Why the Buddha’s Birth 2600 Years Ago Matters Today

Teacher, Fred Eppsteiner, recounts the story of Siddhartha's remarkable birth and extraordinary transformation in choosing the path of renunciation to become the Buddha, taking life in a human body, from living the life of a royal protected from sickness, old age and death. When he encountered the suffering and impermanence experienced by a renunciate who remained peaceful, there was a crisis in his life precipitating the beginning of his search for that same peace and the attainment of Enlightenment. Fifty years of teaching followed as he became the Great Enlightened One teaching the Oneness of Everyone and Everything: "Above the heavens and below the heavens, I alone am the only One." The lineage of unbroken transmission of those teachings continues through 2600 years to the present.