As Siddhartha finally finds his enlightenment after a long years of searching, the historical Buddha’s also finds his enlightenment. After his negative experience with the self-denial of the world and the body, he suddenly comes to a realization that one must live life the way he or she is destined to live. He also believes that a teaching or religion can only help guide a person to the right path; but it is the person’s decision to find his or her own enlightenment on their own. “He did not force His followers to be slaves either to His teachings or to Himself, but granted complete freedom of thought and admonished His followers to accept His words not merely out of regard for Him but after subjecting them a thorough examination…”12 This set of teaching is compelling to me because the historical Buddha learns that one must live life their own way in order to find their own peace and happiness. If one lives a …show more content…
Both Siddhartha and the historical Buddha have to endure physical and emotional pain just to find the void that is missing inside of them. Through pains and doubts, both realize that enlightenment cannot be reached by just rejecting the body and the world. They also believe that one cannot rely on the teachings and the religion to find enlightenment. The only true way to find enlightenment is by searching for what best fits one’s lifestyle and by knowing one is at peace within the mind and soul. Both Siddhartha and the historical Buddha would not have find enlightenment has it not been for the positive and negative experiences they encounter in