BUDDHIST GEM FELLOWSHIP

BUDDHIST GEM FELLOWSHIP BUDDHIST GEM FELLOWSHIP FUNDAMENTALS OF BUDDHISM DatukDr Victor Wee 25-March-2012 (Sun) LESSON 1 LIFE OF THE BUDDHA FUNDAMENTALS OF BUDDHISM JKQuek/18092011

FUNDAMENTALS OF BUDDHISM LIFE OF THE BUDDHA

MEANING OF BUDDHA • Term “Buddha” is not a proper name but a description of the “Awakened One” or “Enlightened One” • Believe that Buddhas have lived on earth in distant past ages and will do so in the future • As the term “Buddha” does not refer to a unique individual, the emphasis in Buddhism is on the teachings rather than the founder

MEANING OF BUDDHA • Rediscover the timeless truths and practices of Dhamma by his own effort when they have been lost to society • After discovery, he skillfully makes it known to others so that they can practice the path & become liberated from the rounds of rebirth and suffering (arahat)

PROCESS OF BECOMING BUDDHA • Takes many lives of dedicated practice • In one of his past lives, Gautama was an ascetic named Sumedha and was inspired by Dipankara Buddha • He resolved to strive for Buddhahood by becoming a bodhisatta--a being (satta) dedicated to attaining perfect enlightenment (bodhi) • He spent many lives building up the moral and spiritual perfections (parami) for Buddhahood • His past lives are described in 537 Jataka stories

EPITHETS OF THE BUDDHA • The Buddha is most commonly referred to as “Bhagava—translated as “Blessed One”, “Exalted One”, “Fortunate One”, “Lord” • Also “Tathagata” which means “Thus-gone” or “Thus come”. “Thus” refers to the true nature of reality, truth • The Bhagava is an arahant, perfectly awakened, endowed with knowledge and conduct, well-gone, knower of worlds, an incomparable charioteer for the training of persons, teacher of gods and humans (DN 2.93)

SOURCES • Tripitaka - Main activities of the Buddha’s life • Mahavastu - History and legend • Lalitavistara - Legendary aspects of the Buddha’s life • Buddhacarita by Asvaghosa. Poetic presentation of materials from the Tripitaka in the 1st century CE

BOOKS ON BUDDHA’S LIFE • ThichNhatHanh, Old path White Clouds, Full Circle, 1991 • NaradaThera, The Buddha and His Teachings, BMS, 1997 • Sir Edwin Arnold, The Light of Asia • BhikkhuNanamoli, The Life of the Buddha, Buddhist Publication Society, 1978 • H. Saddhatissa, The Life of the Buddha, Mandala Books, Unwin Paperbacks, London 1976

FAMILY Family name: Sakya Father: King Suddhodana Mother: Queen Maha Maya. Looked after by aunty MahaPajapatiGotami Capital city: Kapilavatthu at foothills of Himalaya

EARLY YEARS Born in Lumbini Garden in 563 BC Name: Siddhartha (‘Wish Fulfilled’) Predicted that he would either be a universal monarch or a great spiritual teacher Taught all the arts of the warrior caste Lived a luxurious life Married cousin, Yasodhara, at 16 years of age

FOUR SIGHTS • Saw the Four Sights on the streets of Kapilavatthu • Turning point in his life • Three ‘vanity’ left him • Old man: Vanity of Youth • Sick man: Vanity of Good Health • Dead man: Vanity of Immortality

REALISATION • Realised that there was no escape from old age, sickness and death • Up to today these are subjects for recollection: • “I am of the nature to decay, I have not gone beyond decay” • “I am of the nature of be diseased, I have not gone beyond disease” • “I am of the nature to die, I have not gone beyond death” • “All that is mine, dear and delightful will change and vanish away” • “I am owner of my own kamma, heir of my kamma, born of my kamma, and related to my kamma. Whatever kamma I shall do whether good or evil, of that I shall be their heir.”

THE WAY OUT • 4th Sight was a sadhu or holy man • Calm and peaceful. Inspired him to find a way out • Spoke to his wife and father • His wife wanted a son • His father turned down his request but could not guarantee against old age, sickness, death and loss of good fortune

RENUNCIATION • Left on a moonless night at 29 years of age • Bade farewell to his sleeping wife and child • Mounted on his horse, Kanthaka, and accompanied by Channa. Crossed Anoma River, cut his hair and changed his clothes • ‘Going Forth’ means cutting off his ties to blood, soil and relatives and becoming free to work out his spiritual destiny

THE SEARCH • Studied under two famous yogis: Alara Kalama and UddakaRamaputta • Turned to self torture, believed to be the way to heaven. Practised for 6 years. • Had some disciples who admired him • Later, he realised that this was not the way so he started taking food again • His disciples abandoned him in disgust

RESOLUTION • Full moon day of Vesakha • Chose a spot under a great tree, near the bank of the Neranjara River at Gaya • Resolved not to rise from the spot until he gained Enlightenment • “Flesh may wither away, blood may dry up, but until I gain Enlightenment, I shall not move from this seat”

TEMPTATION • Went into meditation by watching his breath • Attacked by Mara, the Evil One, who tried to tempt him and dissuade him from proceeding further • Overcame Mara with his patience and self-control • He went into very deep meditation

DAWN OF TRUTH • Three knowledges arose in him • Knowledge of his former lives (6-10 pm) • Knowledge of the arising and passing away of beings (10 pm-2 am) • Knowledge of the destruction of defilements (2 am-6 am) • Realised that rebirth had ended and ignorance was dispelled

PAEAN OF JOY • “Through many a birth I wandered in this endless cycle of birth and death, seeking but not finding, the builder of the house. Sorrowful is it to be born again and again. • “O house builder! You are seen. You shall build no house again. All your fetters are broken. Your ridge-pole is shattered. My mind has attained the unconditioned. Achieved is the end of craving. Dhammapada: 153-154

ENLIGHTENMENT • Enlightened at age of 35 years • Budh = to awaken, to understand

AFTER ENLIGHTENMENT • Spent 7 weeks in the vicinity of the Bodhi Tree (pipal tree) at Buddha Gaya • Since both his 2 teachers had died, he went to the Deer Park at Isipatana (Saranth) near Benares to look for his 5 former followers • Told them that he was an Enlightened being • Asked them to get some food to eat before teaching them

FIRST SERMON • The Discourse on the Turning of the Wheel of Dhamma (Dhamma.cakkap.pavattanaSutta) • Core of his 45 years of teaching • Taught the Middle Way of avoiding the extremes of self-indulgence and self-torture • Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold path • At the end of the discourse, Kondanna attained the 1st stage of sainthood. After second sermon on non-soul, all the five disciples attained sainthood.

CONVERSION OF YASA AND FRIENDS • Yasa, a millionaire’s son, was disgusted with his luxurious life and was converted by the Buddha • 54 of his friends joined him • During that rains retreat, all the 60 monks became arahants • Buddha sent them out as the first messengers of Truth (Dhamma.duta)

GREAT COMMISSION • “Go forth, O monks, for the good of the many, for the happiness of the many, out of compassion for the world, for the good, benefit, and happiness of gods and men. Let not two go by one way. • “Preach the Dhamma, excellent in the beginning, excellent in the middle, excellent in the end, both in the spirit and the word. Proclaim the Holy Life, altogether perfect and pure.” Mahavagga: 19-20

45 YEARS OF MISSION • Buddha taught throughout northern India • His disciples came from all walks of life--from kings and princes to common people and pauper • His two chief disciples were Sariputta (foremost in wisdom) and Moggallana (foremost in psychic power) • His chief attendant was Ananda, his cousin, who had an outstanding memory for his teaching

FINAL DAYS • The last 3 months of his life was captured in the MahaParinibbanaSutta • Ananda was with him from his journey from Rajagaha to Kusinara where he passed away • Some of his great disciples, such as Sariputta, Moggallana, had already passed away • He was 80 years old and journeyed like “a worn-out cart”

HIS LAST WORDS • “Be islands unto yourselves. Be a refuge to yourselves. Seek no external refuge. Life with the Dhamma as your island, the Dhamma as your refuge. Take no external refuge.” • “In whatever Dispensation there exists the Noble Eightfold Path, there are also found the four stages of sainthood.” • “Transient are all conditioned things. Strive on with diligence.” MahaparinibbanaSutta, DighaNikaya: 16

BUDDHA’S GREATNESS • Spoke against the caste system and slavery, and banned animal slaughter • Raised the status of down-trodden women. Established the Order of Nuns. • Comforted bereaved mothers, nursed the sick, helped the poor and neglected, ennobled the lives of criminals and courtesans • Attained liberation through his own effort • Led an exemplary life of wisdom and compassion • Outstanding intellect and scientist • Opened the gates of deliverance to all without dependence on God or priests • Granted complete freedom of thought to his followers

WHO IS THE BUDDHA? • Sometimes the Buddha was said to be “just a human” but this has to be taken in context • Gautama was born as an extraordinary human built through his cultivation as a Bodhisatta • After enlightenment, he has uprooted all defilements & cultivated all that has to be cultivated. He is untainted by the world & gone beyond humans and gods • He belongs to the race of Buddhas--Buddhawangsa

MEANING OF BUDDHA • Buddha = Awakened One, Enlightened One “Known are the things to be known, Cultivated are the things to be cultivated, Destroyed are the things to be destroyed, Therefore, I am the Buddha”

THE END

BUDDHIST GEM FELLOWSHIP