gave birth to the Buddha while standing up.
• When the Buddha was born, there were two jets of water - one hot and one cold - that appeared from the sky to bathe the baby
• At birth, Siddhartha Guatama took steps in each of the four directions of the compass
• The Buddha was born in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal)
• The Buddha spoke when he was born, announcing that it would be his last rebirth as a human
• Asita the Sage said he would either become a king or a spiritual leader
• The 'Ten Acts' are a framework used by Buddhists to understand the Buddha's life
• We learn most about the Buddha's life from the Pali Canon, the oldest source.
• Buddha experienced the Four Sights:

  • old age
  • sickness
  • death
  • ascetic man