Buddhism is based on the teachings of Gautam Buddha. Buddhism was founded in India. It is the world's fourth-largest religion. Its practice historically was limited in Asia and Southeast Asia. But now it has also been adopted by the western people.
Buddha and his Early Life:
Buddha was originally known as Siddhartha at the time of his birth. Buddha was born into a royal family of a kingdom in Nepal. He was born in 563 BC at Lumbini in a Kshatriya clan.
His father Suddhodana was a Saka ruler, his mother Mahamaya died after seven days after his birth. Siddhartha married at the age of sixteen to Yashodhara and had a son with her.
At the age of twenty-nine, he renounced his kingdom after witnessing four scenes in a sequence i.e. old man, sick man, dead body, and an ascetic.
For the next six years, he practiced meditation under various teachers, and also went into self-mortification with his five disciples. But he soon concluded that self-mortification is not a way to liberation from suffering.
He then went to meditation under a tree. He attained nirvana at the age of thirty-five at Uruvela(Bodh Gaya) under a pipal tree on the banks of river Niranjan(Phaglu) on the 49th day of meditation.
He held his first sermon or Dharmachakra Pravartana at Sarnath, where his Five disciples had settled. Buddha spent the rest of his life teaching others how to attain nirvana. He died at the age of eighty in 483 BC at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh, India.
Teachings of Buddha:
1. Four Noble Truths (Arya Satyas)
2. The world is full of sorrows (Sabbam Dhukham).
3. The cause of sorrow is desire (Dwadash Nidan/Pratitya Samutpada).
4. If desires are conquered, all sorrows can be removed (Nirvana).
5. This can be achieved by following the eight-fold path (Ashtangika Marga)
(b) Eight-Fold Path (Ashtangika Marga)
- Right understanding
- Right thought
- Right speech
- Right action
- Right means of livelihood
- Right effort
- Right mindfulness-awareness
- Right concentrations meditation
(c)Three Jewels (Triratnas)
- Buddha (the enlightened)
- Dhamma (doctrine)
- Sangha (order)
(d) Code of Conduct
- Do not covet the property of others
- Do not commit violence
- Do not use intoxications
- Do not speak a lie
- Do not indulge in corrupt practices
(e) Belief in Nirvana
(f) Belief in Ahimsa
Schools of Buddhism:
Different schools of Buddhism emerged after the death of buddha. Each school has a different idea, different philosophy, a different interpretation of Buddha teachings.
Due to disagreements among the disciples so many schools of Buddhism have emerged over time. However, there are three main schools of Buddhism:
- Theravada Buddhism (“The Lesser Vehicle”)- Also known as Hinayana. It is believed to be the oldest school of Buddhism. This school also claims to have the oldest recorded saying of Buddha.
- Mahayana Buddhism (“The Greater Vehicle”)- The Mahayana believe that one should lead a life like Buddha and do good in the world. In this, they encourage people to follow the Bodhisattva. Bodhisattva is a person who delays his entrance into Nirvana and helps others to attain Nirvana.
- Vajrayana Buddhism- It originated from Mahayana Buddhism. It is based on a complex philosophical and spiritual system that helps in the attainment of enlightenment.
Spread
of Buddhism:
The spread of Buddhism began from the Indian subcontinent. Buddhism flourished under the Indian ruler Ashoka. He sent his son and daughter to Sri Lanka to spread Buddhism.
He also commissioned the building of stupas across his empire to enshrine Buddhist relics. One of the famous stupas is the Sanchi stupa. Later after the war of Kalinga, he ascended his throne and kingdom and embraced Buddhism.
Buddhism started to spread across Asia through the Silk Route. There are archaeological findings of Buddhist texts and structures across the Silk Route. In many countries like China, Korea Buddhism was quickly adopted by the people.
It spread to Southeast Asia through Sri Lanka. In countries of Southeast Asia like Thailand, Laos, Cambodia it remains a dominant religion. But after the arrival of Muslim rulers in India, it was nearly obliterated.
In modern times, the spread of Communalism nearly rooted out Buddhism where it was strongly established like China, Tibet, Mongolia. However, recently there has been a resurgence of Buddhism is not only in these countries but also new followers in Europe and America.
Buddhist Scriptures:
The sacred book of Buddhism is called Tripitakas, also known as Pali Canon. It is written in the Pali language, which was an ancient Indian language.
It is said to be spoken by Buddha. Initially, the teachings of Buddha were passed on orally then they were later written down and compiled into two sets of scriptures:
1. Tripitakas (Three Basket of Wisdom)
2. The Sutras
The Tripitakas is split into three sections:
1. Vinaya Pitaka- It contains monastic discipline for monks and nuns.
2. Sutta Pitaka- It is a collection of Buddha’s sermons.
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka- It contains philosophies of Buddha’s teachings.
Written by: Priyanshu Bhardwaj
Edited by: Gourav Chowdhury
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