Rise of Buddhism and Life of Gautama Buddha

Founder: Gautama Buddha
Title: Light of Asia
Nature of Religion: Atheistic (no belief in God), but believes in Karma and Rebirth
Language of Teachings: Pali (language of the common people)

📜 Important Symbols Related to the Life of Buddha

Event	Symbol
Birth	Lotus & Bull
Renunciation (Leaving Home)	Horse
Enlightenment	Bodhi (Peepal) Tree
Nirvana (Liberation)	Footprint
Death (Mahaparinirvana)	Stupa

👶 Early Life of Gautama Buddha

• Birth: Born in 563 BCE in Lumbini (now in Nepal), which was part of the Shakya kingdom (Kapilavastu).
• Father: Shuddhodana, a ruler of the Shakya clan.
• Mother: Mayadevi. She died seven days after his birth.
• Step-Mother: Gautami Prajapati (raised him).
• Childhood Name: Siddhartha.
• Marriage: Married Yashodhara at age 16.
• Son: Rahul.

🌏 Turning Point – The Four Sights

When Siddhartha went on a tour of his kingdom, he saw: –

1. An old man (sign of aging)
2. A sick man (sign of illness)
3. A dead body (sign of mortality)
4. A monk (sign of renunciation)

These sights deeply impacted him and led him to seek the truth of life.

Renunciation and Enlightenment

• At age 29, he left home in search of truth. This is known as Mahabhinishkramana (Great Renunciation).
• He learned Sankhya philosophy from Alara Kalama and later from Rudraka Ramputta.
• Practiced strict penance for 6 years in Uruvela.
• Met five seekers: Kaundinya, Vappa, Bhaddiya, Mahanama, and Assaji.
• At age 35, attained Enlightenment (Bodhi) under a Peepal tree on the banks of Niranjana (Phalgu) River at Bodh Gaya.
• From then, Siddhartha came to be known as Buddha, meaning “The Enlightened One”.

📖 Teachings of Buddha

• First Sermon:– Delivered at Sarnath (also known as Rishipattana or Isipatana).
  This event is called Dharmachakrapravartana (Turning the Wheel of Dharma).
• Gave sermons in places like Kosala, Vaishali, Kaushambi, and Shravasti (where he stayed the most).
• Main royal followers:– Bimbisara, Prasenjit, and Udayin.

⚰️ Mahaparinirvana

• Died in 483 BCE at the age of 80 in Kushinagar (now in Deoria, Uttar Pradesh).
• The meal offered by a blacksmith named Chunda was the last he consumed.
• His death is called Mahaparinirvana.
• The Mallas performed his last rites.
• His ashes were divided into eight parts, and eight stupas were built over them.

📚 Sacred Texts of Buddhism

• Tripitaka (Three Baskets):

1. Vinaya Pitaka – Rules for monks and nuns
2. Sutta Pitaka – Sermons and teachings
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka – Philosophical and psychological analysis

Four Noble Truths:

1. Life is full of suffering (Dukkha)
2. Desire is the cause of suffering
3. Ending desire ends suffering
4. The way to end suffering is the Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path (Ashtangika Marg):

Path	Explanation
1. Right View	Understand the Four Noble Truths and reality as it is.
2. Right Intention	Think kindly, give up worldly attachment and hatred.
3. Right Speech	Speak truthfully and kindly; avoid gossip and lies.
4. Right Action	Behave ethically — no killing, stealing, or misconduct.
5. Right Livelihood	Earn a living in a way that does not harm others.
6. Right Effort	Always try to develop good thoughts and avoid bad ones.
7. Right Mindfulness	Be fully aware of your thoughts, actions, and surroundings.
8. Right Concentration	Practice deep meditation to calm the mind and reach higher states of awareness.

• Three Jewels (Triratna) of Buddhism: – Jewel Meaning Buddha The enlightened one Dhamma The teachings of Buddha Sangha The community of monks and nuns
• No belief in God or soul – Buddhism focuses on self-effort.
• Belief in Karma and Rebirth
• Nirvana:– Liberation from the cycle of birth and death; ultimate goal.
• Middle Path (Madhyama Pratipada): Avoiding both extreme luxury and extreme austerity.

👥 Buddhist Community (Sangha)

• Bhikshus:– Monks who renounce worldly life
• Upasakas:– Lay followers who remain householders
• Minimum Age to join Sangha:– 15 years
• Initiation Ceremony:– Upasampada

Five Basic Rules for Lay People:

1. Non-violence
2. Truthfulness
3. Not stealing
4. No sexual misconduct
5. Avoid intoxicants

Ten Rules for Monks:

• In addition to the five above:
  6. Do not eat after noon
  7. Avoid luxurious beds
  8. Do not accept gold or silver
  9. Remain celibate
  10. Avoid music, dance, and shows

Buddhist Councils (Sangitis)

Council	Year	Place	President	Patron Ruler
First Council	483 BCE	Rajgriha	Mahakashyapa	Ajatashatru
Second Council	383 BCE	Vaishali	Sabakami	Kalasoka
Third Council	255 BCE	Pataliputra	Moggaliputta Tissa	Ashoka
Fourth Council	1st Century CE	Kundalvan (Kashmir)	Vasumitra / Ashvaghosha	Kanishka

• After the 4th Council, Buddhism split into:
• Hinayana: Emphasized individual salvation, no idol worship
• Mahayana: Emphasized universal salvation, idol worship allowed

🌍 Spread and Legacy

• Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche) spread Buddhism in Tibet and Bhutan. He belonged to the Vajrayana sect.
• A 123-foot-tall statue of Padmasambhava is located near Rewalsar Lake in Himachal Pradesh.
• The Jataka Tales describe the previous lives of Buddha, both as animals and humans.
• The Mathura and Gandhara schools of art created beautiful statues of Buddha.

The first idol to be worshipped in India is believed to be that of the Buddha.

• The most important Buddhist festival is Vesak (Buddha Purnima) – it celebrates Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and Nirvana on the same day.

🔁 Karma and Rebirth

• Karma:– Every action (thoughts, words, deeds) leads to consequences in this or the next life.
• Rebirth:– Based on one’s karma, the soul is reborn in different forms — human, animal, or celestial being.
• However, Buddhism does not believe in an eternal soul (Atman). It teaches the idea of Anatta (no-soul).

📌 Key Doctrines

Term	Meaning
Dukkha	Suffering exists in life.
Anicca	Everything is temporary and constantly changing.
Anatta	There is no permanent soul or self.
Nirvana	Liberation from suffering and cycle of rebirth — a state of peace and bliss.

Major Schools/Branches of Buddhism

School	Meaning	Main Features
Hinayana	‘Lesser Vehicle’	Focuses on individual salvation, no idol worship, Buddha seen as a teacher only.
Mahayana	‘Greater Vehicle’	Believes in Bodhisattvas, idol worship allowed, emphasizes compassion.
Vajrayana	‘Diamond Vehicle’	Emphasizes rituals, mantras, magic; spread to Tibet.

Bodhisattva: A person who delays their own Nirvana to help others attain liberation.

Stupas

• Dome-shaped structures built to preserve Buddha’s relics.
• Famous stupas: Sanchi Stupa (Madhya Pradesh), Dhamek Stupa (Sarnath), Amaravati Stupa (Andhra Pradesh).

🖼️ Cave Architecture

• Carved into rocks; used as monasteries and worship halls.
• Famous caves: Ajanta, Ellora, Karle, Bhaja, Kanheri.

🎨 Buddhist Art Styles

Style	Features
Mathura	Indigenous style; Buddha shown in simple robe, soft expression.
Gandhara	Greco-Roman influence; Buddha shown with curly hair, realistic sculpture.

Region	Medium of Spread	Present Day Impact
Sri Lanka	Ashoka’s missionary Mahendra	Theravāda (Hinayana) Buddhism still practiced
Tibet	Padmasambhava (Guru Rinpoche)	Vajrayāna Buddhism popular
China	Along Silk Route	Mahāyāna Buddhism developed schools like Chan (Zen)
Japan	Korean and Chinese monks	Zen Buddhism became influential
Southeast Asia	Traders and monks from India	Buddhism became dominant in Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia

🕯️ Important Buddhist Texts (Besides Tripitaka)

Text	Description
Jataka Tales	Stories of Buddha’s previous births as human or animal, showing moral values.
Milindapanha	Dialogue between Indo-Greek king Menander (Milinda) and Buddhist monk Nagasena.
Lalitavistara	A Mahayana text detailing Buddha’s life story.
Buddhacharita	Biography of Buddha written by Ashvaghosha (also a great poet and philosopher).

⚠️ Reasons for Decline:

1. Revival of Hinduism: Rise of Bhakti movement, emphasis on devotion and temple worship.
2. Internal Divisions: Many sects like Mahayana, Hinayana, Vajrayana created confusion.
3. Loss of Royal Patronage: After Harshavardhana, few Indian kings supported Buddhism.
4. Foreign Invasions: Destruction of monasteries by Huns and later by Muslim invaders.
5. Complex Rituals in later Buddhism made it similar to Hinduism.
6. Language Barrier: Pali lost popularity while Sanskrit rose again.

Event	Date
Birth of Buddha	563 BCE
Great Renunciation	Age 29
Enlightenment	Age 35
First Sermon	Shortly after Enlightenment
Mahaparinirvana (Death)	483 BCE
First Council	483 BCE
Second Council	383 BCE
Third Council	255 BCE
Fourth Council	1st Century CE

• Buddha never claimed to be God; he considered himself a teacher.
• Ashoka was the first emperor to adopt and spread Buddhism widely.
• Buddha Purnima is the holiest day for Buddhists — birth, enlightenment, and death all occurred on this day.
• First worshipped idol in India is believed to be of Buddha.
• Buddha’s teachings emphasize action over rituals, making them more accessible to common people.

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