Buddhism

 Founder of Buddhism - Buddha

 Gautama Buddha, is the founder of Buddhism, was born in the
563 BCE on the Vaishakha Poornima Day at Lumbini, near
Kapilvastu, presently in Nepal.

father was Suddhodhana.

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 He was born as a prince in a wealthy family of the Shakya clan. His

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 His mother, Mahamaya died after 7 days of his birth. His
stepmother, Gautami brought him up.

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 Married at 16 to Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula.

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 He moved away from his luxurious life after seeing an old man, a
sick man, a corpse, and an ascetic. Then he decided to become a

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 He left his home at the age of 29 with his charioteer, Channa, and

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his favourite horse, Kanthaka. After leaving them he left in search
of truth and wandered for almost 6 years.
 This search of truth by him was mentioned as
“Mahabhinishkramana” or the Great Renunciation.
 His first teacher was Alara Kalama, from whom he learned
meditation techniques.
 He attained “Nirvana” or Enlightenment under the Peepal tree at
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the age of 35 at Gaya, a place in Magadh, Bihar.

 The Budhha is also known as Sakyamuni or Tathagata.
 He delivered
tr-5Q6P4R6R4T his first sermon to his five disciples at Sarnath. This
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first sermon is known as “Dharmachakrapravartan” or “Turning of

the Wheel of Law”.
  His life ended at the age of 80 means he attained
“Mahaparinirvana” at Kushinagar, which is identical to the village
Kasia in Deoria district of Uttar Pradesh, in the Malla republic.

The DHAMMA or Teachings of Buddha

The teachings of the Buddha are as follows

 The Four Noble Truths

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This world is full of sorrows and misery (Dukha): Sabbam Dukkam.
And the cause of all pain and misery is the desire (Dukkha

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Samudaya): Dwadash Nidan/ Pratitya Samutpada.
This pain and misery can be ended by controlling desires (Dukha

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Nirodha): Nirvana.

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By following the Eight-Fold Path desires can be controlled (Dukha
Nirodha Gamini

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 Belief in Nirvana
 When desire ends, rebirth ends Nirvana is achieved i.e. getting
freedom from the cycle of birth, death and rebirth can be attained
by following the Eight-Fold Path.
 According to Gautama Buddha, our soul is a myth.
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 Buddhist Literature
 “Tripitakas” is the name given to the Buddhist scriptures written
in the Pali language,
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Vinaya Pitaka – It consists of Rules of Discipline in Buddhist Monasteries.
Sutta Pitaka – It is the largest collection of Buddha’s sermons.
 Abhidhamma Pitaka – It contains explanations of the philosophical
principles of the Buddhist religion.

Important Buddhist Councils

The Buddhist monks or followers of Buddhism gathered 4 times
after the death of Buddha and these meetings resulted in several
effects on Buddhism.

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 1st Buddhist Council:
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This was held at Saptaparni cave, Rajgriha, in the year 483 BC.
This council was organized under the chairmanship of

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Mahakasyapa.

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The king who ruled then
n was Ajatshatru of the Haryanka dynasty.
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This gathering results in the division of teachings of Buddha into

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two Pitakas – Vinaya Pitaka and Sutta Pitaka. Vinaya Pitaka was

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recited by Upali and Sutta Pitaka by Ananda.

 2nd Buddhist Council:

 This was held at Chullavanga, Vaishali in the year 383 BC.
 The Chairman of this council was Sabakami.
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this period, the Ruler was Kalashoka of the Shishunaga
Dynasty.
 Buddhist followers were divided into Sthaviravada and
Mahasanghika.
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 3rd Buddhist Council:

 This was held at Ashokarama Vihar, Patliputra in the year 250 BC.
  The Chairman of this council was Mogaliputta Tissa.
 Ashoka of the Maurya dynasty was the king during this period.
 The third part of Tripitaka, Abhidhamma was compiled.
 A decision was taken to send missionaries to the other parts of
the world for spreading Buddhism to other countries.

 4th Buddhist Council:

 4th council was held at Kundala Van, Kashmir in 72 AD.
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was Ashwaghosha.
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The Chairman of the council was Vasumitra and the vice-chairman

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The ruler during this council was Kanishka of the Kushana dynasty.

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Division of Buddhists into Hinayana and Mahayana.

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Sects of Buddhism
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 Hinayana
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lesser vehicle)
 Followers of Hinayana believed in the original teachings of

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Buddha.
 They sought salvation through self-discipline and meditation.
 They favoured the Pali language and did not believe in idol-
worships.
 It prevailed mainly in the south of India, e.g. Sri Lanka, Burma
(Myanmar), Thailand, Java, Laos, etc. that’s why it is also known
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as the “Southern Buddhist Religion”.
 There are two sub sects of Hinayana – (i) Vaibhasika, and (ii)
Sautantrika.
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 Mahayana (i.e. the Greater Vehicle)

 Followers of this sect believed in the heavenliness of Buddha.
  They sought salvation through the grace of Buddha and
Bodhisattva.
 They favoured the Sanskrit language and believed in Idol-worships.
 It is also called “Northern Buddhist Religion”, because it prevailed
in mostly the North of India, e.g. China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, etc.
 Sub sects of Mahayana are – Madhyamika/ Shunyavada and
Yogachar/ Vijnanavada.
 Founder of Madhyamika/ Shunyavada – Nagarjuna.
 Founder of Yogachar/ Vijnanavada – Maitreya Nath and his
disciple Asanga.
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 Vajrayana
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 Followers of this sect believe salvation could be attained by
acquiring the magical power which they termed as Vajra.

 They freely consumed

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 It became popular in Bihar and Bengal.
meat, fish, wine, etc. which is considered
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taboo in other sects.
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