Download Gautama Buddha - The Enlightened One

Eternity in an Hour: Philosopher Profiles 1 Gautama Buddha Gautama Buddha - The Enlightened One
(c.560 - c.480 B.C.)
Painting of the first sermon depicted at Wat Chedi Liem in Thailand.
Table of Contents
GAUTAMA BUDDHA - THE ENLIGHTENED ONE...........................................................................1 (C.560 - C.480 B.C.) ....................................................................................................................................................... 1 I. Historical Background ........................................................................................................................................ 2 II. Chronology............................................................................................................................................................. 3 III. Intellectual Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 4 IV. Notable Ideas and Achievements.................................................................................................................. 5 The Four noble truths - The Principle teachings of Buddha......................................................................... 5 The Ten Precepts............................................................................................................................................................ 5 V. Famous Sayings .................................................................................................................................................... 6 VI. BIBLIOGRAPHY ....................................................................................................................................7 GAUTAMA BUDDHA
I.
Historical Background
Born in the Lumbini Grove of what is now modern day Nepal, Gautama Buddha’s birth was
accompanied by the miraculous sign of a white elephant entering his mother’s womb. Given the title
Shakyamuni (sage of the Shakya clan) and Bodhisattva (a being on the way to enlightenment),
Gautama’s parents were the local rulers of a small kingdom in the Ganges Valley in northeastern
India. His mother died soon after his birth and his aunt Prajapati raised him.
His father, Suddhodana, was alarmed when astrologers foretold that his son would either be a
great ruler or, if witness suffering, a great religious teacher, sought to prevent young Gautama from
witnessing suffering. However, Suddhodana’s efforts would be in vain as an older Gautama who was
with wife (Yasodhara) and child (Rahula), persuaded his charioteer, Channa, to take him outside the
palace grounds against his father’s wishes.
Outside the comfort of the palace grounds, Gautama saw on separate occasions an old man, a
sick man, a corpse being carried to the cremation grounds, and a wandering holy man. These Four
Signs made Gautama thought of old age, sickness, death, and the importance of searching for the
meaning in life. He departed from the palace, leaving behind his wife and infant son, and devoted his
life wholeheartedly to search for the truth.
According to Hendrik Willem Van Loon (Van Loon, 2000),
‘but it happened that when he was thirty years old, he drove outside of the palace gates and saw a man
who was old and worn out with labor and whose weak limbs could hardly carry the burden of life.
Siddhartha pointed him out to his coachman, Channa, but Channa answered that there were lots of
poor people in this world and that one more or less did not matter. The young prince was very sad but
he did not say anything and went back to live with his wife and his father and his mother and tried to
be happy. A little while later he left the palace a second time. His carriage met a man who suffered
from a terrible disease. Siddhartha asked Channa what had been the cause of this man’s suffering, but
the coachman answered that there were many sick people in this world and that such things did not
matter very much. The young prince was very sad when he heard this but again he returned to his
people.
A few weeks passed. One evening Siddhartha ordered his carriage in order to go to the river and
bathe. Suddenly his horses were frightened by the sight of a dead man whose rotting body lay
sprawling in the ditch beside the road. The young prince, who had never been allowed to see such
things, was frightened, but Channa told him not to mind such trifles. The world was full of dead
people. It was the rule of life that all things must come to an end. Nothing was eternal. The grave
awaited us all and there was no escape.
II.
Chronology
Important Historical Events in the life of Buddha
Year
566 B.C.
Unknown
Details
Queen Maya saw a white elephant enter her womb on the
night of Gautama’s conception.
Gautama was born in Lumbini Grove (now modern day
Nepal)
His mother died soon after his birth and he was brought up
by his aunt Prajapati
Unknown
Married Princess Yasodhara and have a son called Rahula
Unknown
Persuades his charioteer Channa to take him outside the
palace grounds.
On separate occasions, he saw an old man, a sick man, a
corpse and a wandering holy man
The Great Renunciation
At the age of 29, Gautama left his family, cut off his hair
and went to lead a homeless life.
After The Great Renunciation Went into the forest and met two religious sages who
thought him meditation.
Gautama decided to fast strictly but fails to bring about the
desired enlightenment.
The Enlightenment (6 years Gautama came to a sacred tree (later known as the Bodhi
after the Great Renunciation) or Bo tree) at Bodh Gaya and resolved to meditate there.
He defeats Mara, the personification of change, death, and
evil.
He gains enlightenment and renames himself Buddha
After The Enlightenment
According to tradition, a high god of the religion of the
time (now Hinduism) asked him to try and teach people
the nature of their suffering.
Gautama agrees and go to the Deer Park at Sarnath and
finds five seekers of truth.
Age 80
Gautama died peacefully at Kushinagara, lying on his side
– his death is called parinirvana, or entry into Nirvana.
Source: The World’s Religions: Understanding the Living Faiths (Clarke, 1993)
III.
Intellectual Setting
Leaving his family and cutting off his hair, Gautama went into the forest and came across two
religious sages. They thought him meditation and asked him to join them as teachers. Humbly
declining, Gautama instead decided to fast strictly to bring the desired enlightenment. This lead to his
teaching that the best spiritual way is a middle path between the extremes of self-denial and self-indulgence.
Six years after the great renunciation, Gautama came to a sacred tree called the Bodhi or Bo
tree at Bodh Gaya. Unwilling to give up on his search for the truth, he resolved to meditate beneath
the tree to obtained enlightenment. Buddhist scriptures described his meditation as a battle between
himself and Mara, the personification of change, death, and evil. Mara was eventually defeated and
Gautama gained a state of clarity and understanding of the truth about the way things are. This is
referred to by Buddhist as Gautama’s enlightenment.
According to tradition, a high god of Hinduism asked him to try and teach people the nature of
their existence and to help them overcome their suffering. Gautama agreed and went to the Deer Park
at Sarnath near modern day Benares, where he found five seekers of truth. He proceeded to give his
first sermon on the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path and they became the first of his
many followers.
Gautama taught Buddhism until he reached a venerable age of 80 before dying peacefully at
Kushinagara, lying on his side. His death is called the parinirvana, or entry into Nirvana.
IV.
Notable Ideas and Achievements
Dharmacakra
The Four noble truths - The Principle teachings of Buddha
1. Life is all suffering (dukkha).
2. The origin of suffering is thirst (tanha), a synonym for desire and greed.
3. There can be an end to or cessation (nirodha) of suffering and desire.
4. There is a path (marga) which leads to happiness (See The Noble Eightfold Path).
The Ten Precepts
Buddhist Monks make a commitment to the sangha, or community, by taking ten vows - The Ten
Precepts. This practice dates back to the time of Buddha himself.
1. Harming any living thing
2. Taking what is not given
3. A misuse of senses
4. Wrong speech
5. Intoxicating drugs or drinks
6. Eating after the midday meal
7. Dancing, music, singing, and unseemly shows
8. Garlands, perfumes, and personal adornments
9. Using high and luxurious seats (and beds)
10. Accepting gold and silver
Buddha’s most lasting achievement is to establish Buddhism as a philosophy, way of life and
religion. For a Buddhist, there is no belief or worship in a personal God (in contrast to Jews,
Christians and Muslims). Reaching the state of enlightenment and entering Nirvana involves the
development of morality, meditation, and wisdom – or in other words, self-salvation.
After Gautama Buddha’s death, his followers carried his teachings into other parts of India, Sri
Lanka, Burma (now Myanmar), Thailand and north into the Himalayas. From there, Buddhism
traveled along the Silk Road into China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. It is only until recently that
Buddhism moved into the United States, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
There are primarily two divisions of Buddhism. The first, called the Theravada (the way of the
Theras, or senior monks or elders), is found in Sri Lanka, Burma, and Thailand. This form of
Buddhism is more conservative and maintains a tradition that reflects the earliest and most authentic
Buddhist belief and practices. Theravada scriptures are written in the Indian language of Pali (Pali
Canon) and are believed to contain the actual words of Gautama himself.
The second form of Buddhism, called the Mahayana (Great Way), emphasizes on the variety of
paths it provides. Its scriptures are written in Sanskrit. Mahayana Buddhism encompass of Tibetan,
Chinese, and Japanese Buddhism.
V.
Famous Sayings
“Work out your salvation with diligence.”
~ The Buddha’s last words
“May I not enter into Nirvana until I have brought all beings to supreme enlightenment.”
~ Bodhisattva Vow
“Form is no other than emptiness; emptiness is no other than form.”
~ Heart Sutra
“Watchfulness is the path of immortality: unwatchfulness is the path of death. Those who are
watchful never die: those who do not watch are already dead.”
~ Dharmapada 2:21
“I desire men of all faiths to know each other’s beliefs and acquire sound doctrines
themselves. By honoring others, one exalts one’s own faith and at the same time performs a
service to others.”
~ Ashoka
VI. Bibliography
Clarke, P. B. (Ed.). (1993). The World's Religions: Understanding the Living Faiths. United
States: The Reader's Digest Association Inc.
Loon, H. W. (2000). New York, United States: Liveright Publishing Corporation.