Synopsis The essence of the Buddha's mission was compassion for all creation. The stories have been selected from the events in the life of Gautama Buddha. The Buddha means the enlightened. The Sakya prince did not reject life entirely but returned to it, declaring the middle path or moderation, avoiding the extremes of self-affliction and indulgence. As the Buddha made his first discourse at the Deer Park in Varanasi, he set the wheel of dharma rolling.