BUDDHISM

Source
➢ Colonial Text - are believed to be the actual words of the
Buddha. Canonical texts are books which lay down the basic
tenets and principles of Buddhism such as the Tipitakas.
➢ Non Colonial Text – these are commentaries and
observations on canonical texts, quotes, definitions, historical
information, grammars and other writings in Pali, Tibetian,
Chinese and other East Asian languages.
➢ Mahavastu (written in Sanskrit-Prakrit mixed) – it is
about the sacred biography, i.e hagiography of the
Buddha.
➢ Nidanakatha – first connected life story of Buddha.
➢ The Dipavamsa & the Mahavamsa (both in Pali) – both
give historical and mythical accounts of the Buddha’s
life, Buddhist Councils, Asoka and the arrival of
Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
➢ Visuddhimagga (the path to purification written
by Buddhaghosa) – deals with the development from the
purity of discipline to enlightenment (Nibbana)
➢ Milindapanho (in Pali) – consists of a dialogue between
the Indo-Greek king Milinda/Menander and the monk
Nagasena on various philosophical issues.
➢ Nettipakarana (The book of guidance) – which gives a
connected account of the Buddha’s teachings.
Gautam Buddha
 Name – Siddhartha
 Born – 563 BC ( Sakya Kshatriya Clan )
  Father – Suddodhanam
 Mother – Mahamaya ( Koliyas Clan )
 Step Mother – Prajapati Gautami
 Wife – Yasodhara
 Son – Rahul
 Teacher –
 Alara Kalama – Vaishali
 Ramaputta / Uddaka – Rajgriha
 Horse – Kantaka
 Charioteer – Channa
 Death – 483 BC
Early Life
➢ The Gautama Buddha was born to Suddhodana (chief of
republican Sakya clan) as Siddhartha in 563 BCE on Vaishakha
Poornima day at Lumbini (Nepal).
➢ He lost his mother (Mahamaya) just a few days after his birth
and was brought up by his stepmother Gautami.
➢ There were 32 birthmarks on his body and Brahmanas
predicted that either he would be a world conqueror or a
world renouncer.
➢ He was married to Yashodhara at the early age of 16 and had
a son named Rahula. At the age of 29, he left his palace and
decided to become a wanderer by seeing Old Man, Sick Man,
Dead Body and Ascetic.
➢ He along with Channa, his charioteer and his horse, Kanthaka,
wandered for six long years in search of truth.
 ➢ He first meditated with Alara Kalama and then Uddaka
Ramaputta.
➢ The Buddha later joined five wandering ascetics – Assaji,
Mahanama, Vappa, Bhaddiya and Kondanna. He practised
severe austerities until his body was almost emaciated and
realising that austerities could not lead to realisation, he left
them.
➢ He then moved towards the village of Senani and took a seat
under a peepal tree facing east. He then resolved not to rise
until enlightenment was achieved.
Early Life
➢ At the age of 35, he ultimately attained
Nirvana/enlightenment at Gaya, Magadha (Bihar) under a
peepal tree (Bodhi tree), on the banks of river Niranjana and
came to be known as the Buddha – the Enlightened One.
➢ The Buddha delivered his first sermon on deliverance from
sufferings to his five former companions at Sarnath.
➢ The Buddha wandered about for over four decades, and
established an order of monks and nuns known as Sangha.
➢ He attained Parinirvana at the age of 80 at Kusinara (of the
Mallas) in 483 BC.
➢ His last words were “All composite things decay, strive
diligently”.
➢ Just before his death he lived in Pavapuri in the house of a
smith named Chanda where he ate Mushrooms and Pork.
Life Events and Symbols
➢ Lotus and Bull – Birth
➢ Horse – Renunciation - Mahabhiniskarmana
 ➢ Bodhi Tree – Enlightenment - Nirvana
➢ Wheel - Dhammachakra Pravartana – First sermon
➢ Footprints – Death - Parinirvana
Buddha’s Teaching
➢ The core of Buddha’s doctrine is expressed in the Ariya-
Sacchani (four noble truths), Ashtangika-Marga (Eight Fold
Path), Middle Path, Social Code of Conduct, and Attainment of
Nibbana/Nirvana.
➢ Three pillars Of Buddha’s Teaching –
➢ Buddha – Founder/Teacher
➢ Dhamma – Teachings
➢ Sangha – Order of Buddhist Monks and Nuns (Upasakas)
➢ The four noble truths –
➢ Dukha (The truth of suffering) – As per Buddhism,
everything is suffering (Sabbam Dukham). It refers to the
potential to experience pain and not only the actual pain
and sorrow experienced by an individual.
➢ Samudaya (The truth of the cause of suffering) – Trishna
(desire) is the main cause of suffering. Every suffering
has a reason and it is a part and parcel of living.
➢ Nirodha (The truth of the end of suffering) – the
pain/sorrow can be ended by conquering desire by the
attainment of Nibbana/Nirvana.
➢ Ashtangika-Marga (The truth of the path leading to the
end of suffering) – Nirvana can be achieved by following
the eightfold path.
Eight fold Path
1. Right Vision (Samma-Ditthi) – it is about understanding the
nature of reality and the path of transformation.
2. Right Thought or Attitude (Samma-Sankappa) – it signifies
having emotional intelligence and acting from love and
compassion.
3. Right or Whole Speech (Samma-Vacca) – it signifies truthful,
clear, uplifting and unharmful communications.
4. Right or Integral Action (Samma-Kammanta) – it signifies an
ethical foundation of life, on the principles of non-exploitation
of oneself and others. It consists of five rules, which form the
ethical code of conduct for the members of the monastic order
and the laity.
5. Right or Proper Livelihood (Samma-Ajiva) – it lays emphasis on
livelihood based on correct action and on the ethical principles
of non-exploitation. It is believed that this forms the basis of
an ideal society.
6. Right Effort or Energy (Samma-Vayama) – it signifies
consciously directing our life energy to the transformative
path of creative and healing action that fosters wholeness thus
moving towards conscious evolution.
7. Right Mindfulness or Thorough Awareness ( Samma-Sati) – it
means knowing one’s own self and watching self behaviour.
There is a saying by the Buddha, “If you hold yourself dear,
watch yourself well”.
8. Right Concentration or Meditation (Samma-Samadhi) –
samadhi literally means to be fixed, absorbed in. It means
getting one’s whole being absorbed in various levels or modes
of consciousness and awareness.
 In the above-eightfold path, the word “right” signifies “whole”,” integral”,
“complete”, “perfect”.
Buddha has emphasised that if a person follows the eightfold path, then he
will reach his destination (Nirvana) without the involvement of the
monks/nuns.
The Nibbana is a Pali word formed of ‘Ni’ and ‘vanna’, ni means negative and
vanna refers to lust or craving.
In the non-Buddhist concept, eternal heaven is realised only after death or
union with God. When Nibbana is achieved in this life, it is called Sopadisesa
Nibbana-dhatu.
When an Arhat attains parinibbana (used for the death of enlightened
beings such as Buddha), after the dissolution of his body, it is
called Anupadisesa Nibbana-dhatu.
The philosophy of Buddha accepts impermanence and transmigration but
denies the existence of God and believes that the soul is a myth.
Buddhism teaches the existence of ten realms of being and one can be born
as any one of them.
At the top is Buddha followed by Bodhisattva (an enlightened being destined
to be a Buddha but purposely remains on earth to propagate
teachings), Pratyeka Buddha (a Buddha on their own), Sravaka (disciple of
Buddha), heavenly beings (superhumans, angels), human beings,
Asura (fighting spirits), beasts, Preta (hungry ghosts) and depraved
men (hellish beings).
In Buddhism, karma is the result of actions depending on the intentions
more than the action itself. Rebirth is the result of the karma of the previous
life.
Though Buddhism lays emphasis on non-violence, it doesn’t forbid masses
from eating meat.

Reason for Spread

➢ Liberal & democratic
➢ Simple language
 ➢ The personality of the Buddha
➢ Royal patronage
➢ Inexpensive
Reason for decline
 Corruption in Buddhist Sangha
 Division among Buddhists
 Use of Sanskrit language
 Buddha worship
 Persecution of Buddhists
 Muslim invasion
First Buddhist Council
➢ Conducted under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of Haryanka dynasty.
➢ The council was established in order to arrive at a consensus on how the
could be spread further.
➢ It was held in 483 BC just after Buddha’s demise.
➢ It was held at Sattapani caves (Sattaparnaguha) in Rajagriha.
➢ The monk who presided over the first council was Mahakassapa.
➢ Main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings.
➢ At this council, Ananda composed the Suttapitaka (Buddha’s Teachings)
and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic code).
Second Buddhist Council
➢ Conducted under the patronage of King Kalasoka of Sisunaga dynasty.
➢ It was held in 383 BC, i.e., a hundred years after the Buddha’s death.
➢ It was held at Vaishali.
➢ Sabakami presided over the council.
➢ The main objective was to discuss ten disputed points under the
Vinaypitaka.
 ➢ The first major split happened here – two groups that would later evolve
into Theravada and Mahayana. The first group was called Thera
(meaning Elder in Pali). They wanted to preserve the teachings of
Buddha in the original spirit. The other group called Mahasanghika
(Great Community) interpreted the Buddha’s teachings more liberally.
Third Buddhist Council
➢ Conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka of Maurya dynasty.
➢ It was held in 250 BC at Pataliputra.
➢ The council was presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa.
➢ Main objective was to purify Buddhism from opportunistic factions and
corruption in the Sangha.
➢ The Abhidhamma Pitaka was composed here making the almost
completion of the modern Pali Tipitaka.
➢ Buddhist missionaries were sent to other countries.
➢ Buddhism preached by Emperor Ashoka was Hinayana.
Forth Buddhist Council
➢ Conducted under the patronage of King Kanishka of Kushan dynasty.
➢ It was held in the 1st century AD (72 AD) at Kundalvana in Kashmir.
➢ Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha presided over this council
➢ All deliberations were conducted in Sanskrit.
➢ Here, Abhidhamma texts were translated from Prakrit to Sanskrit.
➢ This council resulted in the division of Buddhism into two sects namely,
Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle).
➢ Mahayana sect believed in idol worship, rituals, and Bodhisattvas. They
regarded the Buddha as God. Hinayana continued the original teachings
and practices of the Buddha. They adhere to the scriptures written in
Pali while the Mahayana includes Sanskrit scriptures as well.
Fifth Buddhist Council
➢ It was presided by Theravada monks in Mandalay, Burma in 1871 during
the rule of King Mindon
 ➢ It is known as the ‘Fifth Council’ in Burmese tradition
➢ Its objective was to recite all the teachings of the Buddha and examine
whether any of them had been altered, distorted or neglected
➢ It was attended by 2400 monks, presided by three Elders – the
Venerable Mahathera Jagarabhivamsa, the Venerable Narindabhidhaja,
and the Venerable Mahathera Sumangalasami.
➢ The council lasted for five months.
➢ The entire recitation was captured in marble slabs, abut 729 of them. All
the slabs were housed in beautiful miniature pitaka pagodas.
➢ It is loctaed at the grounds of King Mindon’s Kuthodaw Pagoda at the
foot of Mandalay Hill
Sixth Buddhist Council
➢ The Sixth Council was called at Kaba Aye in Yangon (formerly Rangoon)
in 1954, 83 years after the fifth one was held in Mandalay.
➢ It was sponsored by the Burmese Government led by the then Prime
Minister, the Honourable U Nu.
➢ He authorized the construction of the Maha Passana Guha, the “great
cave”, an artificial cave very much like India’s Sattapanni Cave where the
first Buddhist Council had been held. Upon its completion The Council
met on 17 May 1954.
➢ As in the case of the preceding councils, its first objective was to affirm
and preserve the genuine Dhamma and Vinaya.
➢ However it was unique insofar as the monks who took part in it came
from eight countries.
➢ The traditional recitation of the Buddhist Scriptures took two years and
the Tripiṭaka and its allied literature in all the scripts were painstakingly
examined and their differences noted down and the necessary
corrections made and all the versions were then collated