PART I: THE BUDDHA
Topic 01: The Life of the Buddha
(375 words)
Gotama Buddha, the founder of what came to be known as Buddhism, lived in Northern India in the 6th century B.C. His personal name is Siddhattha which means “wish-fulfilled”, and family name, Gotama who has realized the Four Noble Truths by himself and also made others realized them.
He was born at Lumbini Park, Nepal on the full moon day of Vesak (May) in 623 B.C. He was the son of King Suddhodana and Queen Mahāmāyā. At the age of 16, he married his cousin named Yasodhara, who born him a son named Rāhula. At the time, he saw the Four Great Omens, namely, an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a recluse. There was a great change in his mind, He understood the nature of life and felt compassionate for all human beings who have to face the suffering of old age and death. Therefore, he decided to find the way out not only for himself but also for mankind. At the age of 29 in 594 B.C., He renounced the world and searched for the ultimate truth. He met two ascetics: Ālāra and Uddaka and learnt their doctrines; however their methods did not lead to the super-knowledge, so he left them. After that, he practised self-mortification for 6 long years. This misleading practice only reduced him almost to the verge of death. Then, having known that these were wrong practice, he discarded them and reverted to a normal diet and balanced mode of living by avoiding the two extremes, indulgence in sensual pleasures (kāmasukh-allikanuyoga) and self-mortification (attakilamathanuyoga) and followed the middle way (majjhimapātipada). At the age of 35, he attained Buddhahood. Since then, the Buddha worked tirelessly and relentlessly for the benefits of human beings, Devas and Brāhmas for 45 years. At the age of 80, the Buddha entered into Mahāparinibbāna in Kusinara,at the full moon day of Vasak in 543 B.C. His body was cremated with great ceremony and the relics were divided among Brāhmins, kings and nobles and were then enshrined in ten stupas.
Although the Buddha attained Pari-nibbāna nearly 25 centuries ago, all the teachings that he had expounded to mankind during His lifetime still exist in their complete purity and spread all over the world today.
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Topic 02: A Brief Account of the Gotama Buddha
What is the Buddha?
How Do You Understand by the Word “Buddha”?
(352 words)
“Buddha” is a Pāli word which literally means “The Knower” or “The Awakened One” or “The Enlightened One” of the Four Noble Truths. Awakened One is a person who has already been awakened from the sleep of ignorance.
The Bodhisatta was born as a son of King Suddhodana and chief consort Mahāmāyā Devi in 623 B.C. in Kapilavatthu. He was named “Siddattha” meaning “wish-fulfilled”. After his birth, the King invited eight Brahmins to predict the prince’s future. The youngest Brahmin Koṇḍanna raised one finger and predicted precisely that the prince would certainly become a Buddha, while the other seven raising two fingers and prophesied that prince would become either a Buddha or Universal Monarch. At the age of sixteen, he was not only provided with the three palaces according to the three seasons but also given in marriage to Yasodhara. When he reached the age of 29, he saw the Four Great Omens such as an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a monk. At that time, a son was born and he thought that the son was the only hindrance for escaping from the worldly miseries. So thinking, he renounced all his royal possessions including his wife and son and made himself an ascetic. First, he practised under the guidance of the ascetics: Ālāra Kalama and Uddaka Rāmaputta. But the Bodhisatta realized that their teachings could not show him the path to Nibbāna. Therefore, he left them and practised many forms of severe austerities (Dukkhara cariya) for six long years. These misleading practices only reduced him almost to the verge of death. Then, having known that these were wrong practices, he discarded them and converted to a normal diet and balanced mode of living by avoiding the two extremes, i.e. indulgence in sensual pleasures (kāmasu-khallikanuyoga) and self-mortification (Attakillamathanuyoga) and followed the Middle Way (Majjhima-pāṭipada). Not long before, at the age of 35, he attained Buddhahood. The Buddha worked tirelessly and relentlessly for the benefits of human beings, devas and Brahmas for forty five rain retreats (vassas). At the age of 80, the Buddha entered into Mahāparinibbāna in Kusinara.
Composed by U Saw Mra Aung
Topic 03: The Bodhisatta Siddhattha’s Renunciation
(412 words)
The renunciation of Prince Siddhattha was the boldest step that a man has evertaken. Critics have condemned Siddhattha for His manner of leaving home and Kingdom. Some described it as “callous abandonment of wife and family”. Yet what would have happened if He had not left so stealthily and had approached His loved ones for a formal farewell? They would, of course, have implored him to change His mind. The scene would have been hysterical, and quite possibly the little domain of His father Rajah Suddhodana would have been thrown into turmoil. His intention to seek the truth would have had to be aborted by His father and wife who would prevent Him from His renunciation plans. At the age of 29, Siddhattha was a full-blooded, young man in the prime of life. As it was, the temptation not to abandon all He had known and loved in order to seek the truth must have been formidable. During His final moments in the palace, He visited His bedroom and looked at His slumbering wife and their newborn child. The great impulse to remain and abandon His plan must have caused Him agony. Certainly in those days in India, it was considered a noble thing for a man to forsake home and loved ones to become an ascetic to lead a holy life. All things considered, it would seem that Siddhartha was right in boldly and quickly achieving His plan.
He renounced the world not for His own sake or convenience but for freedom from suffering humanity. To Him the whole of mankind is one family. The renunciation of Prince Siddhattha at that early age was the boldest step that a man could have ever taken.
In the eyes of this young Prince, the whole world was burning with lust, anger, greed and other defilements which ignite the fire of our passions. He saw each and all living beings in this world, including His wife and child, suffering from all sorts of physical and mental ailments. So determined was He to seek a solution for the eradication of suffering amongst suffering humanity that He was prepared to sacrifice everything.
Two thousand five hundred years after His renunciation, some people shed crocodile tears to criticise Him for His action. His wife, however, did not accuse Him for desertion when she realised the purpose of His renunciation. Instead, she gave up her luxurious life to lead a simple life as a mark of respect.
Topic 04: Search and Enlightenment of the Buddha
(330 words)
Six hundred and twenty three years before Christ (B.C.), on the full moon day of May, in the Rupandehi district of the kingdom of Nepal today, at Lumbini, a lovely garden full of green shady Melly Salla groves, Sakya Prince Siddattha Gotama, the Buddha-to-be who would become the teacher of the greatest religion in the world, was born.
After seeing the Four Great Omens, namely, an old man, a sick man, a dead man and a holy hermit, Prince Siddattha understood the truth of life; he left his kingdom and renounced the world in 549 B.C.
The ascetic Gotama wandered about the valley of the Ganges, at first approaching famous teachers, Ālāra Kālāma and Uddaka Rāmaputta, and following their teachings. But their methods did not lead to super-knowledge, awakening, so he turned away from them. Next he joined a group of five ascetics and practiced the most severe ways of life for six years. Because he gave up food, he grew thinner and thinner, but still he did not reach his goal. Then he gave up the two extremes, indulgence in sensual pleasures (kāmasukhallikanuyoga) and self-mortification (attalikamathanuyoga) and followed the Middle Path (Majjhima-pātipada). To restore his health, he accepted the milky rice offered by a young lady called Sujāta and then he sat cross-legged under the big Bodhi Tree (the tree of enlightenment). He decided not to rise from his meditation until he gained wisdom. The Bodhisatta was so resolute in his great struggle for Buddhahood that neither Mara nor the evil forces could break through his calm concentration.
Finally, at midnight, he achieved the three-fold knowledge (the knowledge of his own former births, the knowledge of other being’s passing away and arising, and the knowledge of the total destruction of all impurities). He attained the freedom of mind and the freedom of wisdom and become the Buddha, the Fully Awakened One, the Conqueror of the Battle, who opened the Door of Deathlessness to all living beings, Nibbāna.
Topic 05: The Buddha Does for the World after His Enlightenment
(479 words)
Since enlightenment until the last moment of his life, the Buddha tirelessly devoted his time, energy and with his universal compassion and infinite love for the benefits of mankind and Devas.
For nearly half a century, the Buddha walked on the dusty paths of India teaching the Dhamma so that those who heard and practised could be ennobled and free. He founded an Order of Monks and Nuns, challenged the caste system, raised the status of women, taught religious freedom and free inquiry, opened the gates of deliverance to all, in every condition of life, high or low, saint or sinner, and ennobled the lives of criminals like Aṅgulimāla and courtesans like Ambapāli.
His wisdom and intellect was tower. Every problem was analyzed in details and then reassembled in logical order. None could defeat Him in dialogue. An unequalled teacher, He still is the foremost analyst of the mind and phenomena even up to the present day. For the first time in history of religion, He said that man are the owner of themselves, raised the worth of mankind, and showed that a man can reach to the highest knowledge and supreme Enlightenment by his own efforts.
No one was too little or low for the Buddha to help. Often when an outcaste, the poor or the dejected came to Him, his self-respect was restored and he turned from an ignoble life to a noble one.
The Exalted One was full of compassion (karuṇā) and wisdom (paññā), knowing how and what to teach each individual for his own benefits according to his level and capability. He was known to have walked long distance to help one single person.
He was affectionate and devoted to His disciples, always inquiring after their well-being and progress. When staying at the monastery, He paid daily visits to the sick. His compassion for the sick can be seen from His advice: “He, who attends the sick, attends on me.” The Buddha kept order and discipline on the basis of mutual respect. King Pasenadi could not understand how the Buddha maintained such order and discipline in the community of monks, when he as a king He possessed the power to punish could not maintain it well in his court.
Many miraculous powers were attributed to Him, but He did not consider these. To Him, the greatest miracle was to explain the truth and make a man realise it. He was moved by human suffering and determined to free men from its fetters by a rational system of thought and the way of living.
After forty-five years of ministry, the Buddha passed away at the age of eighty at Kusinara, leaving behind thousands of followers, monks and nuns, and a vast treasure store of Dhamma teaching. The impact of His great works, love, and dedication is still felt today.
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