The Light of Asia

by Edwin Arnold

"The Light of Asia" by Sir Edwin Arnold is a narrative poem published in 1879. It tells the story of Prince Siddharta Gautama's transformation into the Buddha, the Awakened One. Through verse, Arnold presents the Buddha's life, character, and philosophy, tracing his journey from sheltered prince to enlightened teacher. Written when Buddhism was little known in the West, this free adaptation of ancient texts became one of the first works to successfully introduce Buddhist teachings to Western readers, inspiring figures like Mahatma Gandhi and spawning translations into over thirty languages.