Buddhism
There are 27 Buddhas then preceded by Gautam Buddha. Now Buddhism spread around the World. In Ancient India the Magadha kingdom is based a teaching of Buddhism and Gautam Buddha. Buddhism was a state religion in the time of Ashoka, Harshavardhanm. The spread of Buddhism across China, Sri Lanka and around the World. The practice of Buddhism were lost after Gupta period and declined in 13th century A.D. According to Agni, Bhagavata and Matsya Puranas, Gautam Buddha is the Avatar of Vishnu.
Gautam Buddha
He is known as Buddha, Tathagata, Siddharth, and Shakyamuni. His biographies are Lalitavistara, Buddha charitam, Niddanakatha and Abhiskra mana. He was born in 563 B.C. at Lumbini forest, Kapilvastu, Nepal. His father was Suddhodana was the head of Shakya. His mother was Maya Devi, princess of Devadaha, Nepal of Koliya kingdom. Maya married to Suddhodana. She was the daughter of Suddhodana’s uncle, therefore she was the cousin of Suddhodana and they have not children for 20 years after their marriages. According to legend, one full moon night, she have a dream, in dream, she felt herself and carried by four devas to to Himalaya and bathing her in the lakes, then after heaven clothes wear, anointed her with perfumes and with flower. Soon after a white elephants, holding white lotus flower in his trunk, appear round her three times, entering her womb through right side. Finally elephants disappeared and Queen awake, then she knows about the best wishes by God or Devatas.
Maya was pregnant and after 10 months, she was going to his Parent’s home or motherland, Devadaha, following to a tradition. She was return to her home for the birth. On the way of Lumbini Park under a Sal tree Mayadevi gave birth to a Baby. Then the Devas rain to wash the Baby. Lumbini forest is like Nandan forest. It believe that; after birth, Siddharth walk some steps like Saptarshi stars and said that, “For goodness of world and to achieve knowledge, I born and it is my last birth in the world”. He was named as Siddharth.
A great monk Asit came to the Shakya king from sky route and he take into his lap to the new born baby and saw that his feet had the signs of Chakra, the fingers, hands and feet were webbed with lines. The eyebrows were covered with hair. He told about the baby that, your son is very unique quantity and will be the king of religion and after attain enlightenment; he will open the bondage of the suffering world which is bound by illusion. Then he left to the forest from the sky route.
Then the king released all the prisons of his kingdom. He performs son’s birth rites, give charity and after that he entered the kingdom in good time with his son and wife.
According to Buddhist literature, Maya died after seven days birth of Siddharth and was then reborn in the Tusita a type of Heaven. After that her sister Prajapati Gotami became the child’s foster mother. He called as Gautam for his foster mother Mahaprajapati Gautami’s named.
It is said that, after birth of Siddharth, all properties started getting rised in the kingdom. Money, Grain, horses were rised in such a way that the River rise with the flow of water.
Gautam have 32 good characters. He described as Handsome, good looking, pleasing eyes. He was brought up by his foster mother Mahaprajapati. On the occasion of the name ceremony, the Brahman said perhaps, he was to be a great king or to be a great holy man. Then Suddhodana was shielding him from religious work. Suddhodana built the palace for Sidharth. Suddhodana was wishing his son to be a great King. Siddharth was teaching by 8 Brahman at palace. He was given physical training and was taught the art of warfare in horse riding, archery, and swords-man ship.
Suddhodana provided him to all pleasure and comfort. The music, dance, beautiful garden with flowers all were provided. But all the arrangements were failed and then Suddhodan got him married with Gopa or Yashodhara. He have a meditation life, he always keep away himself from the royal comfort.
Siddharth married to Yashodhara the sister of Devadatta and daughter of Suppabuddha, who was brother of Maya Devi and Mahaprajapati Gotami. Yashodhara was born on Vaishakha Purnima on same day of the Gautam. Yashodhara married to Siddharth at the age of 16 and at the age of 29 she gave birth to a baby named Rahul. On the 7th night after birth of Rahul, Siddharth was left the palace for enlightenment. She knows about the truth of Gautam and had a simple life.
Four great signs
At the age of 29, Gautam left his palace. His father Suddhodana was hiding to sick, aged and suffering persons. One day he steps out from his palace with Chana, his Charioteer, as the wish to see the villages or state by Chariot. On the way, he first saw the old man, he asked to Channa or Chandaka about the old man, and then Channa explain to him one day all men will be going to old. Then he saw a disease man, and asked about the situation of man. He was deeply unhappy. Next he saw a dead body and his relatives were cried, Channa explain the person was sneak out from the world.
Next he saw an Ascetic, who looks very cheerful and happy. He was away from misery, tress. Then he decided to be an Ascetic. After that he got news, he has a son and named his son as Rahul. According to Buddhacharita, “Yasodhara give birth to a son whose face was like Rahu and named as Rahul”. After 7 days of his son born; he left the palace and in the middle night against the will of his father. He left home with Channa and his riding horse Kanthaka. He traveled to river Anomiya with Channa and Kanthaka in one night and cut off his hair remove of his prince dresses and wear a simple Monk style dress given by a Monk near Anomiya River. He leaved Kanthaka and Channa there and going for Enlightenment. Channa returned to the kingdom in 8 days by the same route. Channa was blamed by other then he told that, when the prince started coming out, the gates open on their own, the darkness of the night dissipated, all the doormen went to sleep and no one can wake up and I also couldn’t do the opposite even I wanted to do. It happened because of the inspiration of the Gods.
Attainment of Enlightenment
He started an Ascetic life. He went to Vaishali, he alms or begged on the street. After know about him, Bimbisar the king of Magadha appear to visit the palace but he was rejected by Gautama. He started a meditation life. He left Rajagriha with 5 Brahmin scholars and practiced below two teachers of Yogic meditation. After his first master Alava Kalama, he was asked by succeeded him, but Gautam was unsatisfied about the practiced and left and became a student of Udava Ramaputra and he and his teacher achieved hig level of meditation and was again asked to succeeded his teacher, but he again not satisfied and moved.
After that he knows about Dhyana and that was the right path to awakening, but this rule did not work then he moved to self indulgence and self mortification or the Eightfoldpath, described as Dharmachakra Pravattana Sutta, which regarded first discourse of the Buddha.
In the time of Meditation, he said to have accepted rice pudding from a village girl named Sujata as she believed to be a spirit that had granted her wish, he seated under Pipal tree now called Bodhi tree.
He searches for the truth now goes him to on the bank of river Niranjana near Gaya with 5 scholar companies. After 6 years searching for truth. He took a birth in the river Niranjana and sat in the meditation under a Pipal tree on the bank of river Niranjana. After 7 days of meditation; he attained Enlightenment or spiritual knowledge at the age of 35. Now tree is called Bodhi tree and the place called Bodh Gaya. He gets the truth of life that is called Enlightenment. After got the Enlightenment he went to Sarnath and delivered his first sermon in the deer park to the 5 Brahmin Scholars who left Gautam at Mathura. These 5 Scholars became the first disciple of Buddha.
The Buddha first sermon at Sarnath called Dharmachakra Pavattana or turning the wheel of Law. Then he goes to long journey and messages for World and wide. He walks to 20 to 30 km in a day.
After Enlightenment, he meets to Taphussa and Bhallika two merchant brothers from city of Balkh. They were Buddha’s first lay disciples and each was given hairs from his head now this hairs in the Dagon temple in Rangoon, Burma. Buddha visit to his former teacher Alava Kalama and Udava Ramaputta, but they were died. Rishi Kashyap and his two younger brothers Gaya and Nadi accept Buddha’s teaching.
Teaching
From Sarnath, he goes to Rajagriha and meets to King Bimbisara of Magadha, Gautam promise to Bimbisara to teach after get the Enlightenment. He stayed 3 months in Rajagriha. He influence to King Bimbisara and young Prince Ajatashatru. He also converts King Prasenjit and Queen Mallika of Kosala to Buddhism. He also travelled to Gangetic plain, Bihar, Nepal. He goes to Kapilavastu. After 2 years of Enlightenment, he returns to Kapilavastu to teaching of Dharma. The royal palace prepares the midday meal but the Sangha was alms or begged in Kapilavastu. Royal members also joined the Sangha. His cousin Ananda and his servant Upali and Aniruddha become two of his five chief disciples. At the age of seven his son Rahul also joined Sangha and become a one of his ten chief disciples. His half brother Nanda, son of Mahaprajapati also becomes joined to Sangha.
During Rainy season, he rarely traveled. He was most walking carely for not harm any animal life. The people come to them. In his fifth year after Enlightenment, he heard the news of his father is going to death. He was gone to Suddhodana and taught the Dharma.
His foster mother Mahaprajapati asked to join he sangha but he was refused. She led a royal Shakya and Koliyan ladies which followed to the sangha on a long journey to Rajagriha. Ananda says to join the ladies into Sangha, after 5 years he agreed to join the ladies into Sangha. He reasons the men and women equally capacity of awaking but women additional rules Vinaya to follow.
According to Buddhacharita, a king of Koshala visit to Buddha and bowed down like a punishment. Then Buddha said, O’ Rajan! You are entitled to receive a noble post. Seeing the pain of repeated birth, old age and death in the world strive for liberation.
After that Raja said that, Hey sage, I want to make a Vihara or matha for you and your followers. Then the king bought a forest from Jet with huge money ans made a Vihara.
Mahaparinirvana
According to Mahaparinirvana sutta of Pali canon at the age of 80 the Buddha announced, he is soon reach Nirvana or death. Buddha ate his last meal, which he had received from a blacksmith named Cunda or Kanda. Then at Kushinagar, he takes bath in Hiranyabati River and told to Anand thake make a sleeping place. He said to Anand to inform his followers and devotee for his last opinion. A man name Subhadra came to see Buddha and he accepts the religion and take his last breath before Buddha in this place. Then Buddha also takes his last breath.
Ananda convince Cunda that the meal eaten his place had nothing to do with his death and that meal would be a source of the greatest merit as it provided the last meal for a Buddha. Some scholar argues that the meal was food poisoning. On the full moon day of the month of Vaishakha in 486 B.C. he takes his last breath. The event is called Mahaparinirvana of the Buddha. According to Buddhist tradition, he died at Kushinara of Malla kingdom. His final word is all composite things are perishable strive for your own liberation with diligence.
The body was placed in the Shivaka and keeping on the shoulder came out the city gate across the Hiranyavati River. The flowers of the Sundarvan forest rained down, the Gandharva were danced. Some people recited the stotras of the sage. Thus keeping the body on the pyre and setting it on the fire thrice, the pyre did not burn because his disciple Kashyap was coming for darshan. When Rishi Kashyap came, the pyre itself burn. Buddha’s skin, flesh etc were burn but the fire couldnot burnt the bones. The Mallas washed that bones and placed in a golden urn and installed in their beautiful city. After some period, other kingdom attack to the Mallas for bones and ashes of the Buddha. The seven kings were attacked to Malla then a Brahman named Drone united to the Kings and explains, then the bones and the ashes were divided in 8 parts for 7 kings and Malla’s king. Then Kings were made 8 stupas.
His body was relics and placed in monuments or stupas. There are 84,000 stupas around the World which was built by Samrat Ashoka.
Four truths
The fundamental principles of Buddhism are represented by Four Nobles Truth or Arya Satyani, such as, Sorrow, the cause of sorrow, the remedy for sorrow and the path. They were expressed by the Budha himself at the deer park of Sarnath on his first sermon. According to Buddha, the life is full of sorrow and suffering the age, disease and death. According to him birth is sorrow, separation from pleasant is sorrow and every wish unfulfilled is sorrow.
The second truth is cause of sorrow; the birth is cause mainly by desire for material enjoyments and earthly things. He said if a person able to destroy the desire one can easily escape from the chain of birth and rebirth. This would ultimately end one’s sorrow and suffering, this was reedy for sorrow. The fourth truth is Path. It is not easily control over desire. For this reason Buddha has suggested to follow the Noble Eightfold Path or Arya Astanga Marga.
Right Eight fold path or Arya Astanga Marga
The Buddha prescribed the eight fold Path or Arya Astanga Marga which is consisted by Right Speech, Right Action, Right Living, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Right View, Right Aspiration and Right Meditation.
On Right Speech means, right word to say and abstain from telling a lie, Right Action means, and one should perform good deeds. Right Living means, right livelihood. Right efforts means, one should suppress evil raising its head and should try to eradicate the existing evils. Right Mindfulness means, one should careful. Right View means, one should have the knowledge of four truths which were put forth by the Buddha in his first sermon of Sarnath. Right Aspiration means, one should renounces all pleasure and Right Meditation means, one should one mind on right things.
Law of Karma
Buddhism believes in the Law of Karma or rebirth. Human being mainly due to their Karma or deeds in the previous life. Good deed lead to higher and low or bad deed lead to lower birth. Karma or action may be mental, oral, physical, which was effect on the birth of a living being.
Nirvana
Like Mahavira, Buddha also teaches to attainment salvation and Nirvana. Nirvana is release to rebirth. Birth is the cause of all sorrow. Three thing like, moral character or Sila, right concentration or Samadhi and proper insight or Prajna can pave the way to Nirvana or salvation.
Sangha
Sangha is a Sanskrit word including Pali, which means Community. The successor of Buddha was Kashyapa. In Buddhism sangha refers to the monastic community of monks and Bhikkunis or nuns. The Buddha himself organized the Sangha or Church. Buddhist Monks settlements were called Ghatika. Bimbisara was donated Venuvan to Buddha and Anantapindaka donated Jetuvan to Buddha where he rest during Rainy season.
There are two types of disciples like Bhikshus and Upasikas or common worshippers of the Buddha’s Sangha. At first Buddha did not allow to women into the Sangha but later as per request of his disciple Ananda, he allow to women into the Sangha. There were few rule to enter or admission into the Sangha like, firstly, the minimum age limit was 15 age, person who suffering from serious disease and a criminal, robbery and murder did not allow to Sangha. The admission was conducted by Buddha himself. And the later work was transferred to trusted disciple of the Sangha. The person who wanted to admission into the Sangha at first required cleaning himself his head and wearing yellow garments. He required taking oath on the name of Buddha, the Dhamma and Sangha in the presence of the Sangha to repeat 10 commandments of the Buddha. Some experience member of the sangha trained him and finally him admission into Sangha.
The Sangha played main role to spread to Buddhism around the World. The Upasikas or lay followers of Buddhism were equal contributed to spread Buddhism. The Upasikas led family life and made important contribution for development of Buddism. Kathina ceremony of Buddhist sangha was related to distribution of robes.
Buddhist councils
After the death of Buddha, there were established the Buddhist council. According to Budhist council was held soon after the truth of Buddha, dated by majority of recent scholar in 400 B.C.
o First Buddhist council held at Rajagriha in 483 B.C. under the patronage of Ajatashatru presiding of Mahakashyap monk at Satapanni caves in Rajagriha. Its object was to discuss about Buddha’s sutta and rules or Vinaya. The Sutta was recited by Ananda and Vinya recited by Upali his disciple. Hence, as a result of First Buddhist Council Suttapitaka which was longest pitaka written by Ananda and Vinaypitaka were written by Upala.
The first Buddhist council was recorded in Vinaya pitaka of the early Buddhist scholar. The text is call recitation of 500 or Panchasatikakhandhaka because 500 monks have chosen by the community to collect and clarify the Buddha’s teaching.
o Second Buddhist council was held in 383 B.C. at Vaishali under the patronage of Kalashoka with presidency of Mahakatyana. As a result of Second Buddhist Council, Buddhism got divided into Sthaviravadins and Mahasanghikas.
o Third Buddhist council held in 250 B.C. at Pataliputra under the patronage of Samrat Ashoka, presidency of the monk Mogaliputta Tissa. Its objective was to purify the Buddhist movements. Third part of Tripitaka was coded in Pali language. As a result of Third Buddhist Council, Abhidhamma pitaka which is a work on metaphysics compiled by Rahulbhadra.
o Fourth Buddhist council was held at Kundalbana, Kashmir in 78 A.D. under the patronage of Kushan Emperor Kanishka. In this council 500 Bhikshus were gathered headed by Vasumitra. It prepared 3 large commentaries under Vasumitra and Ashvaghosa, the commentaries were known as Vivasa. All discussion was carried out in Sanskrit. In this council 3 lakh verses and 9 million statements were compiled and this is taken 12 years to complete.As a result of the Council, Buddhism divided into 2 sects Mahayana and Hinayana.
o Fifth Buddhist council held at Burma in 1871 A.D. presided by Theraveda monk in the reign of king Mindon. Its objective was to receive all teaching of the Buddha examine them in with details.
o Sixth Buddhist council was held at Kaba Aye in Yangon in 1954 A.D. in Mandalay. It was sponsored by Burmese Government led by the Prime Minister, the honorable U.Nu. He authorized the great cave artificially like Sattapanni cave.
Hinayanism and Mahayanism
During the reign of Kanishka, a new school of Buddhism called Mahayanim came into existence under the leadership of Ashvaghosa. It was different from old form of Buddhism and named as Hinayanism. Hinayanism regarded the salvation of the individual as their goal. Hinayana sects were all written in Pali language. Hinayana sect used a synonyms Theravada or teaching of the elders. It present day mainly dominant in Sri Lanka and South-East Asia. Karle monument is the largest and most evolved chaitya hall of the Hinayana phase. Hinayana Buddhism believed in Eight-fold path but they do not believe in the existence of God and idol-worship and even God Buddha. Sri Lanka, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand were the countries where Hinayana Buddhism was popular.
Similarly the old principles of Buddhism Mahayanism believe to worship the images of Buddha and Bodhisattavs, ceremonies and charms. Mahayanism pleaded for the salvation of all beings. The Mahayana sects written in Sanskrit language. Nagarjuna, Vasubandhu, Asanga, Dingnaga and dharmakirti were the great exponent of the Mahayana doctrine and philosophy. The Mahayana doctrine found teaching of the Buddha himself. Nagarjuna was the first leading Monk of Mahayana Buddhism. Nalanda University was the center of Mahayana school of thought.
Branches or school of Buddhism
Vajrayana
It is also called as Mantrayana, Tantric Budhism. This school also called Indo- Tibetan Buddhism. They introduced many esoteric practices in which and wine were most essential things. Vajrayana composed many books on their own doctrines and propagated them secretly among their followers. Vajrayana appeared in Eastern India mainly in Bengal and Bihar during 7th to 8th century A.D. Vikramshila University was important center of Vajrayanism. Theraveda was the oldest orthodox sect of Buddhism.
The founder of Staviravadin sect of Buddhism was Mahakatyayana. The founder of Mahasanghika sect of Buddhism was Mahakashyap. The founder of Yogcara school of Buddhism was Maitreyanath. The practices of idol worship begin in first century A.D. and first idol to be worshiped Buddha.
Arhatyana
Those who want to achieve their own salvation as soon as possible without considering about others can realize that goal by the attainment of Arhatship.
Buddhayana
Those who have renounced their own salvation in order to help others to attain it are said to have followed the vehicle of the Buddha or Buddhayana.
Royal patronage
Many rulers of India supported Buddhism like Bimbisara, Prasenjit, Pradyota and Udayana. They also make Buddhism in state religion. The later ruler like Ashoka, Kanishka, and Harshavardhan played an important role to spread Buddhism and made also state religion. Vasubandhu spread Buddhism in Nepal. Kashyapa Matanaga introduced Buddhism in China and Kumaravijaya propagated Madhyamika Buddhism in China and China received Buddhism in 3 rd century B.C. Sri Lanka spread the Buddhism in South-East Asia. Gandhara School of art was built the first standing idol of Buddha. Amaravati School of art built the exact form of Buddha. In Gupta style of art the images of Buddha built with semi closed eyes.
Tripitaka
Tripitaka is the holy book of Buddhism. Tripitaka is considered to a record of the words of Buddha. The Tripitaka is composed of three main categories like, Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka. Sutta Pitaka is the oldest and longest Buddhist text.
Buddhist religious texts
Vinayapitaka is written by Upala in Pali language which deals with the rules of Buddhist order. Vinayapitaka consists of
o Suttavibhanga- Pattimokha and commentary
o Khandaka- 22 chapters and Supplements of Suttavibhanga
o Parivara- analyses of rules
Suttapitaka is written by Ananda which was deal a collection of sermons which was delivered by Buddha. Suttapitaka was the longest pitaka. It was divided into 5 Nikayas like Digha or Long, Majhima or Medium, Samyutta or connected, Anguttara or Graduated and Khudaka or Minor which was tales about Jataka.
Abhidhammapitaka was written by Rahulbhadra which was deal work on metaphysics. There are seven books in Abhidhammapitaka like Dhammasangani, Vibhanga, Dhatukatha, Puggalapannatti, kathavatthu, Yamaka and Patthana.
Buddhist symbols and their meaning
Garllanded wheel Dharmachakra
Lotus and Bull Birth of Buddha
Chankrama Buddha’s walk
Horse Great renunciation of Buddha
Bodhi tree Nirvana
Stupa Parinirvana
The Ten Paramites or Spiritual perfections of Buddhism and their meaning
Dana Charity
Sila Good conduct
Ksanti Forbearance
Virya Courage
Jnana Knowledge
Bala Power
Paramidhana Resolution
Upakausalya Skill in expedients
Prajna Insight
Dhyana Meditation
Society during Buddha times
During the time of Buddha the purchase of slaves were very common. During his times, the Indian legal and judicial system originated. The system of untouchable emerges as a separate category.
Decline of Budhism
According to Yuan- Chwang and I-tsing, the two great Chinese travelers, Buddhism existed in India and flourished to the end of the 7th century A.D. to 12th century A.D. after that Buddhism going to decline.
According to Hiuen-Tsang, in 6th century A.D. Huna ruler Mihirkula, a devotee of Lord Shiva destroyed 1600 Buddhist stupas and monasteries and killed thousands of Buddhist Monks.
Buddhism did not patronage by any royal peoples. There were rised the Hindusim and a competition between Jainism and Buddhism.
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