The wheel is a very important symbol in Buddhism because it depicts the cycle of life and death. His teachings are referred to as the Dharma. The Buddha gave many lectures before his death. The Dharma, Reincarnation, and Karmaīuddhists believe that human beings have the potential to become free from suffering by practicing meditation and cultivating a lifestyle prescribed by the Buddha. He continued to spread his knowledge throughout towns in India for 45 years thereafter, gaining increasing numbers of followers until his death at the age of 80. He had become a Buddha, a title meaning “awakened one.” The Buddha gave his first sermon, known as the “First Discourse,” explaining his realization to the group of ascetics with whom he used to practice. In his enlightenment, he gained the power to see his former lives, the power to see death and rebirth of all types, and finally the realization that he had eliminated all desires and ignorance within himself. The moment of his enlightenment took place while he was seated in meditation under a tree. He went to a village called Bodh Gaya where he became awakened to a true understanding of life. He realized that neither luxury nor starvation would lead to enlightenment and instead decided to follow a moderate path or the Middle Way. After six years of enduring many hardships, Shakyamuni realized that he had not come to a deeper understanding of life. Sometimes he would not eat or drink for long periods of time. 2 Shakyamuni thought he could reach enlightenment by practicing asceticism, a lifestyle of severe discipline. According to Buddhist belief, enlightenment is the experience of true reality, an “awakening” through which one could comprehend the true nature of things. Shakyamuni began his search for enlightenment. He wanted to understand more about life, why human beings suffered, and how one could help relieve suffering in the world. These four outings and what Shakyamuni saw (old age, sickness, death, and a seeker of religious truth) are called the “Four Sights.” Meeting the monk inspired Shakyamuni to leave the palace, his wife, and his newborn son. ![]() During his fourth outing, he saw a wandering monk, a seeker of religious truth. Shakyamuni was shocked and saddened by the sights of old age, sickness, and death. During his third excursion, Shakyamuni came upon the still and lifeless body of a dead man. In his second outing, Shakyamuni observed a sick man, wailing in pain. As Shakyamuni passed by in his carriage, the old man peered up at him, his eyes squinting from his severely wrinkled face. During his first trip outside the palace, he saw a very old man who was bent over and had trouble walking. He longed to see what was beyond the palace gates, thinking that a clue to his search for the meaning of life lay beyond the safety and luxury of the palace.Īt the age of 29, Shakyamuni left the palace on four separate occasions to explore. Shakyamuni grew up with many luxuries and married a beautiful princess, but he still was not happy. However, he would not permit Shakyamuni to leave the palace grounds. In his youth, Shakyamuni’s father provided him with everything he wanted and encouraged him to excel in his studies. For example, legend states that Shakyamuni was born from his mother’s hip while she remained standing in a grove of trees. ![]() From the moment he was born, Shakyamuni did not lead a typical life. to a royal family who lived in a palace in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Legend of ShakyamuniĪccording to Buddhist tradition, Shakyamuni (a name meaning “Sage of the Shakya Clan”) is the founder of Buddhism (he is also sometimes referred to as “Siddhartha Gautama”). Today, there are Buddhists all over the world. ![]() The teachings of Buddhism spread throughout Central and Southeast Asia, through China, Korea, and Japan. Buddhism, one of the major world religions, began in India around the sixth century, B.C.E.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |