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According to tradition, Siddhartha Gautama experienced the "Four Sights" outside of secluded palace life: Old Age, Sickness, Death, and an ascetic who was devoted to the religious life. The first three shocked Siddharta, and made him realize that human life is full of suffering. The final sight inspired him to become an ascetic as well to find the way out of human suffering.

Some time later, after attaining Enlightenment, legend states that the deva/god Brahma Sahampati encouraged him to go into the world and teach mankind what he had found, for the happiness of mankind. It seems that at first the Buddha did not find it worth the time because of mankind's ignorance, and inability to understand his teaching. However he eventually decided to teach and over time founded a community of disciples, made up of Bhikkhus (monks), Bhikkhunis (nuns), lay men, and lay women. This was the beginning of the Buddhist faith.

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15y ago

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