Why Siddhearta?

The Sanskrit name Siddhartha has two root words: siddha-artha.
'Siddha' means to accomplish, fulfill or establish.
'Artha' means purpose, aims or meaning.

So Siddhartha means 'to accomplish your purpose','to establish meaning', or 'fulfill your aims'.

Siddhartha Gautama was a young prince born in northern India around 600BC. There are many accounts of his biography, and I encourage you to read them all, but this is a new way of looking at the story of a particular young prince's path to awakening.

Siddhartha grew up in a sheltered palace.  His father embellished him with the best education and training of the day, not to mention satisfying his every need and comfort.  His destiny was clear- stay here in the castle, everything will be provided for you and someday you will take over this throne and lead the people.

The story usually goes that Siddhartha managed to escape his father's heavy hand and ventured out into the streets.  There he was confronted by disease, suffering, and a dying old man.  The customary account is that Siddhartha was so moved by these encounters that he decided to flee the castle and embark on the spiritual path.

But what else was going on in Siddhartha's head?  Was he really satisfied living life in the castle?  Did all of the material wealth and indulgence really bring fulfillment?  Had he had enough of all of the excess and distraction?  What was it in his life that made him want to leave the castle in the first place?

Regardless, Siddhartha escaped the castle.

India at that time was a spiritual hotspot.  Many traditions were thriving and Siddhartha had access to some of the best teachers of the day.  He first practiced extensively with Alara Kalama, became his foremost disciple and was requested by that teacher to be his heir.  Undoubtedly he would have experienced peaceful meditative states, mental states of bliss and clarity.  He would have known single-pointed concentration and the quiescence of a deep samadhi.  He would have been lauded for his achievements and honored by the community. 

But he chose to leave.  There was something that was missing.  Why was he dissatisfied with the practice?  Why was he not fulfilled, his aims not met?

He then studied under the guidance of another prominent teacher of the era, becoming his foremost disciple and requested to be his heir.  Undoubtedly he would have experienced exalted meditative states of peace, clarity and non-conceptuality.  He would have known first-hand the many benefits of meditation and had much insight into the nature of reality.  

But he chose to leave.  There was something that was missing.  Why was he dissatisfied with the practice?  Why was he not fulfilled, his aims not met?

He then set out with a group of five close friends who were all excellent practitioners.  These guys worked hard.  They pushed themselves to the limit.  They underwent extreme physical challenges.  They tried every possible diet, eating only the purest of foods and water.  They stayed in mountain locales and jungles, alongside sacred rivers and under sacred trees.  If enlightenment was to be gained through hard work, these guys worked the hardest.

But enlightenment was not achieved.  

Siddhartha's body collapsed along a riverbank.  His practice had not yielded its intended result, his aims unfulfilled.  

Then a young girl appeared, maybe by chance, maybe by the intervention of the gods as legend has it.  She gave the weary and weakened Siddhartha a gift of some milk and rice pudding.  They nourished his body, nourished his mind.  That gift gave him strength, the strength to continue his practice.  

At that moment it is hard to say what Siddhartha was thinking.  All the effort he had put in, all the striving for the goal.  He had tried every possible method, manipulated every possible condition.  Still, there was something missing.  Why was he dissatisfied with the practice?  Why was he not fulfilled, his aims not met?

He then sat down under a pipal tree and vowed that he would not get up from his seat until he gained awakening.  He vowed that he would not change anything, would not rely on any external conditions whatsoever.

Siddhartha took his seat in the unchanging way of abiding and faced his negative thoughts and emotions.  Without wavering from his meditation, negative thoughts and emotions were freed in their own place, thus he continued to rest naturally.  

Siddhartha took his seat in the unchanging way of abiding and faced his hopes and fears.  Without wavering from his meditation, his hopes and fears were freed in their own place, thus he continued to rest naturally.  

Siddhartha took his seat in the unchanging way of abiding and faced his negative deeds.  Without wavering from his meditation, his negative deeds were freed in their own place, thus he continued to rest naturally.  

Siddhartha took his seat in the unchanging way of abiding and faced his doubt.  Without wavering from his meditation, his doubt was freed in its own place, thus he continued to rest naturally.  

Siddhartha took his seat in the unchanging way of abiding and faced his perception in an intrinsically real self.  Without wavering from his meditation, his perception of an intrinsically real self was freed in its own place, thus he continued to rest naturally.  

There he sat.  Not holding onto anything whatsoever he was naturally freed in his own condition.  Not grasping at anything that arose in his experience, reality was freed just as it is.  

Resting in that unchanging way of abiding, his mind was conquered.  His delusions tamed.  His doubt pacified.  He discovered in his heart a vast openness, a profound peace and radiant warmth.  From that sense of inner fulfillment generosity, love and kindness naturally blossomed into the world.  He shared his heart with the world and brought untold benefit to generation upon generation.

His aims were met, he looked no further. 

So Siddhearta is about conquering your own mind.  When you are weak and wearied, the generosity of others will give you the strength to proceed.  When they themselves are tired, your generosity will bring them a place to rest.

External conditions will not fulfill your aims.

If you are able to discover in your heart a vast openness, a profound peace and radiant warmth- then generosity, love and kindness will naturally blossom and spread your art in whatever form it may take.

Now go take your seat.