Buddhism

By: Niraj Pant

"In protecting oneself, others are protected; In protecting others, oneself is protected"  

Buddha’s Birth

Born Siddhārtha Gautama (563-483 B.C.E) in Maha Devi Temple in Sákyans, Lumbineyya Janapada or what is know Lumbini, Nepal to the Kshatriya caste. Lumbini was part of Buddha's father's kingdom. Siddhārtha was very sick from a young age. After enlightenment he was known as Gautama Buddha or Shakyamuni Gautama. 

Map of Lumbini, Nepal

Buddhism Fast Facts

• Founded by: Shakyamuni Gautama • Founded: C. 520 B.C.E• Place Founded: Lumbini, Nepal• Adherents: 360 Million• Size: 4th largest religion in the world• Practiced in: China, Japan, Korea, South Asia, Thailand• Divisions: Theravada, Mahayana, Vajrayana • The three trainings: Moral discipline, Concentration, and wisdom.• 4 Buddhist reminders: Human life is precious, death is inevitable,

the laws of Karma can not be avoided, and suffering permeates all existence.

Life of Buddha

• Siddhartha married and had a son named Rahula. Dissatisfied by the difference between a sumptuous life and the people living on the street, he ran away to the jungle. There he began a life of ascetics and trained with ascetic philosophers. For the remaining 45 years of his life, he traveled The Gangetic Plain of Central India. From teaching Kings to street sweepers he revolutionized a new form of religion teaching what every person should achieve in life.

Main Types/Schools of Buddhism1. Theravada/Hinayana:

Practiced in Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos. Theravada teachs that there is no god we can rely on for troubles and salvation. The Theravada's virtue is wisdom. They see Buddha as a saint and the role of the monks is to spread buddhist teachings.

 2. Mahayana: The Mahayana was a new strand from the Theravada. The monks changed from considering monks the only elite and beyond the monastery. They transformed Buddha's teaching into being of personal nature and transcendence. The Mahayana has many variations including Nichiren, Pure land, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism.  

 3.Vajarayana: Buddha only taught this type of Buddhism to Suitable disciples in his later life. At this time, many of the Mahayana Masters started to learn Vajarayana.

Emperor Ashoka

Emperor Ashoka is known for his ruthless character and aggressiveness. When he heard his father was dying, he quickly went and eliminated his opponents. Overtaken by the war he quickly converted to Buddhism to learn peaceful teachings. He sent all his scribes to spread Buddhism all over the world.

Buddhist Prayers

• Some Prayers of Buddhism in English are:• Let no one anywhere despise another,

Let no one out of anger or resentment Wish suffering on anyone at all.Just as a mother with her own lifeProtects her child, her only child, from harm,So within yourself let growA boundless love for all creatures.

• A saying by Dalai Lama the 14th is: Honoring and Invoking the Great Compassionof the Three Jewels;the Buddha, the Teachings, and the Spiritual Community

Flag of Buddhism

• The flag was designed in 1885 by the Colombo committee in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The flag was published in the Sarasavi Sandaresa on April 17, 1885.

Regular Buddhist Flag Shin Buddhist Flag

Soka Gakai Buddhism Flag

Buddhist flag in Burma (Myanmar)

Buddhist Flag in Korea

Buddhist Flag in Nepal

Buddhist Holidays

• Buddhist New Year- Celebrated for the 3 days starting from the full moon day in April. For the Mahayana it starts in January.

• Vesak- Vesak or Buddha’s birthday is on the first full moon day in May or June on the leap year.

• Asalha Puja Day- This holiday celebrates Buddha’s first teaching on the first full moon day of July.

• Loy Krathong- When rivers and canals are full of water, bowls made of leaves, candles, and incense sticks are sent down in Thailand. This represents bad luck disappearing.

• Abhidhamma Day- This day celebrates the day when Buddha went to heaven to teach his mother the Abhidhamma and is celebrated in April.

• The Enlightenment festival- This day shows two ox pulling a plough painted with gold to celebrate when Buddha attained enlightenment.

Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites

• There are 4 main pilgrimage sites that is related to Buddha:

1. Lumbini, Nepal:

2. Bodh Gaya, India

3. Kushinagar, India

4. Sarnath, India

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