Prince Siddhartha's experiences with suffering changed him forever. He wanted to find happiness and peace just as the ascetic had found.
He decided to give up his old life, and find enlightenment. This meant he could be free from suffering. At the edge of the dark woods,Prince Siddhartha removed his royal robes, sandals, and jewels. All he kept on was a simple robe and a small bowl for alms, or gifts and food. Alms are goods given to the poor. He cut off his hair with a knife. He than began his life as an ascetic. He met many other ascetic's while wandering in the forest. Many ascetics wanted to understand the nature of the world. They believed they could reach enlightenment through meditation.
While meditating the ascetics sat quietly and focused their minds on spiritual questions. The prince quickly became an expert at meditation.The ascetics denied their bodies most basic needs. They stayed up all night without sleeping. They sat out in the hot sun without shelter. They held their breath for long periods of times. They also fasted. They hoped to find spiritual truth through self-denial. Siddhartha followed these ways until he was pitifully thin. Eventually, he became unhappy with this extreme way of living. He had yet not found the key to enlightenment.
He decided to give up his old life, and find enlightenment. This meant he could be free from suffering. At the edge of the dark woods,Prince Siddhartha removed his royal robes, sandals, and jewels. All he kept on was a simple robe and a small bowl for alms, or gifts and food. Alms are goods given to the poor. He cut off his hair with a knife. He than began his life as an ascetic. He met many other ascetic's while wandering in the forest. Many ascetics wanted to understand the nature of the world. They believed they could reach enlightenment through meditation.
While meditating the ascetics sat quietly and focused their minds on spiritual questions. The prince quickly became an expert at meditation.The ascetics denied their bodies most basic needs. They stayed up all night without sleeping. They sat out in the hot sun without shelter. They held their breath for long periods of times. They also fasted. They hoped to find spiritual truth through self-denial. Siddhartha followed these ways until he was pitifully thin. Eventually, he became unhappy with this extreme way of living. He had yet not found the key to enlightenment.