Siddhartha Gautama: The Life of the Buddha: Based on Original Sources

by R.N. Pillai (Adapter), Aniruddha Mukherjee (Illustrations)

Can the path to the ultimate truth about human life be found by leaving behind wealth, comfort, family and security? Born as the heir to an Indian kingdom, Prince Siddhartha knows only happiness, luxury and love. Fearing the prophecy that the child will one day abandon his princely life, Siddhartha’s father builds him three palaces to provide everything he could ever desire. But the power of destiny cannot be held back by physical walls. Leaving palace, wife and son behind, Siddhartha embarks on a new life that will ultimately lead him to the one thing that he is in search of – the solution to all human suffering. Now an enlightened Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama wanders the country, spreading the knowledge that he has discovered. This is the story of the life and teachings of the Buddha, the all-knowing, whose influence still reverberates in every corner of the world.

Real Reads are accessible texts designed to support the literacy development of primary and lower secondary age children while introducing them to the riches of our international literary heritage. Each book is a retelling of a work of great literature from one of the world’s greatest cultures, fitted into a 64-page book, making classic stories, dramas and histories available to intelligent young readers as a bridge to the full texts, to language students wanting access to other cultures, and to adult readers who are unlikely ever to read the original versions.

Genres: Spirituality

64 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2014

Reviews

[Zizi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a great starting point for someone like me who has a limited knowledge of Buddhism in general. The illustrations were nice and informative, especially in the last part about the Buddha’s death and the position he was in as he passed. The language was clear and simple, although I do wish there was a glossary explaining with a bit more detail the terms that appear throughout the text. Other than that, I enjoyed this book a lot!

[Eba]

Nagkamalo ako ng bili nito nagulat ako bakit pambata pota. Pero I like it. As an atheist, feeling ko buddhism ang calling ko

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a well-written and informed account of the Buddha's life and the main precepts of Buddhism.

However, I don't completely understand who the target audience is supposed to be. It seems like a fourth or fifth grade level book (structure-wise) but overall the majority of the material would go over their heads, or is inappropriate for those who have not experienced loss, so I think this is more appropriate for a middle school student.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

**I received this book via a goodreads giveaway. Thanks to those that made it happen!**

This was a concise yet thorough overview of the Buddha's life that would be best for children aged 11-13. That said, I enjoyed the content for its simplicity and its encapsulation of a life that impacted many others.