April 8, 563 B.C:-
On April 8th, 563 B.C, 2579 years ago, Siddartha was born in the Lumbini vanam, which is in present day Nepal. the protected child who went on to become the Buddha – the enlightened one. There is uncertaintly over his exact date of birth; the Chinese celebrate his bithday on the eighth day of their lunar calendar, most East Asian nations do so on the eighth day of the Gregorian calendar, which is Eighth April.
What were the main teachings of the Buddha?
The main teachings of the Buddha are based on Four Noble truths:
1. Existence is suffering: The first truth is the truth of Dukkha (suffering) which continues with the process of birth, life, death and rebirth.
2. This suffering is caused by human craving: The second truth says that it is this craving which leads to re-becoming, accompanied by delight and lust, and all other emotions.
3. Nirvana or cessation of this suffering is possible: The third truth makes Cessation the goal of one’s practice in the Buddhist tradition. Nirvana (unbound) or cessation is a stage when one is able to detach oneself from the causes of sufferings, craving and ignorance.
4. Nirvana can be achieved through the Eight-fold path: The fourth truth describes path to achieve Nirvana. The Eightfold path of
(i)right view,
(ii) right thought,
(iii) right speech,
(iv) right action,
(v) right livelihood,
(vi) right effort,
(vii) right mindfulness, and
(viii) right concentration, paves the way to Nirvana.
Why was Siddhartha protected from exposure to worldly sufferings?
Siddhartha was born in 563 BC in Nepal (Lumbini) in the royal family of the Sakyas. He was the son of the king Suddodhana. Briefly after his birth, an astrologer named Asita visited King Śuddhodana and prophesied that Siddhartha would either become a great king or renounce the material world to become a holy man, depending on whether he saw what life was like outside the palace walls.
Siddhartha was kept isolated from the world and enjoyed a luxurious life inside his palace. He was married and fathered a son. At age 29, he decided to see more of the world and began excursions off the palace grounds in his chariot. In successive trips, he became exposed to the sufferings - he saw an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. Ignorant of the sufferings, Siddhartha had to ask his charioteer, Channa about them. Channa explained the realities of life. As Siddhartha empathized with them, he also began his quest for finding the ultimate truth.
When did Siddhartha’s quest to discover the ultimate truth begin?
Siddhartha saw a monk, and, impressed with the man’s peaceful demeanor, he decided to go into the world to discover how the man could be so serene in the midst of such suffering. He left his palace and became a wandering ascetic.
Wandering Ascetic: Siddhartha initially began his ascetic life by begging for alms in the streets of Rajgir (in modern day Bihar) in Magadha Empire. After Magadha King Bimbisara’s men recognized Siddhartha and the king learned of his quest, Bimbisara offered
Siddhartha the throne. Siddhartha rejected the offer, but promised to visit the kingdom of Magadha first, upon attaining enlightenment.
Meditation: He then traveled south and studied meditation under the teachers Alara Kalama and Udraka Ramaputra. He soon mastered their systems, reaching high states of mystical realization, but was unsatisfied and went out again in search of nirvana, the
highest level of enlightenment.
Self-denial: Siddhartha and a group of five companions undertook fasting and other austerities for nearly six years. But since these techniques proved ineffectual, he abandoned them.
Where was Siddhartha’s quest fulfilled?
Siddhartha nearly starved himself to death. Once he collapsed in a river while bathing and was rescued by a village girl Sujata who gave him some payasam (pudding made of jaggery). After he regained his strength he reconsidered his path.
It is then that he thought about the ‘middle path’, a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
He seated himself under a Peepal tree (now known as the Bodhi- Tree) at what is now Bodh Gaya, which is flanked by the Phalgu/Niranjan River and promised not to rise until he had attained the supreme enlightenment. After 49 days of meditation, at the age of 35, Siddhartha achieved enlightenment under the Pipal tree and became the Buddha.
He discovered the ‘Four Noble Truths’ which went on to become the foundation of his teachings and Buddhism.
According to a folklore, the Buddha initially debated whether he should teach people about his discovery as he thought humans to be overpowered by ignorance and greed. He was then convinced by God Brahma to teach humans as some would understand the truth.
Who became the first disciples of Buddha?
After his awakening, the Buddha met Traphussa and Bahalika — two merchant brothers from the city of Balkh (which is currently part of Afghanistan) — who became his first lay disciples.
He then travelled to the Deer Park near Varanasi (Benares) in northern India, where he set in motion what Buddhists call the Wheel of Dharma (dhammachakra) by delivering his first sermon to the five companions with whom he had sought enlightenment. Together they formed the first saṅgha: the company of Buddhist monks. Women(his step mother, Gautami was the first woman to be admitted to the Sangha)were admitted to the Sangha, and all barriers of class, race, sex and previous background were ignored. The only desire of the Sangha was to help people reach enlightenment. For the remainder of his life, Buddha traveled, preaching the Dharma (the name given to the teachings of the Buddha) in an
effort to lead others to and along the path of enlightenment.
How did Buddhism influence Indian culture?
Simplistic approach towards religion: Its principles were very simple. It was easily followed by the people. It also had no rituals - animal sacrifices, fasting and pilgrimages.
Opposition to Caste System: Buddha vehemently opposed the caste system in Indian society which was a complex practice during that remote phase of history. Till this day, ‘lower’ caste Hindus who are unhappy with the caste system convert to Buddhism to protest the oppressive system. This practice was started by B R Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution.
Character Building: Buddhism laid great emphasis on love, equality and non- violence. It laid emphasis on the fact that man himself is the architect of his own destiny.
Influence on History: Buddhism had great impact on many kings, most notably on the great emperor and conqueror Ashoka who left his violent ways after the Battle of Kalinga and played an important role in spreading Buddhism.
Freedom for Women: Buddhist monastery was the first to receive women as nuns. Inside monastery, democratic procedures were followed. The head of the monastery was elected not by selection but by a vote.
Education: Buddhism tried to make education practical, action oriented and geared towards social welfare. Most of the ancient Indian universities like Nalanda, Taxila were products of Buddhism
When was the first council held?
The first Buddhist council was held shortly after the death of Buddha around 400 BC. The Council was held outside Saptaparni Cave in Rajgir, India. King Ajatsattru sponsored the council. The meeting was convened by MahaKashyapa, the prominent disciple of Buddha. 500 monks attended the council and the Buddha’s teachings were recited. The main objective of the council was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings and set the monastic rules. Buddha’s disciple Upali was chosen to answer questions about the Vinaya, the monks’ and nuns’ disciplinary rules. Ananda, who had the honour of hearing all the discourses of the Buddha and who had an unusually good memory, was chosen to recite all the discourses and answer questions about the teachings.
The monks adopted the Vinaya-pitaka and Sutta-pitaka as the accurate teaching of the Buddha, to be remembered and kept by generations of monks to come. Along with Abhidhamma-pitaka (which came later), they complete the tripitaka (three baskets) of
the Theravada tradition of Buddhism.
Where is the importance of the Second Buddhist Council?
The Second Buddhist council was held approximately 100 years
after Buddha’s nirvana. It was held in Vaishali (modern day Bihar) in India. It was convened to settle the conflict that had arisen out of an ideological difference among the sangha (Buddhist monastery).
Controversy is thought to have arisen over the 10 rules (vinayas) which monks were obliged to follow. The debate centered on two interpretations of the vinayas, one of which was much stricter than the other.
A monk called Yasa, when visiting Vaishali, noticed a number of lax practices among the local monks. He made a list of ’10 practices’ which the monks should not ideally be doing. The biggest issue was whether monks could be allowed to handle money.
The differences were not resolved and it resulted in the creation of the two major schools of Buddhist thought, the Mahayana and the Theravada.
Third Buddhist Council:
It was held in Patliputra under the patronage of King Ashoka (Maurya Dynasty). It was held under the leadership of the monk Moggaliputta Tissa. This council was held rid the Sangha of corruption and bogus monks who held heretical views. Disputes on certain points of the proposed doctrine lead to further splits, resulting in the Sarvastivadin and Vibhajjavadin sects.
Fourth Buddhist Council:
The Theravada tradition had a Fourth Buddhist Council in the first century BCE in Sri Lanka, at Aloka Lena now Alu Vihara during the time of King Vattagamani-Abaya.
Another fourth council is said to have been held under the aegis of emperor Kanishka in 78 AD. This was held in Kashmir under the presidency of monk Vasumitra.
Fifth Buddhist Council:
This council was held in 1871 in Mandalay, Burma in the reign of King Mindon.
What was the Sixth Council about?
The Sixth Buddhist Council was a general council of Theravada Buddhism. It was attended by 2500 monastics from eight countries from 17 May 1954 to 24 May 1956.
The council was held in a specially built cave and pagoda complex at Kaba Aye Pagoda in Yangon, Burma. The venue was designed to be like the cave in which the First Buddhist Council was held. A major purpose of the Sixth Council was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings and practices as understood in the Theravada tradition. The Sixth Council was sponsored by the Burmese Government led by the Prime Minister, U Nu.
The entire text of the Pali Theravada canon was reviewed and recited by the assembly of monks. This Council’s work was a unique achievement in Buddhist history. After the scriptures had been examined thoroughly several times, they were put into print, covering 52 treatises in 40 volumes. At the end of this Council, all the participating countries had the Pali Tipitaka rendered into their native scripts, with the exception of India.
Note: Therevada and Mahayan are the two major sects of Buddhism. Theravada is the dominant form of Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, Burma and Laos. Mahayana is dominant in China, Japan, Taiwan, Tibet, Nepal, Mongolia, Korea and most of Vietnam.
How is Theravada different from Mahayana?
1. Theravada (The Teaching of Elders) is a branch of Buddhism which is more orthodox in nature and follows the oldest available Buddhist text.
2. Thereavada believes in freeing one’s self from bondage, namely samsara. It does not believe in idol worship.
3. Mahayana (Great Vehicle) is the other branch which has adopted a more diverse view. The goal of Mahayana is to fulfill the destiny of a Bodhisattva, enlightenment and inner peace. Statues are used for meditation and prayers by the sect.
4. Location of Buddhist Paths
Theravada Buddhism – Southern (Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, parts of Southeast Asia)
Mahayana Buddhism – Northern (Tibet, China, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, parts of Southeast Asia)
- Scriptures Theravada in Pali (Pali Cannon).
Mahayana in Sanskrit (Sutras)
5. Both share the common basic Buddhist teachings of Four Noble Truths and Eight fold path. Language Difference Theravada Buddhism is more conservative. It places importance on Pali as the birth language of the Buddha. Pali is used in worshipping. Bodhisattvas (Buddha in his former lives)
6. In Theravada only Maitreya is accepted as the Bodhisattva; in Mahayana, Maitreya plus non historical figures are also accepted.
7. Enlightenment
Mahayana Buddhism suggests Boddhistvas delay their realisation to stay in Samsara (the worldly bondage) and help other struggling humans. Theravada suggests Bodhisattvas seek enlightenment first before they are able to help others stuck in Samsara. Goal of
Buddhism
8. Theravada places greater emphasis on arhatn – liberation or Nirvana. In Mahayana, the role of the Bodhisattva path is given more prominence.
Why are the Buddhist councils held?
After the death of Gautam Buddha, monks and scholars concerned with practicing the lessons he taught met several times at formal councils.
At these councils, the canon of Buddhist thought was established, the rules of monastic life were agreed, and matters of dogma and ideology were debated and confirmed. They were usually organized to settle disputes regarding the interpretation of the Buddha’s
teachings.
The main aim of the council is to affirm and preserve the genuine Dhamma (Dharma) and Vinaya (Discipline). The exact number, location, and importance of the councils are widely contested but the first two councils are considered of prime importance.
While Buddhists from Sri Lanka and Myanmar acknowledge the Yangon Council as the 6th, Thai Buddhists list previous councils in Sri Lanka and Thailand and consider the Yangon Council as the 10th.
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source:-Knappily
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