Buddhism

HISTORY

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Buddhism
Buddhism, the fourth largest religion of the world, originated in India, and then spread to
neighboring countries like Myanmar , Sri Lanka ,Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand.

Life of Gautam Buddha

 Gautam Buddha was the founder of Buddhism

 He was known as Siddhartha before he was came to be known as Buddha
 He was born in 563 BC, at Lumbini (Modern Day Nepal) to father King Suddhodana
and mother Queen Maha Devi . He was their only child
 He died at the age of 80 in 483 BC, at Kushinagar under a Sal Tree (near modern
day Gorakhpur, UP). Kushinagar was part of the Licchhavi Kingdom.
 He was married to Yashodhara before starting on the spiritual path. He had a son
named Rahul. They too were unable to tie him to worldly life.
 The most prominent and first teachers of his life were Alara and Udarak.

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 At the age of 29, Siddhartha started his spiritual journey as an ascetic in search of
truth, and the end of sorrows.

 This event in his life is known as Mahabhinishkramana.

 At the age of 35, Siddhartha achieved enlightenment at Uruvela, becoming Buddha.

 He was meditating on the bank of the river Niranjana under a Peepal (Banyan) tree.

 This Peepal tree is called the Bodhi tree, and the place is known as Bodh gaya.

 On the Poornima Buddha attained the knowledge of Vaishakha month.

 Dhammachakra Pravartan” is another important event in Buddha’s life is his first

sermon.

 This event was his first sermon at Sarnath (modern day Varanasi).

 Prasenjit, Bimbisara, and Ajatashatru were notable rulers, and disciples of Buddha.

 Bhikku or Bhikshuks (beggars) were monks who had abandoned their materialistic
lives, in order to live a simple life.

 Some famous Bhikshuks of Buddhism were Sariputra, Ananda, Maha Kassapa,

Anuradha, Upali, and Rahul.

 Vardhaman Mahavir (Jainism) was a contemporary of Gautam Buddha (Buddhism).

Bodh Gaya

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Timeline of Buddhism

563 BC Siddhartha was Born

Death of Siddhartha 483 BC

483 BC 1st Buddhist Council

2nd Buddhist Council 383 BC

250 BC 3rd Buddhist Council

4th Buddhist Council 72 AD

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Important Events in his life and their symbols

Events in Buddha’s Life Symbolized By

Buddha’s Birth Lotus and Bull

The Great Departure (Mahabhinishkramana) Horse

Enlightenment (Nirvana) Bodhi Tree

First Sermon (Dhammachakraparivartan) Wheel

Death (Parinirvana) Stupa

Buddhist Philosophy
 Four noble truths in Buddhism
 Eight-fold path in Buddhism
 Tri Ratnas of Buddhism

Four Noble Truths

S.No. Four Noble Truths

1. The world is full of sorrow

2. Desire is the root cause of all sorrow

3. Sorrow can be conquered by conquering desire

4. Desire can be conquered by following Eight fold paths of Buddhism

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Eight Fold Path

S.No. Eight Fold Path

1. Right understanding

2. Right resolve

3. Right speech

4. Right action

5. Right living

6. Right efforts

7. Right thought

8. Right self-concentration

Tri-Ratnas of Buddhism

S.No. Tri-Ratnas Meanings

1. Buddha The highest spiritual potential in everyone

2. Dhamma The teaching of Buddha (Pali for Sanskrit Dharma)

3. Sangha Order of monks who follows Buddhism

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Buddhist Council

Royal
Council Year Venue Chairman Results
Patron

1st Saptaparni Ajatshatru Completion of Sutta pitaka

Buddhist 483 BC Cave, (Harayanka Mahakashyapa by Ananda and vinaya
Council Rajgriha Dynasty) pitaka by Upali.

 The monks of Vaishali

wanted some change
2nd Kalasoka in rites.
Chullavang
Buddhist 383 BC (Shisunaga Sabakami
a Vaishali
Council Dynasty)  Schism into
sthaviravadins and
Mahasanghikas.

 Completion of
Abhidhamma Pitaka.
3rd Ashokaram Ashoka
Moggaliputta
Buddhist 250 BC a Vihar, (Maurya  Decision to send
Tissa
Council Patliputra Dynasty) missionaries to
various parts of the
world.

 Completion of
mahavibha sha
4th Kanishka shastra.
Kundala, Vasumitra,
Buddhist 72 AD (Kushana
Kashmir Ashvaghosha
Council Dynasty)  Buddhist got divided
into Mahayana and
Hinayana.

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Buddhist Literature

Pali Texts

Tripitaka

Pitaka means ‘Basket’ and it was called so, because the original text were written on
palm-leaves and kept in the basket.

Pitaka About Pitaka

Sutta Pitaka Buddha’s Sayings

Vinay Pitaka Monastic code

Abhidhamma Pitaka Religious discourses of Buddha

Milindapanho

A dialogue between Milinda and Buddhist saint (Nagaena, Dipavamsha and

Mahavamsha - the graet chronicles of Sri Lanka.

Sanskrit Texts

 Ashwagosha - Buddha charita, Saundarananda, Sutralankar, Sariputra

Prakaran and Vajra Suchi,
 Vasumitra - Mahavibhasha shastra,
 Buddhagosha - Visudhamagga, atthakathayen and sumangalvasini,
 Nagarjuna - Madhyamika karika and Prajnaparimita Karika etc.

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Buddhist Sects

Hinayana
1. Its devotees believed in the first educating of Buddha.
2. They looked for singular salvation through self-control and reflection.
3. They didn't have confidence in idol-worship.
4. They supported Pali language.
5. It is known as 'Southern Buddhist Religion', since it won in the South of India, for
example Sri Lanka, Burma (Myanmar), Syam (Thailand) Java and so on.
6. Vaibhasika and Sautantrika - They were the two subsects of Hinayana.

Mahayana
1. Its supporters had faith in the radiance of Buddha.
2. They looked for the salvation of all through the beauty and help of Buddha and
Bodhisatva.
3. They had faith in idol worship.
4. They supported Sanskrit language.
5. It is known as 'Northern Buddhist Religion', since it won in the North of India, for
example China, Korea, Japan, and so forth.
6. Madhyamika/Sliunyavada (founder - Nagarjuna) and Yogachar/Vijnanavada
(founder - Maitreyanath and his devotee Asanga) - They were the two subsects of
Mahayana.

Vajrayana
1. Its devotees accepted that salvation could bebest accomplished by getting the
enchanted Power, which they called Vajra.
2. The central divinities of this new group were the Taras.
3. It got mainstream in Eastern India, especially Bengal and Bihar.

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Bodhisattvas
1. Vajrapani: like Indra, he holds a thunderclap, enemy of wrongdoing and evil.
2. Avlokitesvara (the master who looks down) additionally called Padmapani (the lotus
carrier): kind-hearted.
3. Manjushri (Stimulator of comprehension): He holds a book portraying 10 paramitas
(profound idealizations).
4. Maitreya : The future Buddha.
5. Kshitigriha : gatekeeper of limbos.
6. Amitabha/Amitayusha : Buddha of paradise.

Bodhisattvas

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