Buddhism

Gautama, a contemporary of Mahavira, was the founder of Buddhism.

Gautama Buddha:

• He was born in 566 BC.
• He was born at Lumbini village near Kapilavastu in Nepal.
• Father - Suddhodhana, the King of Kapilavastu.
• Mother - Mayadevi, also called Mahamaya, died 7 days after Gautama's birth.
• Step mother - Prajapati Gautami, sister of Mayadevi.
• Wife - Yasodhara.
• Son - Rahula.
• Family Name - Gautama.
• Original Name - Siddhartha
• At the age of 29, he left home and started his career as a wondering seeker of truth. This was the Great Renunciation.
• For 6 years, he spent his life as an ascetic and took instructions from two brahmin teachers.
• He visited places like Rajagriha and Hruvela near Gaya.
• While he was sitting under a pipal tree at Bodh-Gaya, he attained Bodhi-illumination (or) enlightment.
• He realised that great peace is within one's heart and one must seek it there. This is known as Great Enlightment. Since then Gautama became Buddha, 'the enlighted one'.
• He gave his first religious discourse at Deer Park in Sarnath near Banaras and 5 people joined him to become his first disciples. This event is known as 'Dharma Chakra Pravarthana'.
• He preached for 45 years in Bihar and adjoining areas.
• He died in 486 BC at the age of 80 years at Kusinagara in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh.

Teachings of Buddha:

He taught 4 noble truths (Arya satyani),

1. There is suffering in life.
2. This suffering has a cause.
3. This suffering can be removed by destroying its cause.
4. The cause of suffering can be destroyed by following the eight fold path (Astangamarga).

The Astangamarga consists of,

1. Right Views
2. Right Aspirations
3. Right Speech
4. Right Conduct
5. Right livlihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right mindedness
8. Right Contemplation

By following the astangamarga, one attains nirvana (or) liberation. Nirvana literally means blowing out the desire for existence. It is freedom from rebirth.

Buddha also laid emphasis on ahimsa. He stressed the point of the spirit of love than mere non-injury or non-violence.

Buddhist Scriptures - Tripitakas:

Buddha's teachings were not written during his lifetime. After his death, the disciples met at Rajagriha and compiled the Master's sayings and cermons. They were arranged in 2 parts, Sutta and Vinaya. The 3rd part Abhidhamma was added during the 3rd Buddhist council held at Pataliputra during the time of Ashoka. Sutta contains religious discourses and sayings of Buddha. Vinaya contains rules of monastic discipline and Abhidhamma contains metaphysical discussion on various subjects and gives the philosophy of Buddhism.

All these three parts are collectively called tripitakas. Pitika is a pali word, it is the corrupted form of the Sanskrit word, Peetika, meaning a basket. Tripitakas are written in Pali language.

The 4 Buddhist Councils:

• First Council - Rajagriha - Compilationof 2 parts of tripitaka.
• Second Council - Vaisali - 100 years after the death of Gautama Buddha.
• Third Council - Pataliputra - during the reign of Ashoka, Abhidamma was added.
• Fourth Council - Kashmir - during the reign of Kanishka.

The third council was presided by Mogaliputta Tissa.

The fourth council was held under the leadership of Vasumitra and Asvaghosha.

Schisms in Buddhist Church:

Buddhist sangha was divided into 2 schools, namely Mahayana and Hinayana. Hinayana, which means 'lesser vehicle' was the creed originally preached by Gautama Buddha. Mahayanic Buddhism is more akin to puranic Hinduism. A great exponent of Mahayana sect was Nagarjuna.

Spread of Buddhism:

Unlike Jainism, Buddhism had spread to other parts of the world. In the beginning, it was confined to Bihar and along the borders of Nepal. During Ashoka's time, Buddhism spreaded all over India and to foreign countries also. With the revival of Hinduism under the Guptas, Buddhism had practically disappeared from the land of its birth. At present around 1/3rd of World's population follow Buddhism. It is popular in China, Japan, Kampuchea, Vietnam, Srilanka and Thailand.