Sage Avre Becraft

Visual History Museum

BUDDHIST SCRIPTURE & TEACHING

Gautama Buddha, who lived between 600 & 400 B.C.E., left no writings, but rule

monastic life and teachings were obtained and shared through oral tradition until around 2nd

Century B.C.E. The first evidence of Buddhist scriptures in China can be traced back to the Han

Dynasty. Some teachings like this written piece suggests starts with one idea of The Awakening.

It is the state of perfect blessedness achieved by the extinction of individual existence and by

taking the soul into the supreme spirit or by ridding oneself of desires and passions (1). An

awakening is an actualization, a realization of the authentic nature of existence (2). Without this

very significant step a person remains in a state of ignorance (Avidya) and suffering (Dukkha)

(1). The name Buddha means “The awakened one”. More written scriptures like The Vinaya

Pitaka contains rules and disciplines to guide monks, nuns, and lay people on how to act in

society. The Sutra Pikata is another written scripture taking on Buddhism's main beliefs, also

being said to contain socratic answers and questions throughout the Sutra.

“All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts. If a

man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox

that draws the carriage.” - The Buddha.

Citations
1. “Religions - Buddhism: Buddhism at a Glance.” BBC, BBC, 17 Nov. 2009,

https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/ataglance/glance.shtml.

2. “Buddhism Religion: Basic Beliefs and Practices.” Infoplease, Infoplease,

https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/religion/eastern/buddhism/buddhism/basic-

beliefs-and-practices.