Buddhism Founded by Siddhartha Gautama - Essay Example

A B S T R A C T Buddhism, one of the greatest Philosophy and religions of the world was founded by Gautama Buddha around 566 BC. Today there are over 300 million Buddhists worldwide. It has two main divisions – the Theravada or the Hinayana in Sri Lanka and SE Asia and Mahayana in China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan. A third school, the Vajrayana, has a long tradition in Tibet and Japan. It has practically disappeared from its origin country, India except fro some refugees from the Tibet region of China and small number of converts from the lower castes of Hinduism. B U D D H I S M Buddha is derived from the word ‘Bodha’, which means consciousness or enlightenment. The quest of a Prince, confined to the four walls of the Palace, to know the truth in life, gave to the world the great philosophy and world religion or way of life known as BUDDHISM. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, who is known as the Buddha, or the Enlightened One. Siddhartha Gautama, the great warrior Prince, was born around 566 BC in Lumbini (formerly in North India). Even when he was an infant a seer predicted that Siddhartha would become either a great King or an ‘enlightened one’. The king, fearful of losing his son and heir to the kingdom, confined him to the Palace. During his three attempts to encounter with the realities that lay outside the walls of the Palace, Prince Siddhartha saw a sick man, an old woman and a decaying corpse and a wandering holy man. This created unrest within him and he realized that there is something beyond the human life, beyond the physical existence. He realized that all men have to undergo all these four stages and not just in one life but life after life. While the Palace was sleeping, one night he escaped leaving his wife and child, and the luxuries of the Palace, in search of the truth. This was the first step towards attaining ‘bodha’. In search of the truth Siddhartha travelled across the country, from one saint to the other. At each step he did release one layer of negativity from within but was still not able to attain the truth. He realized that neither a the life penance and ascetic practices nor a life full of luxuries could reach him there. He discovered what is now called the ‘middle path’ to attain enlightenment. He remembered a moment in childhood in which he had been watching his father start the seasons plowing, and he had fallen into a naturally concentrated and focused state in which time seemed to stand still, and which was blissful and refreshing (Wikipedia). He sat down under a large tree (now known as the Bodhi Tree) and started meditating. He developed a new of meditating; his mind became concentrated and pure. Six years after the initial quest he attained ‘enlightenment’ and came to be known as Gautama Buddha. Initially his quest was only for self-realization but he was concerned that people were seized by greed, delusion and power. They would never be able to understand dharma which was subtle and deep. They would continue to roll in the cycle of births and deaths. He was motivated to teach the Dharma to the world and this is how Buddhism was born. It was in Benares, in Northern India, that he set in motion the Wheel of Dharma. He delivered his first sermon here to the five companions who had set out with him in this path. They, together with Buddha, formed the first sangha, the company of Buddhist monks. Buddhism spread far and wide in no time. The basic doctrines of early Buddhism include the four ‘noble truths’: existence is suffering (dukha), suffering has a cause – desires and attachment (trishna) rooted in ignorance, there is an end of suffering or nirvana, and the magga or the eight-fold path which leads out of suffering. The Noble Eightfold Path consists of right views, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right-mindedness, and right contemplation. These eight are usually divided into three categories that form the cornerstone of Buddhist faith: morality, wisdom, and samadhi, or concentration. Buddhists seek refuge in the Three Jewels, namely Buddha, the Dharma or the Dhamma and the Sangha or the community. The Buddhist philosophy believes that while it is not possible to escape one’s karma, or the effects of the past deeds, words or thoughts, it is possible to avoid the suffering by becoming enlightened. For this, one needs to take refuge in the Three Jewels and follow the eight-fold path. According to Buddhism human existence is made up of five distinct bundles or skandhas - the material body, feelings, perceptions, predispositions or karmic tendencies, and consciousness (Encarta). A person is only a temporary combination of these and every moment there is a change. Buddha felt that all existence is characterized by the three marks of anatman (no soul), anitya (impermanence), and dukkha (suffering). For forty years, Buddha traveled all over and spread the message of enlightenment till he died at the age of eighty. He refused his disciples’ request to appoint a successor. Soon after his death or parinirvana, five hundred monks met at the First Council at Rajagrha (India) where the monastic codes and the sutras (Buddha’s teachings) were recited. The most respected and elderly monk Maha Kassapa presided over the Council. After much debate the final version was adopted and translated in many Indian languages. For over 200 years, Buddhism remained an oral tradition (George Boeree, C). Gradually the original unity of Buddhism began to fragment. The second Council was held at Vaishali 100 years after the first. Two groups had occurred – the liberals and the traditionalists. The liberals labeled themselves as the great sangha, later known as the MAHAYANA. Mahayana Buddhists believe that the right path of a follower will lead to the redemption of all human beings The traditionalists, known in Pali as THERAVADA (also HINAYANA – the lesser vehicle), developed a complex set of philosophical ideas beyond those elucidated by Buddha. They believed that each person was responsible for his own fate. VAJRAYANA, another path like Mahayana and Hinayana, also appeared during this period. This too propagated that Buddha hood is attainable by all and differed slightly from the method of Mahayana. In time, further subdivisions within these groups resulted in 18 schools that differed on philosophical matters, religious questions, and points of discipline. Of these 18 traditional sects, only Theravada survives. Although Buddhism had its origins in India it gradually died out in India and took firm roots in Sri Lanka. It spread throughout Asia to Central Asia, Tibet, South East Asia as well as to East Asian countries to China, Japan and Korea. Emperor Ashoka converted to Buddhism and spread it as far as Syria. He actively supported it and his promotion led to the construction of Buddhist religious sites. The third Council was held at Pataliputra (now Patna, India) called by King Ashoka. The purpose was to purify the sangha of a large number of false monks who had joined it because of its royal patronage. The fourth Council was held by King Kanishka. He converted to Buddhism and called a monk to give him Teachings daily. He was confused when different monks gave different instructions so he called the fourth Council to review and represent the teachings. This Council complied the Teachings, the Discipline, and the Philosophy of Buddhism. Interpretations at this Council was agreed upon by most monks. After the fourth Council Buddhism received a great impetus and flourished for more than a thousand years. Magnificent Buddhist paintings, sculptures, and monuments were created. During this period, Buddhist scholars composed works on Ethics, Philosophy and Logic. Eminent scholars like Nagarjuna and the two brothers Asanga and Vasubandhu made valuable contributions to the Mahayana Buddhism. Nagarjuna wrote many books explaining the profound teaching of "Emptiness". Widely regarded as a Bodhisattva, Nagarjuna gained great fame in India. Later, when Buddhism reached China, Japan, Tibet and Mongolia, he also received the reverence of Buddhists in these countries. Several important new sects of Buddhism developed and flourished in China, Japan and East Asia. Among these, Chan, or Zen, and Pure Land, or Amidism, were most important. Zen advocated the practice on meditation and emphasizes on practice and personal enlightenment rather than doctrine or the study of scripture. The Buddhist scriptures is known in Sanskrit as Tripitaka and in Pali as Tipitaka. These literally mean ‘three baskets’ and refer to the three main divisions of canon as the Vinaya Pitaka (the rules for the monks and nuns), the Sutta Pitaka (the discourses of Buddha), and the Abhidhamma, containing a philosophical systematization of the Buddhas teaching, including a detailed analysis of Buddhist psychology. Buddhism today is one of the prominent religions of the world. Its greatest strengths has been its ability to adapt to the changing conditions and to a variety of cultures. While it is opposed to materialism, it does not recognize any conflict between itself and modern science. In Thailand and Myanmar Buddhism remains strong. In China it continues to exist although under strict Government regulation and supervision. In Tibet, the Chinese, after their takeover and the escape of the Dalai Lama and other Buddhist officials into India in 1959, attempted to undercut Buddhist influence. Only in Japan since World War II have truly new Buddhist movements arisen. A number of societies in the West are now devoted to the study and practice of Buddhism. Zen has grown in the United States to encompass more than a dozen meditation centers and a number of actual monasteries. Buddhism is once again in the process of undergoing popularity but with changes suitable to the conditions of the country. Today it is believed that there are more than 300 million Buddhists in the world with a quarter million in Europe, and a half million each in North and South America. Buddhism is the fourth largest religion in the world, after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. It has suffered considerable setbacks but is now at the revival stage when West is turning to it as a religion or a philosophy of life. References: Wikipedia, Buddhism, URL: < http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddhism#Origins> accessed 21 Oct 2005. George Boeree, C Dr, The History of Buddhism, URL:< http://www.ship.edu/~cgboeree/buddhahist.html> accessed 21 Oct 2005 The Spread of Buddhism, URL:< http://www.encyclopedia.com/html/section/Buddhism_TheSpreadofBuddhism.asp> accessed 21 Oct 2005 Read More