When Siddhartha Gautama left the palace walls to explore the lives of ordinary people, he was shocked to see so much suffering. He left his family and status to live as a monk and find the meaning of suffering. The two answers are: 1. Suffering 2. Meaning of suffering

Answer: 1. Suffering: Siddhartha Gautama was exposed to the reality of human suffering for the first time when he ventured outside the palace. He witnessed the various forms of pain and hardship that ordinary people faced, such as illness, old age, and death. This profoundly impacted him because, until then, his life within the palace walls had been sheltered from these universal aspects of the human condition.

2. Meaning of suffering: Disturbed by the suffering he saw, Siddhartha Gautama embarked on a quest to understand why suffering exists and how it can be overcome. This quest led him to renounce his princely life and take up the ascetic path of a monk. His aim was not just to find a personal escape from suffering but to discover a universal truth that could help all beings find peace and liberation from their pain and unsatisfactoriness of life.

Extra: The experience of Siddhartha Gautama, who later became known as the Buddha, is central to the foundations of Buddhism. The realizations he had upon witnessing suffering are what sparked his spiritual journey, which eventually led to the formulation of the Four Noble Truths, a cornerstone of Buddhist philosophy.

The Four Noble Truths are: 1. The truth of suffering (Dukkha): Acknowledges that suffering is an inherent part of existence. 2. The truth of the cause of suffering (Samudaya): States that the origin of suffering is attachment, desire, and ignorance. 3. The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha): Assures that it is possible to end suffering by eradicating its causes. 4. The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering (Magga): Provides a guide, known as the Noble Eightfold Path which is a set of principles and practices to follow in order to achieve liberation from suffering.

Siddhartha's realization that suffering is a fundamental aspect of human life is critical in understanding the human condition. His subsequent enlightenment provided insights into how individuals could transcend their suffering through ethical living, meditation and developing wisdom and understanding. These teachings have influenced millions of people across the world and continue to be a source of guidance and comfort for those seeking to overcome suffering and find inner peace.