Buddhism

Life of Gautam Buddha

Born as Prince Siddhartha in 563 BC at Lumbini, Nepal.
Son of Suddhodhana (chief of Sakya clan) and Mahamaya.
Referred to as Sakyamuni due to his Sakya lineage.
Raised by his maternal aunt Prajapati Gautami (after mother’s early death), hence the name ‘Gautama’.
Married Yashodhara; his son was Rahula.
At age 29, renounced royal life—this event is called Mahabhinishkramana.
- Prompted by seeing: a sick man, old man, corpse, and ascetic.
Wandered as an ascetic for 7 years.
Achieved enlightenment (Nirvana) at Bodh Gaya, Bihar (meditated under Bodhi Tree near river Niranjana at age 35).
Delivered first sermon at Sarnath, called Dharmachakra Pravartana (“Setting in Motion the Wheel of Law”).
Died at Kushinagar, UP in 483 BC (Mahaparinirvana).
Buddha = “Enlightened One”.

Four Noble Truths:
- Dukkha—Life is full of suffering
- Dukkha Samuddaya—Origin of suffering
- Dukkha Nirodha—End of suffering is possible
- Dukkha Nirodhagamini Pratipada—Path leading to cessation of suffering
Goal: Attain Nirvana—liberation from the cycle of birth and death, eternal peace and bliss.
Three Jewels (Triratnas):
- Buddha (the Enlightened One)
- Dhamma (the Doctrine)
- Sangha (the Community)
Threefold Path to Nirvana:
- Seela (right conduct)
- Samadhi (right concentration)
- Prajna (right wisdom)
Preached the “Middle Path”—balance between indulgence and austerity.

1st Council (483 BC, Rajagriha):
- Patron: King Ajatasatru; President: Mahakassapa
- Objective: Preserve Buddha’s teachings
- Ananda compiled Sutta Pitaka; Mahakassapa compiled Vinaya Pitaka.
2nd Council (383 BC, Vaishali):
- Patron: King Kalasoka; President: Sabakami
- Objective: Resolve disputes in Vinaya Pitaka, leading to split—Theravada (original teachings) vs Mahasanghika (liberal group)
3rd Council (250 BC, Pataliputra):
- Patron: Emperor Ashoka; President: Mogaliputta Tissa
- Objective: Purify Buddhism, finish Abhidhamma Pitaka, send missionaries
4th Council (1st century AD, Kashmir):
- Patron: King Kanishka; Presidents: Vasumitra, Ashvaghosha
- Deliberations in Sanskrit, resulted in division: Mahayana (idol worship, rituals) vs Hinayana (original teachings)

Tripitakas/Tipitakas (in Pali):
- Sutta Pitaka (teachings)
- Vinaya Pitaka (monastic code)
- Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophy)
Other Important Works:
- Dhammapada—verses by Buddha
- Milinda Panha—dialogue with Indo-Greek king Menander I
- Buddhacharita—Sanskrit epic on Buddha’s life by Ashvaghosha

Hinayana (Theravada):
- Oldest school, original philosophy, texts in Pali.
- Sarvastivada (Sanskrit)—believes in existence of physical and mental realities.
- Vaibhasika & Sautantrika—branches with different outlooks.
- Patronized by Ashoka.
Mahayana:
- Emphasizes idol worship, rituals, and Boddhisattvas (future Buddhas).
- Texts in Sanskrit.
- Main philosophies: Madhyamika (Nagarjuna), Yogachara (Maitreyanatha).
- Patronized by Kanishka, Harsha.
- Notable Boddhisattva: Maitreya, regarded as future Buddha.

Namgyal Monastery (Dharamshala, HP) – Linked to Dalai Lamas, major tourist spot
Thikse Monastery (Leh, Ladakh) – Famous Indus Valley site
Hemis Monastery (Ladakh) – Known for Hemis Festival
Shashur Monastery (Lahaul-Spiti, HP) – Surrounded by blue pines
Mindrolling Monastery (Dehradun, Uttarakhand) – Has India’s tallest Buddha statue and stupa
Ghum Monastery (Darjeeling, WB) – Oldest Tibetan Buddhist monastery in region
Rumtek Monastery (Gangtok, Sikkim) – One of the largest in Sikkim, scenic location
Tawang Monastery (Arunachal Pradesh) – Largest in India, 2nd largest in the world