# BUDDHISM

> About Gautam Buddha

- born in 563 BC, at Lumbini (near Kapilvastu, Nepal)

- aka,Siddhartha (original name/childhood name)

Sakyamuni (sage of Sakya clan/most famous person of Sakya clan)

Tathagata (one who liberated himself from the cycle of rebirth)

- father = Suddhodana, (chief of Sakya clan) (Ruler of Kosala kingdom)

- mother = Mahamaya (died)

- raised by = Prajapati Gautami (maternal aunt)

(She is also his stepmother)

(She gave him the name Gautam)

- Cousin = Devdutta

- married to = Yashodhara (at the age of 16)

- son = Rahul

- idea of renunciation = after seeing, an old man, sick man, corpse

and a renunciant man. (At the age of 29)

(The first 3 saw him the harsh reality of life)

(The last one saw him the path to deal with these harsh realities)
- at the age of 29 = left his palace in search of renunciation.
(with Channa his charioteer/servant
and his favourite Horse Kanthaka)

- 1st teacher = Alara Kama

2nd teacher = Udraka Ramputra

-then Accompanied by = 5 wanderer Ascetics (one who does not allow Himself

any kind of pleasure)

those are = Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama,Assaji.

(he left them after realising asuterites{kathorta} won't help him)

( his 5 accompanies disguised him as a failure and left for Sarnath)

later.

- he moved to the village of Senani, where a lower-caste girl named

Sujata gave him a bowl full of rice, Gautama accepted the rice and

sat under a peepal tree at Gaya, Uruvela near the bank of the river

Niranjana (Falguni).
for 49 days to attain Nirvana (enlightenment) to become
Buddha/thatgata at the age of 35.
- First Sermon = on deliverance from suffering.
to his former 5 companions.
in deer park Sarnath.

they all realise the truth and became Arhats.

(this event is known as DhammaChakka-Pavattana)

(Turning the wheel of Dharma)

- died (Parinibbana) = at the age of 80.

Under Sal tree at Khusinagar, UP.

- buddha 1st sculpture made of Mathura Art.

Buddha most sculptures made of Gandhar art.

> Five forms of Buddha:

- Lotus and bull = Birth

- Horse = renunciation
- Bodhi tree = mahabodhi
- Dhammachakara Pravartana = Wheel

- Footprints = Nirvanna
- Avakanti = White elephant
- Mahaparinirvanna (death) = stupa
# DOCTRINE OF BUDDHISM

> Triratna / 3 important pillar of Buddha teaching.

• Buddha = teacher/founder
• Dhamma = teaching
• Sangha = order of monks and nuns

> Fourth Noble Truths (Dhamma)

(1) truth of suffering (Dukkha)

- life is full of sorrow (sabbam sukkam)

(2) truth of cause of suffering (Samudaya)

- suffering is a part of life

- Desire (Trishna) is main cause of suffering.

(3) truth of end of suffering (Nirodha)

- suffering can be ended by attaining nirvana/nibbana (enlightenment)

(4) truth of path leading to end of suffering (Astangika-Marga/8 fold path)

- suffering can be ended by attaining nirvana/nibbana (enlightenment)
> 8 Fold path (Astangika-Marga)

(1) Samma-Ditthi / Right vision

(2) Samma-Sankappa / Right thought

(3) Samma-Vaca / Right speech
(4) Samma-Ajiva / Right livelihood

(5) Samma-Vayama/ Right effort

(6) Samma-Sati / Right mindfulness

(7) Samma-Samadhi / Right meditation

(8) Samma-Kammanta / Right conduct

- path thought by Buddha is often Middle Path.

between extreme indulgence (luxury) & extreme asceticism (kathorta)

- Nibbana/Nirvana/enlightenment is the ultimate goal of Buddha.

- when nibbana attained in this life and with the body then it is called

Sopadisesa Nibbana Dhatu.

- when nibbana attained after death and without the body then it is called

Anupadisesa Nibbana Dhatu.

 > 10 Realms
- there are 10 realms according to Buddha.
(1) Buddha ( at the top)

(2) Bodhisttava (next Buddha & stay on earth to teach other)

(3) Pratyeka Buddha (a Buddha on their own)
(4) Sravaka (disciple/follower of Buddha)

(5) Heavenly beings (superhuman angels)

(6) Asura (fighting spirts)

(7) Beasts

(8) Preta (Hungry ghost)

(9) Depraved men (hellish being)

(10) Human beings

- human being is at the middle.

- according to their karma, human being can lower himself and go to the hell

or rise himself to became Buddha.

> Panch-Skhanda (5 Aggregates )

- according to Buddha, human being is a collection of Panch Shanda

(1) Rupa (material form)
(2) Vedana (sensation/feeling)

(3) Sanna (perception)

(4) Sankharas (mental formation)
(5) Vinnana (conscious awareness)
> Three Pitakas
- in Pali language
- 3 collection of Buddha teachings originally written on long leaves

and monks categories it in 3 basket so it is also called The Three Baskets.

(1) Sutta Pitaka

- main teaching of the Buddha

divided into 5 Nikayas (collection)

(2) Vinaya Pitaka

- contains rules of monks and the nuns (Sangha)

also Jatakas (birth stories)

(3) Abhidhamma Pitaka

- philosophical analysis and systematisation of teaching (sutta pitaka)

> BUDDHIST COUNCIL

• 1st COUNCIL

- time = 483 BC
- venue= Rajgriha
- President = Mahakasyapa

- ruler = Ajatasutra of Hirayanka Dynasty

- outcome = held just after Gautam Buddha death (mahaparinirvan)

council divided the teaching of Buddha into 3 categories (pitikas)

Vinaya pitika recited by Upali.

Sutta pitika recited by Ananda.

• 2nd COUNCIL

- time = 383 BC

- venue= Vaishali

- President = Sabkami

- ruler = Kalashoka of Shishunaga dynasty

- outcome = division into Sthaviradins and Mahasanghikas
• 3rd COUNCIL
- time = 250 BC
- venue= Patliputra

- President = Mogaliputta Tissa

- ruler = Ashoka of Mauryan dynasty
- outcome = origin of Theravada (Hinayana) school

compilation of Abhidhamma pitika

Send Buddhist missionaries to other countries.

Tripatika coded in Pali language

• 4th COUNCIL

- time = 98 AD
- venue= Kashmir

- President = Vasumitra

- ruler = Kanishka of Kushan Dynasty.

- outcome = Buddhism divided into Mahayana sect & Hinayana sect.

Abhidhamma texts were translated into Sanskrit

Complication of Mahavibhasha Sastra.
> BUDDHIST SCHOOLS

• HINAYANA BUDDHISM (Threavada)

- means the lesser path/vehicle, aka = abandoned or defective path/vehicle .

- scriptures are in Pali language.

- it believes in Original teaching of the buddha ( Doctrine of the elders)

- Orthodox, conservative school

- treats buddha as a human being.

- believe buddha will never reborn.

- does not believe in idol worship.

- salvation with the help of self descipline and meditation.

- ultimate aim is Nirvana.

- Emperor Ashoka followed Hinayana Buddhism.

- usually found in Sri Lanka
also in Myanmar,Thailand.
• MAHAYANA BUDDHISM
- means the greater path/vehicle
- scriptures are in Sanskrit language.

- Heterodox school
- treats buddha as a God.
- believe buddha will reborn.

- believe in idol worship.

- salvation with the grace of Amitabh Buddha (one of the 8 bodhisattvas)

- ultimate aim is Spiritual upliftment.

- Kanishka and later Harsha vardhana followed Mahayana Buddhism.

- usually found in Japan,china.

• VAJRAYANA BUDDHISM
- means the Vehicle of the thunderbolt, aka Tantric Buddhism.

- developed in Tibet.

- worship female deities called Taras

- was popular in Bihar and Bengal.

• ZEN BUDDHISM
- sub school of Mahayana Buddhism.

- originated in china during Tang Dynasty

- spread in japan during 7th century
> UNIVERSITIES

• NALANDA

- Bihar
- founder = Kumaragupta of Gupta empire

• ODANTAPURI

- Bihar

- founder = Gopala of Pala empire

• VIKRAMSHILA

- Bihar

- founder = Dhrampala of Pala empire

• SOMAPURI

- North Bengal

- founder = Dhrampala of Pala empire

• JAGADAL
- Bengal

- founder = Rampala of Pala empire

• VALLABHI at Gujarat by Bhattarika of Maitrak empire

> BUDDHIST LITERATURES

• MILANDAPANHO

- in Pali language
- it consist of dialogue on various issues between Indo Greek king Menander
and the Monk Nagasena.

• NETTIPAKARANA

- the book of guidance.

• VISUDDHIMAGGA

- the path to purity

- written by Buddhaghosa

• NIDANAKATHA

- first connected Life story of buddha.

• DIPAVAMSA & MAHAVAMSA

- in Pali language
- contain historical cum mythical account of buddha life, Buddhist council,

Ashoka and arrival of Buddhism in Sri Lanka.

• MAHAVASTU - Hagiography of the Budhha.

> BUDDHIST WRITERS

• ASVAGHOSHA

- author of Buddhacharita in Sanskrit

• NAGARUJA

- founded of Madhyamaka School of Mahayana Buddhism.

• ASANGA & VASHUBANDHU

- Twin brothers, teacher of Yogachara School

this school founded their guru Maitreyantha

- Abhidhramakosa (encyclopaedia of Buddhism) by Vashubandhu.

• BUDDHAGHOSA

- writer of Vishuddhimagga (path to purification)

About stupas