Rise of Heterodox Sects : Buddhism
Buddhism
Gautama Buddha : Gautama Buddha or Siddhartha was a contemporary of Mahavira. He was born in 563 BC in a Shakya (Kshatriya) family in Lumbini near Kapilvastu, which is situated on the foothills of Nepal. Gautama's father (Shudhodana) seems to have been the elected ruler of Kapilavastu, and headed the republican clan of the Shakyas. His mother (Mahamaya) was a princess from the Kosalan dynasty.
From his early childhood, Gautama showed a meditative bent of mind. Alara Kama was his teacher of meditation. His charioteer was Channa, while his horse's name was Kanthaks. He was married early, but married life did not interest him. At the age of 29, he left home. He kept on, wandering for about seven years and then attained knowledge at the age of 35 at Both Gaya under a pipal tree. From this time onwards, he began to be called the Buddha or The Enlightened. Gautama Buddha delivered his first sermons at Sarnath in Benaras. Gautama Buddha passed away at the age of 80 in 483 BC at a place called Kusinagar, identical with the village called Kasia in the district of Deoria in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Five Great Events in Buddha's Life and Their Symbols
1- Birth - Lotus and Bull
2- Great renunciation - Horse
3- Nirvana - Bodhi tree
4- First Serman - Wheel (Dharma Chakra)
5- Parinirvana / Death - Stupa
Teachings- Buddha said that the word is full of sorrows and people suffer on account of desires. If desires are conquered, nirvana will be attained. He recommended an eight-fold path (astangika marga) for the elimination of human misery. It comprised: Right Observation, Right Determination, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Exercise, Right Memory and Right Meditation. Buddha also laid down a code of conduct for his followers. The main items in this social conduct are:
1-do not covet the property of others
2-do not commit violence
3-do not use intoxicants,
4-do not tell a lie,and
5-do not indulge in corrupt practices.
Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva means one whose essence is bodhi (enlightenment). In Buddhism, Bodhisattva also refers to other individuals who are destined to become Buddhas in this or in another life. The number of possible Bodhisattva in the world theoretically limitless.
Bodhisattvas postpone their own final entrance into Nirvana in order to alleviate the suffering of others. The aspirant Bodhisattva must be a male, but may live the life of a householder and need not be a monk. The title has been frequently applied to Buddhist kings, scholars and teachers in south-east Asia.
The celestial Bodhisattvas are considered to be manifestations of the eternal Buddhas. Foremost among the celestial Bodhisattvas is Avalokitesvara.
Hinayana or Lesser Vehicle-
1- Its followers believed in the original teachings of Buddha.
2- They sought individual salvation through self-displine and meditation.
3- They did not believe in idol-worship
4- Hinayana is a religion without god
5- Nirvana is regarded as the extinction of all
Mahayana or Greater Vehicle
1- It believes in idol--worship.
2- Its followers believed in the heavenliness of Buddha and sought the salvation of all through the grace and help of Buddha and Bodhisattva.
3- It believes that Nirvana is not a negative cessation of misery but a positive state of bliss.
4- Mahayana had two chief philosophical schools: the Madhyamika and the Yogachara.
5- The former took a line midway between the uncompromising realism of Hinayanism and the idealism of Yogachara.
Vajrayana or Vehicle of Thunder Bolt:
1- Its followers believed that salvation could be best attained by acquiring the magical power, which they called Vajra.
2- The chief divinities of this new sect were the Taras.
3- It became popular in Eastern India, particularly Bengal and Bihar.
Buddhist Scripture:
The Vinaya Pitaka:
1- It mainly deals with rules and regulations, which the Buddha promulgated.
2- It describes in detail the gradual development of the Sangha.
3- An account of the life and teaching of the Buddha is also given.
The Sutta Pitaka:
1- It consists chiefly of discourses delivered by Buddha himself on different occasions.
2- Few discourses delivered by Sariputta, Ananda, Moggalana and others are also included in it.
The Abhidhamma Pitaka:
1- It contains the profound philosophy of the Buddha's teachings.
2- It investigates mind and matter, to help the understanding of things as they truly are.
The Khandhakas:
1- They contain regulations on the course or life in the monastic order and have two section-the Mahavagga and the Cullavagga.
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