The Founding |
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| Due to his previously acquired merit, Buddha resided in Tushita heaven waiting to be reborn as a human. He appointed Maitreya as his successor as the next Buddha after him, and departed for the human world. At that moment, Queen Mayadevi dreamt that a white six-tusked elephant had entered her womb. Her son later emerged painlessly from her side. Taking seven steps in each direction, he declared that this was his final birth.He proved to be a better student than his teachers, married, and had a son. Siddhartha witnessed death, disease, and old age and, from this sought the cause of human suffering. Mastering all the religious paths of his time, he eventually concluded that it was the mind that entraps humans in suffering and rebirth. Resolving to find enlightement he defeated the evil one and was awakened. After teaching for many years, he ate some rancid food, said to his disciples "Work out your own liberation diligently" and attained final disappearance. | Siddhartha Gautauma was born to Suddhodana, a ruler of the Sakya clan, and Maya, his mother in about 536 BCE. Born into the kshatriya class, Siddhartha was expected to fulfill his proper dharma as a government official. Following Hindu tradition, he engaged in serious study of the Vedas, married, and had a son. Neither the teachings of the sacred scriptures nor the life of a householder satisfied his quest for the nature and source of human suffering. Seeking better answers, he renounced his family life and became a wandering ascetic. Mastering all of the religious paths around him, he became dispairing of ever finding an answer to his question. Finally, at death's doorstep he rested under a bodhi tree and was awakened to the fundamental truths of human existence. Arising, he went forth and taught the dharma for about forty-five years. Then, after eating some tainted food, he fell ill, gave his last instructions to his disciples, and entered parinirvana, never to be reborn again. |
The Goal |
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| Like Hinduism, Buddhism describes the goal of life in terms of overcoming the endless rebirths of the wheel of samsara. It differs from Hinduism in its description of what is achieved. For Buddha, the key to release was through disciplining the consciousness to the point of extinguishing the cravings of the self and breaking the chains of dependent coarising -- the chains that bind us to endless rebirths. | |
The Means |
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Buddha provided humanity with the Three Jewels -- each providing a path to enlightenment.
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The Schools |
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Four early schools emerged over disputes about the monastic rules and interpretations of Buddha's teachings. The four most important were Mahasanghika, Theravada, Sarvastivada, and Sammatiya. Several centuries later, Mahayana developed and with it the subdivisions of Madhyamika, Yogacara, Logic, and Esoteric schools. |
From the esoteric schools emerged Tantric Buddhism and its most noted form Vajrayana. Other schools would later develop as Buddhism was transplanted in China and Japan. Among the most signficant were the Three Treatises School, the Consciousness Only School, T'ien-T'ai School, Hua-yen School, and Ch'an School. Pure Land and Nichiren later flourished in Japan. |
The Scriptures |
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The Turning of the Wheel of Dharma Sutra Pali Canon Tripitika The Perfection of Wisdom Sutra |
The Lotus Sutra Garland Sutra The Diamond Sutra |
Key Terms |
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Siddhartha Buddha Bodhisattva Dharma Dukkha Samsara Karma Ullambana festival Tripitika |
Four Noble Truths Eightfold Path Dependent Arising Nirvana Three Refuges Arhats Siddhas Self-effort Compassion |
Key Symbol |
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Footprint of the BuddhaSymbolizing the presence and absence of the Buddha. |
Sacred Places |
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Lumbini -- his place of birth Buddhagaya -- his place of enlightenment |
Deer Park at Sannath -- the place of his first sermon Kusinagara -- his place of death |
Buddhism Links