The Buddha: Young Seeker (Childhood of World Figures)

The man we call the Buddha was born as Siddhartha in Nepal around 563 b.c. to the king and queen of Shakya. After his birth, a great seer decreed that the baby would be holy, and early on Siddhartha exhibited great intelligence and empathy. His father wanted him to become king, not a holy man, but Siddhartha was not satisfied by his pampered life, and was moved by the hardships of the commoners. Despite his father's wishes, Siddhartha ultimately left behind his kingdom and all his worldly possessions in his search for enlightenment.

This biography focuses on the childhood of the Buddha: a man with a fascinating history and an enormous contemporary following.