The Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama)

Hello! My name is Siddhartha Gautama. Long ago, I was a prince. I lived in a big, beautiful palace in a land that is now called Nepal. I had cozy beds and yummy food to eat. I had lots of fun toys to play with every day. My father was a king, and he made sure I was always happy and safe inside our palace walls.

One day, I decided to peek outside the palace. I saw some people who looked sad. I saw other people who looked tired. Seeing them made me feel sad, too. I started to wonder about big things. I asked myself, 'Why do people feel sad?'. I also asked, 'How can I help everyone feel happy and peaceful inside?'. These questions were so important to me that I left my nice palace to find the answers for everyone.

I traveled for a long, long time. I thought very, very hard about my big questions. I found a big, leafy tree, called a Bodhi tree, and I sat underneath it. I thought about how to be kind and peaceful. After a while, I understood the answer! The answer was to be kind to everyone. It was to share what you have with others and to have a calm and loving heart. I felt so happy and peaceful. I couldn't wait to share this wonderful feeling with the whole world.

I became a teacher, and people started to call me the Buddha. I lived to be about 80 years old. I spent my life traveling and teaching people how to be kind. Today, many people all around the world remember my story. They follow my ideas to find peace and happiness in their own hearts.