The Life of Buddha - Part 2

For six long years, the ascetic Gotama (Prince Siddhattha) wanders around the highways and roads of India. He goes to two of the greatest teachers at that time, Alara Kamala and Uddaka Ramaputta who taught him everything of their religous wisdom. But the ascetic Gotama is still not satisfied, as their teachings do not lead to the cessation of sufferings. With unrelenting energy he undergoes rigorous ascetic discipline, both mental and bodily, seeking a way to stop sufferings through more sufferings. Finally, he ended being very thin, emaciated and a mere skeleton.
Doing way with luxurious living and self torture, the Bodhisattva Prince opt out for the Middle Path of Virtue (Sila), concentration of the mind (Samadhi), and the intensive analysis of psyche-physical phenomena that finally leads to things as they really are (Panna). Seated under the Bodhi tree at Buddhagaya, He attains Samma Sambodhi and becomes the Supreme Buddha.

Having realised The Four Noble Truths- The Noble Truth of Suffering; the cause of suffering; the cessation of suffering and the Path leading to the cessation of suffering, The Buddha decides to teach the five ascetics namely Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji of the Brahmin clan. At the end of this First Discourse or Dhammacakkappavattana Sutra, Kondanna realises the first path and fruition of the Stream-winner (Sotapanna), or one who goes against the stream of Samsara. ( the repeating cycle of life and death.)

"Go now and wander for the welfare of many." The Buddha stayed in Isipatana for many rainy seasons. However, within a few weeks after the Buddha delivered his First Discourse, all five ascetics reached the first fruition Sainthood or Arahants disciples of the Buddha. Over fifty five others followed suit before the the rainy season is over. The Buddha now exhorts his sixty disciples, "Go forth ye bhikkhus, for the welfare of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, welfare and happiness of gods and men. Accordingly His disciples set forth to spread the new teachings.