New
New
Year 5
Siddhartha: early life
I can recount how Siddartha became disturbed by suffering and tried to find its cause.
New
New
Year 5
Siddhartha: early life
I can recount how Siddartha became disturbed by suffering and tried to find its cause.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Siddhartha was born as a wealthy prince.
- When Siddhartha was born, a prophecy was told that predicted Siddhartha would be a great ruler or a holy man.
- Although he was privileged, he was disturbed by the four sights: an old man, a sick person, a corpse and a holy man.
- He decided to leave the palace and become an ascetic.
Keywords
Ascetic - a person who practices self-discipline and the denial of luxury
Lumbini - birthplace of Siddhartha, in what is now Nepal
Prophecy - a prediction of what will happen in the future
Dukkha - the fact that all life involves suffering
Common misconception
Siddhartha was poor.
Siddhartha was born into a wealthy family and lived in a palace.
Print the four pictures and display them around the room. Pupils can move around the room and retell the story of the four sights. Modern examples of the four sights could be used.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
Open Government Licence version 3.0
except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
In which century was Siddhartha Gautama believed to have been born?
4th century
5th century
7th century
Q2.
Siddhartha Gautama, later known as 'the Buddha', founded which religion?
Q3.
Which of these titles means the 'enlightened one'?
God
prophet
Q4.
In which modern-day country was the Buddha born?
Japan
Thailand
Taiwan
Q5.
Where might you see statues of the Buddha in the UK?
in a Hindu mandir (temple)
in a Sikh gurdwara
Q6.
Match the titles given to the founders of Christianity, Buddhism and Islam to the names of the founders.
Jesus
Siddhartha Gautama
Muhammad
Exit quiz
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5 Questions
Q1.
What does the word 'prophecy' mean?
a messenger of God
self-discipline and the denial of luxury
Q2.
Why did the prophecy cause King Suddhodhana to keep Siddhartha in the palace?
to give Siddhartha lots of choices for the future
to spoil Siddhartha as a privileged prince
Q3.
Sort the four sights into the order in which Siddhartha Gautama saw them.
Q4.
What does living as an ascetic mean?
living with worldly possessions
living in luxury
Q5.
What is the meaning of 'dukkha'?
the four sights
living in luxury
Additional material
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