Buddha
& Buddhism
The second great religion that originated in India is
Buddhism. Ironically though Buddhism flourished overseas;
in the land of its birth it was ti11 recently non-existent.
It received a lease of life after independence, when
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar decided to embrace Buddhism. A significant
section of the scheduled castes followed Dr. Ambedkar
and they today constitute an overwhelming portion of
the adherents of Buddhism in India today. But they do
not form part of the two traditional sects of Buddhism
viz., (Mahanayana and Hinayana) and are generally termed
as Neo-Buddhists (Nava-Baudha). The history of Buddhism
in India starts with that of its founder Gautama Buddha
who lived in the 6th century B.C.E.
Life
Buddha was born in the Shakya clan that belonged to the warrior
(Kshatriya) caste. His father was Shudhodana and his
mother Maya. Before Buddha was born his mother had a dream in which a white elephant
descended from heaven and entered her womb. Buddha was
said to have been born in a grove named Lumbini near
the ancient town of Kapilavastu. At birth the name given
to him was Gautama, probably after the more ancient
Vedic seer to whom some of the hymns in the Rigveda
are ascribed. Buddha was also known as Siddhartha which
means 'he whose aim is accomplished' The latter name
seems to be a title given to him by his disciples} although
varying opinions are held on this issue.
The
Prophecy of Buddha
At his birth, a sage is
said to have told King Shudhodana that Gautama would
grow up to be a powerful king. But to become a king
he should be kept away from the sorrows of 1ife. And
if perchance he happened to see any of the sorrows of
life he would become an universal teacher. Keen as King
Shudhodhana was to see Gautama to be a sucessful ruler,
he built up special palace for Gautama from where he
could set his eyes on none of the world's sufferings.
Even when the prince Gautama went out for stroll or
ride, all unpleasant objects were removed so as to prevent
Gautama's mind from being disturbed.
The
Young Gautama is kept away from Real Life
But the prophesy of Gautama
becoming an universal teacher was destined to be fulfilled.
One day through some lapse, Gautama managed to s1ip
out unnoticed from the palace. Riding through the streets
of the city he saw for the first time in his life, a
lame person, a sick person, a dead body and an ascetic.
These sights made a deep
impact on his tender teenaged mind and he set thinking
upon the cause of sufferings and sorrow. Consequently,
Gautama began neglecting the affairs of the State which
his father had assigned to him. Alarmed at his son's
strange behaviour, King Shudhodana, to get his son off
this brroding decided to marry him to a princess Yashodhara.
Some days after marriage a son was born to them who
was named Rahula.
But married life could
not distract Gautama from his life's mission for long.
When his patience was at the end of its tether, Gautawna
decided to forsake family life and one day he slipped
out of his palace alongwith his servant Chandaka. After
moving out of the city, Gautema cut off his hair removed
his royal ornaments and jewels, his rich garments and
sandals and gave them to Chandaka and bid him to return
to the palace with the news of his (Gautama's) departure.
Gautama
becomes The Buddha - The Enlightened One
Thus Gautama set out on
his quest for the cause of sufferings (Klesha). He undertook
severe austerities by fasting continuously. In this
he was accompanied by five disciples. But his frail
and pampered body could not stand up to this self-inflicted
punishment and one day he fainted. Realizing that this
was not the way to arrive at the truth, he gave up the
austerities. Horrified at their Master's apostasy the
five disciples left him. But undaunted, Gautama continued
his quest for the cause of sufferings. He seated himself
under a fig tree (Mahabodhi tree) and decided not get
up unless he found answers to his questions. His enlightenment
is said to have come suddenly and was exceedingly simple
- viz., that all pain is caused - by desire, and therefore
peace comes when one ceases to crave for anything. This
thought was new at that age and it struck him with blinding
force, and not only influenced his future life but left
a lasting imprint on Buddhist philosophy. Freedom from
all desires was said to release a person from the cycle
of re-birth and lead to his salvation (Nirvana).
After this revealation
Gautama started preaching to people and for this he
travelled from place to place. He is said to have delivered
his first sermon at a deer park (Isipatana) setting
in motion, the wheel of law (Dharma-chakra or Dhammachakra
in Pali).
As his teachings impressed
people his followlng grew. Among his early converts
were Sariputta, Mogallana and Ananda. He even received
the patronage of rich traders like Anathapindika (i.e.
feeder of poor) and powerful kinqs of the age like Ajatashatru
of Magadha. After the revelation (Bodhi), Gautama came
to be known as Buddha or Gautama Buddha . He was also
known as Shakyamuni (Sage of the Shakyas). The tree
under which he attained enlightenment is known as the
Bodhi or Mahabodhi tree But though he received an impressive
following Buddha never claimed Divine status. Very few
miracles are attributed to him.
"Miracles"
by the Buddha
On one occasion
a grieving lady carried her dead child to Buddha and
asked him to revive it. This was a perfect setting for
a miracle to be woven into religious folklore, but Buddhist
records state that Buddha calmed the lady and told her
that he would require three mustard seeds to revive
her child. But the mustard seeds should be from a family
where so far no one has ever died. To fulfill this seemingly
simple request the lady went from house to house only
to be told that sometime or the other, someone had died
in every family. Gradually, the truth dawned upon the
grieving lady and going to a cemetery, she laid down
her child's body and taking its little hand in hers,
she said "Beloved son, I thought that death has
overtaken you alone. but no it overtakes all of us".
She went back to Buddha and became his disciple.
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