The story of the Buddha , born Siddhartha Gautama, is a journey from a life of sheltered opulence to one of profound spiritual awakening . Born as a prince in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal) roughly 2,500 years ago, Siddhartha was raised in a palace where his father, King Suddhodana, protected him from all knowledge of suffering, hoping he would become a powerful world ruler. The Four Sights and Renunciation

: He learned that disease and pain are inescapable parts of human life. A Corpse : He understood the ultimate reality of death.

For six years, he practiced extreme asceticism, once eating only a single grain of rice a day, until he was near death. Realizing that neither luxury nor starvation brought peace, he adopted the —a path of moderation.

Despite his luxurious life, Siddhartha grew curious about the world outside the palace walls. At age 29, he ventured out and encountered the "Four Sights" that changed him forever:

The Life Story of the Buddha: Siddhartha from Prince to Buddha

: He saw a peaceful holy man who had renounced worldly possessions to seek an end to suffering.

: For the first time, he realized that everyone eventually ages and loses their strength.

Deeply moved, Siddhartha secretly left his wife and newborn son in the middle of the night to become a wandering seeker. The Quest and Enlightenment