Buddha (Walking) Tiger Eye

TALES OF THE BUDDHA

Buddha’s Life

The Buddha is known by many names including Gautama Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, Shakyamuni Buddha, or simply the Buddha. The Buddha was born in what is now known as Lumbini, Nepal to a Hindu family of the ruling class. His father was either a prince or an elected leader of the area. His mother, Maya, was known as a princess. He lived between 558 B.C.E. and 400 B.C.E. which was a time of great Vedic philosophical debate.

In the earliest texts, the Buddha was not depicted as omniscient, although his story is surrounded with tales of miracles and supernatural events. It is said that his mother dreamed that an elephant entered her side and implanted the seed of his being, and that his birth was painless. He was born a fully transcendent being with no need to sleep or eat. He was said to be able to suppress karma because every act was completely synchronous with the universe. 

He spent his early life as a prince. He knew nothing of pain or suffering or death or illness. He was surrounded by luxuriousness. 

At 29, his mother took him on a trip to visit his subjects, and he learned the first time about the reality of suffering in the world. He saw sick and dying people on his journey and it changed his perspective of the world. He left his life as a member of the ruling class and became an ascetic. For many years, he lived as a wandering mendicant who deprived himself of all things most humans need to survive.  

He then began learning yogic meditation practices which made him realize that Nirvana could not be reached by austerity alone. He continued to deepen his meditative state until one day he sat beneath the Bhodhi tree and vowed to never leave until he reached enlightenment. He meditated for 49 days and finally reached enlightenment and entered the state of nirvana. He discovered the truths that were the foundation of the Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths. He chose to remain in the world and spent the rest of his life as a teacher.

He taught the Middle Way or Path of moderation. His goal was to put an end to suffering by avoiding the extremes of self-mortification and self-indulgence.

Schools of Buddhist Thought

Theravada

Theravada is the oldest of the Buddhist traditions. It is known as the “ancient way” or “the teaching of the elders.” It teaches that every person can become arhat or fully enlightened by following the Eightfold Path.

Mahayana

Mahayana, the most popular form of Buddhism in modern times, is the “great vehicle.” It recognizes that all beings are capable of enlightenment, and that some who could disappear into nirvana choose to remain to help others reach that goal. It is the most popular form of Buddhism in Japan, Nepal, China, Tibet, and Korea. The heart sutra is a Mahayana text.

Vajrayana

Vajrayana is sect of the Mahayana tradition. It is known as “the way of the diamond. It is an esoteric practice that uses tantric methods. It is sometimes called the “vehicle of the thunderbolt” which refers to the tantric methodology. Its followers believe that the other schools of practice take many lifetimes to perfect while Vajrayana can achieve enlightenment in one lifetime. It is focused on meditation practices. Tibetan Buddhism is a form Of Mahayana with some of the teachings of Vajrayana.

Zen

Zen is a form of the Mahayana-Vajrayana tradition. Its most important aspect is mediation. It was first developed in China where it was known as Chan. In Japan, Chan practices became known as Zen.

Important Concepts in Buddhist Philosophy

Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path is the Middle Way. It is the path to liberation from samsara. It is the path to nirvana. It requires the aspirant to follow the practices of: right view; right resolve or intention; right speech; right conduct or action; right livelihood; right effort; right mindfulness; and right concentration or samadhi. There is a threefold division into moral virtues which include right speech, right action, and right effort; meditation which includes right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration or samadhi; and insight or wisdom which includes right view and right resolve.  

Four Noble Truths

The Four Noble Truths are the basic doctrine of Buddhism. They are: all life is suffering, the cause of suffering is ignorant desire, this desire can be destroyed, and the means to this is the Eightfold Path.

Karma

Karma is a Sanskrit word that is used in Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Taoism, and Sikhism. It is the sum of a person’s actions in this and previous lives. It is closely tied to the concept of rebirth or reincarnation. The law of karma requires that each action has a reaction, that there is a causal connection and effect from one’s action in life that carries through all lives until one is freed from the cycle of birth and rebirth. 

Middle Way or Path

This is the path to enlightenment. It avoids the extremes of sensual self-indulgence and self-mortification.

Nirvana

Nirvana is a transcendent state in which there is neither suffering nor desire. There is no sense of self in the state of nirvana which is the highest state of consciousness. It is a complete release from the laws of karma and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth. It is the goal of Buddhism and complete freedom from all desire and attachment.

Samsara

Samsara is a Sanskrit word that means “wandering” or “world” with the connotation of cyclic circuitous change. In all eastern religions, including Buddhism and Hinduism, it refers to the cycle of death and rebirth to which life in the material world is bound. The concept of reincarnation and the cycles of life through birth, death, and rebirth arose in both ancient India and ancient Greece. In the Buddhist and Hindu religions, one remains bound in samsara until release upon enlightenment.