3.1.2 The Four Sights

Question 1

Where is the story of the Four sights recorded?

Answer 1

Jataka 075

Question 2

What was the first of the Four Sights? (3 bullet points)

Answer 2

• Old age
• He saw a frail, old man - never seen before
• First real experience of old age

Question 3

What was the second of the Four Sights? (3 bullet points)

Answer 3

• Illness
• Saw someone lying in the road in agony - never seen before
• Began to understand that illness was a reality of life

Question 4

What was the third of the Four Sights? (5 bullet points)

Answer 4

• Death
• Saw dead man being carried through the streets in a funeral procession
• Some say it struck him more deeply
• Realised death came to everyone - no escape, even for kings
• Realised everyone who was born goes through process involving growing older, illness, suffering and death

Question 5

What was the fourth of the Four Sights? (4 bullet points)

Answer 5

• A holy man
• Saw a man walking calmly dressed in rags, carrying an alms bowl
• Peaceful expression of holy man impressed Siddhartha and he felt inspired to become like this holy man + to become a wandering truth seeker
• Perhaps beginning of Siddhartha’s quest to search for answer to problem of why people suffer, and how to stop it

Question 6

What effects did the Four Sights have on Siddhartha? (5)

Answer 6

• Made him realise his life of luxury was not real life and it would eventually come to an end
• Realised real life was full of pain and suffering because of aging, sickness, and death
• Turning point in his life that set him on a different path
• He was inspired by the holy man - gave him hope that suffering could be overcome
• Renunciation - he gave up all possessions and relationships to search for answers about suffering

Question 7

What did Siddhartha do following the Four Sights? (5 bullet points)

Answer 7

• Finding answer to problem of suffering became most important thing in his life
• One night, he left place for good in search of an answer
• When him and Channa reached edge of a river, they dismounted from horses
• Siddhartha took his sword + cut off his hair, swapped his rich clothes for clothes of a beggar
• Gave all rings/bracelets to Channa to take back to his father

Question 8

What was Siddhartha doing by giving up his possessions and symbols of his previous life? (2 bullet points)

Answer 8

• He was letting go of things he thought were keeping him ignorant, and thus resulting in his suffering.
• Later he was to teach that, renunciation (a letting go) was important in reaching enlightenment.