"Buddhism has the characteristics of what would be expected in a cosmic religion for the future: it transcends a personal God, avoids dogmas and theology; it covers both the natural and spiritual, and it is based on a religious sense aspiring from the experience of all things, natural and spiritual, as a meaningful unity" Albert Einstein (Robison 1).
Who knew that the fourth largest religion in the world would begin its story with a young and beautiful queen named Maya. She had a dream of a six-tusked elephant with a head the color of rubies coming down from the heavens and entered her right side (Rawding 7). The Brahmins (intelligent men who were skilled at interpreting dreams) told the king that the dream was a sign that the child that his wife would give birth to was a holy child and would achieve perfect wisdom (Rawding 7). .
Siddharta Guatama (the Buddha, as he is more commonly known) was born into orthodox Hinduism. His father, in fear that his son would not follow in his footsteps and become king, raised him in a wealthy and pleasure-filled palace to shield his son from any experience of human misery and suffering (Hooker 1). He married Yasodhara, who was the daughter of the court minister (Rawding 11). When he went to the choosing ceremony he was very much attracted to her. Siddharta and several other princes had to compete by showing all of their abilities (Rawding 11). After many days of competition she chose Siddharta and they got married (Rawding 12) Within a year, Yasodhara gave birth to her son, Rahula (Rawding 12). .
When he would ride into the city with his wise and faithful charioteer, Channa, the king's servants would make sure all the blind, lame, sick, and elderly were in their homes and off the streets (Rawding 14). However, the Guardian Spirits showed him three different sights on three different trips to the city: first it was an old man; second they showed a sick man; then a dead man on the side of the road (Rawding 14).
