Book Review : 'Gautama Buddha' by Sonia Mehta

Talk of coincidence, but I just remembered that I had this book, after I got back from Dharamshala, a place where Gautama Buddha is a huge factor.  I got back home and read it. I mean, of course I did know of Gautama Buddha but I had the book and it was here for me to read. This book, Gautama Buddha was a super way to end the trip,  with much thanks to the author, Sonia Mehta.

In a kingdom called Sakya, many centuries ago, Queen Mahamaya gave birth to a boy, much to her husband, King Shudhodhana’s delight. Sakya was small tribal kingdom, in present-day Nepal. They named the young boy, Siddhartha. 

Wise men, who saw him, told the king that he would become either a king or a Buddha. A Buddha is someone who has attained Bodhi, or wisdom, or enlightenment. The king, who wanted his son to become only a king, like him strove to keep him away from anything unpleasant. So, Siddhartha was brought up, in incredible luxury kept away from away from anyone or anything poor or suffering. 

He was only 16, when he was married to Yashodhara from the neighbouring kingdom, who having heard of the swan he saved, took to it with much delight and happiness. In spite of the fact that her father had warned her that he would become a monk, one day. But Yashodhara never doubted that he was the one for her.

For thirteen years, the two of them led a very happy life. She was very supportive of him and his feelings. But, in this peaceful life, there still was a sense of unease in Siddhartha’s life. One day, he walked up to his father, and expressed his wish that he wanted to step into the city. His father though reluctant, agreed to it and asked him for a few days. Ordering, the city to be transformed into one of a very pleasant one and free of everyone and everything especially, diseases or poverty, he agreed to Siddhartha going into town.

Finally, Siddhartha walked into town. But suddenly, a beggar from another village walked in. He was old and frail, and he seemed to be begging for food. Next day, he was out again, and this time he met a sick man. His charioteer dragged him away and told him of leprosy, which that man had. The next day, Siddhartha did not tell his father and went in to the city again. This time, his encounter was with a few men carrying a dead man.

Now, again he was out into the city. He saw many people, happy, sad, and healthy and some even sick. Then he came upon, a person dressed in orange attire, with only a stick and a bowl, and a smile on his very calm face. He sat under a tree, and Siddhartha soon found out who that person was. He was told that he was a monk.

Siddhartha, after his adventures in the city, went home to hear that his wife had given birth to a son. Everyone was busy celebrating, but Siddhartha decided to make the move. That night, he was gone.

Siddhartha walked on and on, moving from village, to town to city. He walked into King Bimbisara’s kingdom, where the king himself came and asked him to give up. Siddhartha only told him, of his mission which was to find out how we can be free of death, and only when he found out, would he stop. So, he went on in quest for spiritual teachers. One such teacher taught him, how to meditate and he moved on to another teacher, whom again, he asked questions on suffering, old age and death.

For long years he kept on trying to find out and put his body through all kinds of torture, before finally he realised something. He sat under a peepul tree and shut his eyes in meditation. He saw himself, in earlier lives, saw his own death many times, the good, the bad and desires and wants and finally when the body, become one with the universe, he attained Nirvana.

Sonia Mehta (Author from Penguin)

He went on to teach several people, and from place to place he went. The Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path were all known as the Dhamma or Dharma. The knowledge and practice of these factors was all Dhamma.

It is a good book for everyone to read. Because there is so much more to learn and this book would at least guide us, along the right path. So much else to read and learn from this book and it is only a start.

You can Buy the Book, right here...