What Did Buddha Teach
The life story of the Buddha begins in Lumbini, near the border of Nepal and India, about 2,600 years ago, where the man Siddharta Gautama was born.Although born a prince, he realized that conditioned experiences could not provide lasting happiness or protection from suffering. After a long spiritual search he went into deep meditation, where he realized the nature of mind. He achieved the state of unconditional and lasting happiness: the state of enlightenment, of buddhahood. This state of mind is free from disturbing emotions and expresses itself through fearlessness, joy and active compassion.
Considering that the ultimate goal of Buddhism is not complicated at all, and that the practical life of monks, as will be discussed later on, is supposed to be very simple, it would seem unlikely that the Buddha would teach a Path that is a mind-boggling technical scholastic system, as many scholars, ancient, medieval, and modern, suppose it to be. The Buddha was not a synthesizing social philosopher. He preceded—did not follow in the footsteps of—Plato’s Republic and he did not attempt to outline an embracing critique of society as did Rousseau or Marx. Nor did he attempt to establish a religion with cosmology, ontology, theology, liturgy and ritual. This presentation was made at the BCBS Forum “Buddhist Responses to Violence, ” on September 11th, 2005. The verbal component of the Buddha's teaching.
For the rest of his life, the Buddha taught anyone who asked how they could reach the same state. “I teach because you and all beings want to have happiness and want to avoid suffering.
What Did Buddha Teach About The Four
I teach the way things are.”– The Buddha Buddha’s early life Greco-buddhist representation of Buddha Shakyamuni from the ancient region of Gandhara, eastern Afghanistan. Greek artists were most probably the authors of these early representations of the Buddha.India at the time of the Buddha was very spiritually open. Every major philosophical view was present in society, and people expected spirituality to influence their daily lives in positive ways.At this time of great potential, Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha, was born into a royal family in what is now Nepal, close to the border with India. Growing up, the Buddha was exceptionally intelligent and compassionate. Tall, strong, and handsome, the Buddha belonged to the Warrior caste. It was predicted that he would become either a great king or spiritual leader. Since his parents wanted a powerful ruler for their kingdom, they tried to prevent Siddharta from seeing the unsatisfactory nature of the world.
They surrounded him with every kind of pleasure. He was given five hundred attractive ladies and every opportunity for sports and excitement. He completely mastered the important combat training, even winning his wife, Yasodhara, in an archery contest.Suddenly, at age 29, he was confronted with impermanence and suffering. On a rare outing from his luxurious palace, he saw someone desperately sick. The next day, he saw a decrepit old man, and finally a dead person. He was very upset to realize that old age, sickness and death would come to everyone he loved. Siddharta had no refuge to offer them.The next morning the prince walked past a meditator who sat in deep absorption.
When their eyes met and their minds linked, Siddhartha stopped, mesmerized. In a flash, he realized that the perfection he had been seeking outside must be within mind itself. Meeting that man gave the future Buddha a first and enticing taste of mind, a true and lasting refuge, which he knew he had to experience himself for the good of all. Buddha’s enlightenment A painting showing the Bodhi tree under which Siddhartha Gautama is said to have attained enlightenment and become the BuddhaThe Buddha decided he had to leave his royal responsibilities and his family in order to realize full enlightenment. He left the palace secretly, and set off alone into the forest. Over the next six years, he met many talented meditation teachers and mastered their techniques.
Always he found that they showed him mind’s potential but not mind itself. Finally, at a place called Bodhgaya, the future Buddha decided to remain in until he knew mind’s true nature and could benefit all beings. After spending six days and nights cutting through mind’s most subtle obstacles, he reached enlightenment on the full moon morning of May, a week before he turned thirty-five.At the moment of full realization, all veils of mixed feelings and stiff ideas dissolved and Buddha experienced the all-encompassing here and now. All separation in time and space disappeared. Past, present, and future, near and far, melted into one radiant state of intuitive bliss. He became timeless, all-pervading awareness.
Through every cell in his body he knew and was everything. He became Buddha, the Awakened One.After his enlightenment, Buddha traveled on foot throughout northern India. He taught constantly for forty-five years. People of all castes and professions, from kings to courtesans, were drawn to him. He answered their questions, always pointing towards that which is ultimately real.Throughout his life, Buddha encouraged his students to question and confirm them through their own experience. This non-dogmatic attitude still characterizes today.