The Quest for Enlightenment

Naomi Alderman explores the thinking of the Buddha, who, as a young prince, ventured outside the palace walls and began his journey towards enlightenment.

Siddhartha Gautama lived in a life of rarefied luxury until an encounter with suffering changed everything for him. He became the Buddha, the awakened one, urged self-transformation and profoundly shaped the world we live in. But did his many insights come from thinking, as such, or something else altogether?

Special thanks to Kate Crosby, Numata Professor of Buddhist studies at the University of Oxford.

Produced by BBC Studios Audio in partnership with The Open University.