The story of "The Buddha" (documentary)

The Buddha was from Gandhara.

American actor and close friend of the 14th Dalai Lama Richard Gere narrates a Mahayana-centric look at the life of Shakyamuni mostly as myth and legend, an allegorical tale that inspires us on the heroic journey of setting off on a spiritual quest to make an end of all suffering by waking up from this illusion.

While the details may be off and seemingly composed by Brahmins, Vedantists, and Hindus, the tale is nevertheless the foundation for a beautiful faux documentary about popular Buddhist ideas.

The actual details would tell a different story originating farther west in ancient Gandhara (now Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir), as a Scythian prince realizes he is meant for much more than serving as ruler of settled nomads in ancient Scythia (Saka/Shakya Land, Greco-Bactria, Sogdiana, Seleucid, Kushan, Kurgan, and other empires of the past, including the USSR and "the Stans"). See RanajitPal.com

Is Bamiyan one of the three royal palaces?

He goes, not from Nepal but from Bamiyan - Mes Aynak - Kabul/Kapul (Kapilavastu) to Magadha and embarks on yogic asceticism as a means of gaining moksha or liberation from the round of rebirth. When the hedonism of the royal palace and the asceticism of the Indian wilderness fail, he sets off on his own in search of an answer to the question, What is the cause of suffering?

Siddhartha finds the answer in the doctrine of Dependent Origination (conditioned co-arising) that says, "When this is, that comes to be. With the ceasing of this, that ceases." He realizes that suffering (dukkha, disappointment) is conditioned by its supports, it necessary and sufficient conditions (craving, aversion, and ignorance or greed, hatred, and delusion). In the absence of these, suffering disappears.

Hindu Kush foothill view of the Bamiyan Valley

The former prince, now the wandering ascetic (shramana) Siddhartha awakens and becomes The Buddha, The "Awakened One." He establishes a giant Sangha (monastic community) in and around Magadha and Bihar to preserve and promote the Dharma.

Then he returns home to accomplish his ambition of teaching his subjects the Path to the End of All Suffering (magga). However, now he realizes he was thinking too small. This message is not only for Scythians but for all the world with its humans and devas.

QUESTION: If Buddhism is so good, why does it talk so much about "suffering"?

ANSWER: It doesn't. The Buddha, like a master physician, was merely laying out a diagnosis, prognosis, and cure or final solution to the sickness we are enduring. The whole of this Dharma or Teaching can be summarized in the Four Ennobling Truths (ennobling because noble or arya means "enlightened"). These four truths are emphasized not just because they are true, but because reflecting and dwelling on them is ennobling, is enlightening. Such intensive contemplation founded on mental purity that results from samadhi or unification of mind (coherence, concentration, absorption) leads to awakening.