Episode #009 ... The Buddha

In this episode of Philosophize This!, Stephen West explores the origins of Buddhism by detailing the life and philosophical journey of Siddhartha Gautama, who would become the Buddha. Beginning with the symbolic significance of the lotus flower, West recounts Gautama's sheltered upbringing, his life-altering encounters known as the "four sights," and his subsequent renunciation of royal life to seek enlightenment. He delves into the ascetic practices of the time, Gautama's rejection of extremes in favor of the "Middle Way," and his transformative experience under the fig tree, leading to the formulation of the Four Noble Truths: the universality of suffering, its cause in desire, its potential elimination, and the Eightfold Path to achieve Nirvana. West elucidates these truths, emphasizing the role of mindfulness and meditation in overcoming the ego and altering one's perception of reality, and concludes with Buddha's successful spread of his teachings and the enduring legacy of Buddhism. The episode ends with a philosophical question about the significance of family relationships.