12. ATTAINMENT OF ENLIGHTENMENT AS BUDDHA


Having defeated Mara, Siddhartha spent the rest of the night in deep meditation in the cross-legged lotus posture under the bodhi tree.

During the first part of the night, he gained the knowledge of his former existence. During the second part of the night, he attained the superhuman devine eye to see all the planes of existence dying and rebirth. In the last part of the night, he came to the realization of the Four Noble Truths. His mind was emancipated, ignorance was dispelled, knowledge arose, darkness retreated and light appeared. Thus at the age of 35, in the full moon night of May, Siddhartha attained the Supreme Enlightenment and became the Buddha.