Notes For All Chapters – Balbharati English Class 6
The Story of Gautama’s Quest
1. Who Was Gautama Buddha?
Gautama Buddha was born over 2,500 years ago as Prince Siddharth.
His father was a king named Raja Shuddhodana.
He was born on a special day called Vaishakh Purnima in a place called Lumbini, near Kapilavastu.
His mother, Mayadevi, died 7 days after he was born.
A prophecy said he would either become a great emperor or a holy man who helps many people.
2. Siddharth’s Early Life
The king wanted Siddharth to be a king, not a holy man, so he kept him in luxury.
Siddharth lived in three beautiful palaces, one for each season (summer, winter, rainy).
He married a beautiful princess named Yashodhara, and they had a son named Rahul.
3. The Four Signs
At 29, Siddharth left the palace to see his kingdom.
He saw four things that changed his life:
An old man (showing life doesn’t stay young).
A sick man (showing pain in life).
A dead man (showing everyone dies).
A monk (showing a peaceful life).
These made him think about sadness in the world and how to stop it.
4. Leaving Home
Siddharth decided to find the truth about life.
He left his wife, son, and palace to become a monk.
5. Hard Years of Search
For 6 years, he lived a tough life, eating almost nothing (sometimes just one grain of rice).
His body became very weak, like a skeleton.
But this didn’t help him find the truth.
6. The Middle Path
Under a Bodhi tree, he decided to stop suffering too much or living too easily—he chose the “middle path.”
A girl named Sujata gave him milk and rice, his first food in days. It made him strong again.
He learned that hurting the body isn’t the way to truth.
7. Enlightenment
That night, under the Bodhi tree, he found the answer:
Sadness comes from wanting things (desire).
To stop sadness, give up desires and live right.
He became “Buddha,” which means the enlightened one.
8. The Bodhi Tree
Buddha was born under a tree and got enlightenment under a tree.
This tree is called the Bodhi Tree, and people still respect it today.
Key Points to Remember
Siddharth was a prince who became Buddha.
He saw life’s sadness and wanted to fix it.
After years of trying, he found peace by following the middle path.
His story teaches us to live simply and kindly.
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