Search for Truth and Enlightenment - The First Two Religion Teachers

1. PKSSSS CY2010 Level: J4Lesson 5: Search for Truth and Enlightenment- Chapter 7: Search for Truth - Chapter 8: Enlightenment

2. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • Gautama first two famous teachers, Arada and Udraka. • They taught the best methods of ending suffering through meditation. • Gautama easily mastered the methods of meditation. • Realized that meditation could not solve the problem of suffering, he left them. • He decided to find the Truth in his own way. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- The First Two Religion Teachers Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 1

3. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment Search for Truth and Enlightenment- Six Years of Extreme Asceticism • For six years, Gautama and his five companions practiced extreme asceticism at Uruvilva. • Examples of extreme asceticism were standing on one spot without food and water for days; sleep on a bed of thorns. • The extreme asceticism practices have only weakened Gautama mind and body. Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 2

4. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment Search for Truth and Enlightenment- Deciding on the Way to Enlightenment • One day, Gautama fainted in the river while having a bath due to extreme hunger. • He started to reflect that the extreme asceticism have not brought him enlightenment and eventually abandon this practice. • He recalled his experienced the joy of meditation under the rose-apple tree when he was a young boy. • He had finally understood the way to avoid the two extremes “life of luxury” and “extreme asceticism”, the ‘middle way’ could lead him to enlightenment. Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 3

5. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • A village girl named Sujata offered Gautama a bowl of milk-rice. • After the meal, his health had become fully restored. • The five companions decided to leave him as they saw that he is abandoning the extreme asceticism practice. • Before meditation, he was then offered bundle of grass by Svastika (grass-cutter) for his seat under a shady tree, later known as the Bodhi tree. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- The Offerings Before the Enlightenment Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 4

6. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • Gautama went around the Bodhi tree three times as a sign of his determination. • He made a firm resolution to meditate under the tree until he attain enlightenment. • During this period, Mara tried to tempt him to break his resolution. • Bodhisattva Gautama was very firm on his resolution for enlightenment and defeated Mara. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- The Struggle for Enlightenment Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 5

7. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • On the night of the full moon in the fifth month, Bodhisattva attained Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya. • He concentrated and purified his mind in his deep meditation. • He developed three mental power • He was able to recollect his past lives in detail. • He was able to see the passing away and birth of all living beings according to their action. • He realized that suffering is caused by desire and ignorance and when causes are removed, suffering ends. Thus, He freed Himself from desire and ignorance, and rebirth. • He acquired perfect wisdom and attained Enlightenment. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- Attaining Full Enlightenment At the age of thirty-five, after six years of struggle, he had become a Buddha. Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 6

8. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • After Enlightenment, the Buddha remained in deep meditation for 7 days experiencing the bliss of freedom. • He gazed at the Bodhi tree and reflected upon its usefulness for sheltered him before Enlightenment. • He explained to a proud youth the qualities that made a man worthy of respect namely, the qualities of humility, purity in thought and action, self-control and perfection in knowledge. • He explained to a young man the meaning of happiness in terms of solitude, goodwill and detachment, but the highest happiness is freedom from conceit or egoism. • The Buddha accepted the offering of rice cakes and honey from the two merchants and blessed them in return. Then, He accepted them as His first two lay-disciples. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- After the Enlightenment Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 7

9. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment Search for Truth and Enlightenment- The Decision to Teach • Out of compassion for all living beings, the Buddha decided to teach the Truth that He had realized. • Since his two teachers were no longer around, he knew that the five ascetics would be the most ready to benefit from His Teaching. • In a brief meeting with Upaka while on His way to looked for the five ascetics, the Buddha proclaimed for the first time that He had attained Enlightenment by His own efforts. Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 8

10. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • After many days of walking, the Buddha arrived at the Deer Park (now known as Sarnath). • The five ascetics were at first reluctant to receive Him back into their company but soon found that it is impossible not to show Him respect. • The Buddha told them about His Enlightenment and He would teach them the way to Enlightenment. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- The First Five Monks Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 9

11. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • That evening, the Buddha gave His first sermon to the five ascetics which is known as “The Turning of The Wheel of the Dharma”. • Kaundinya was the first one to understand His Teaching and request the Buddha to ordinate him. • The Order of the Monks was formed when the five ascetics received ordination from the Buddha after having understood His teaching. Search for Truth and Enlightenment- The First Five Monks Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 10

12. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • Gautama learned meditation from two teachers, Arada & Udraka but found that meditation alone could not lead him to the Truth. • Gautama practiced extreme asceticism for six years and he realized that this could only weakened his body and mind. • Gautama finally decided to abandon the extreme asceticism practice. • After Gautama accepted offerings of food and grass from Sujata and Svastika, he seated himself under the Bodhi tree, determined to realized the Truth. He then overcame the temptation of Mara. • On the night of the full moon in the fifth month of the year, Bodhisattva attained Enlightenment and became the Buddha. • He was thirty-five years old when he became the Buddha. • He understood that desire and ignorance are the causes of suffering and rebirth and He realized that when the causes are removed, suffering ends. • He decided to teach the Truth to the five ascetics who had been His companions. • At the Deer Park (Sarnath), the Buddha taught the five ascetics who became the first five monks of the Order. Summary Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 11

13. 6 9 1 7 8 5 2 3 10 11 4 Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment Crossword Puzzle Game Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 12

14. Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment • Gautama accepted offerings of ________ and grass before he seated himself under the tree to find the solution to end suffering. • Gautama seated under the _____ tree to find the solution to end suffering. • ______ offered food to Gautama before He seated under the tree to look for the solution to end suffering. • Gautama first two teachers after he left the palace were _______&________. • The Buddha gave His first sermon to the five ascetics at ________. • Gautama first two teachers taught the methods of ending suffering through ___. • Gautama left the palace to find the ______. • Gautama became the Buddha at the age of _______________. • Bodhisattva Gautama defeated ____ during the period where He was seating under the tree to look for the solution to end suffering. • Under the tree, Bodhisattva Gautama attained Full ____________ and is free of all suffering. • Gautama decide to choose the ____________ instead of the extreme asceticism to look for the solution to end suffering. Crossword Puzzle Game - Hints Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 13

15. 6 9 1 7 8 5 2 3 10 11 4 Search for Truth Final Nirvana BIRTH Growing Up & Four Encounters Renunciation Teaching Enlightenment Crossword Puzzle Game - Answer Learn.Practice.Realise.Share. Page 14