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All about Buddhism: Buddha, Monasteries and Visit

Lumbini Year 2012

Siddhartha Gautam

Who is Siddhartha Gautam ?

Siddhartha Gautam, was the founder of Buddhism and preacher of peace. His teaching,

disciples and pathways of good life grew into a new religion, Buddhism. Actually, his

teaching on nonviolence has been most importantly discussed ever since. Yes,

Siddhartha is the man whom people to day recognize as Gautam Buddha, which means

the first awakened or enlightened one. Buddhists, now, take him as supreme Buddha.He is also known as Sakyamuni. His birth place Lumbini, Nepal has been listed in world

heritage site. His principal adopts the midway path between extreme asceticism and

self-mortification.

Birth of Siddhartha and his early life

Conventionally, Buddha was believed to be born to King Suddhodhan and Queen

Mayadevi in 563 B.C. Just prior to his birth, mythological accounts of Siddhartha's

conception involve a dream his mother had of a white elephant coming into her womb;this in turn led soothsayers to predict his future as a Buddha. Most historical depictions

about him show his mother dying few days after his birth. Throughout his youth,

however, his father, Suddodhan, sought to guard him against suffering and prepared

Siddhartha to succeed him as king. Siddhartha also married to Yashodhara during this

period and had a son, Rahul.

The Great Renunciation

At his prime youth however, Suddhodhan's fervent wishes and endeavors for shielding

Siddhartha from all the sufferings went in vain when on one fine occasion, Siddhartha

ventured outside the palace and encountered the different intoxications of life. It was

then, when Siddhartha reflected on youth, which incessantly ends in old age, and therealization of how the arrival of disease leads to loss of health. Then comes death that

puts an end to everything. The luxuries that had pleased once pleased him, made him

feel grotesque. Having seen the arrogance and the danger of the afflictions, he was

overcome by a powerful urge to strive for the salvation of mankind from old age, illness,

misery and death. It was this deep compassion that led him to renounce all his

possessions and family bonds and lived a life of an ascetic. This was the great

renunciation, the greatest adventure ever known to humanity.



The Enlightenment

It is common understanding for one to realize how difficult would be the life of an ascetic.

However to answer the divine call that came to Siddhartha from within, large obstacles

would also stand no match to him. Although Siddhartha sought help from many scholars

to fulfill his quest, he was not moved by their ideas. So, he with other companions set

out to contrive for enlightenment by extreme application of asceticism. Denying the body

nourishments and sleep, and thereby mastering all the pain, this led Siddhartha to grow

to be a thin as a skeleton. However this idea of self-mortification did not please

Siddhartha and hence, he attained a meditative state of profound stillness and

concentration, the jhana. Realizing this, he ultimately discovered what the Buddhist

today, call the Middle Way. This was the path of wisdom and path of moderation

between extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. Mythological depictions

show us that a young woman came to him offering food, and he accepted it. Now that he

was nourished he was seated under the pipal tree known as - Bodhi tree determined not

to leave until he had found answer to the perennial problems of suffering and death.

Although many temptations assailed him by various means he resisted these assaults

and continued meditating. With this he soon gained insight into the true nature of suffering, its origin and the path that would lead to its cessation. In other words

his meditation culminated in a breakthrough and he attained the supreme enlightenment.

Since then historians have agreed that Prince Siddhartha achieved the status of

Buddha.

Buddha's teachings

Although many people assumed Buddha a human being having connections with God or

supernatural powers, he was a unique being whose sole aim in life was to lead everyone

to the ultimate path of truth and free everyone from suffering. Following his experiences

he soon started preaching his sermons. The first theme of his teachings revolved around

the Four Noble Truths which explain the nature of suffering, its causes and how can it be

overcome. These noble truths than pointed out to the path that brings an end to the

sufferings often refered to as the Eightfold Paths. These dealt with the moral percepts,

concentration and wisdom. Besides the compassion as a central concept in his

teachings, Buddha influenced others to transform the intoxications of life rather then

denying them. Such great wisdom, knowledge and preachings in favour of peace and

against non-violence inspired and attracted a colossal population and ultimately his

teachings turned out into one of the most practiced religion in the world i.e. Buddhism.

This legendary human was believed to preach his sermons until the age of eighty, when

he died in 483 BC. Today, there are numerous monasteries set up all over the world,

where monks study the sacred teachings of Buddhism and impart religious education.

The top ten monasteries and Buddhist pilgrimage sites of the World/Nepal:

1) Lumbini, Nepal.

Lumbini



Known to the world with the significance as the birthplace of Buddha, it is a grove

situated in the foothills of the Himalayas in Kapilvastu. Being an important place of

pilgrimage, there has subsequent excavations that have revealed extensive foundations

of stupas, monasteries and other features. The Maya Devi temple, and the Ashoka pillar

erected in Buddha's honour have dignified its significance. Realizing this it was

designated as UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987. Today, Lumbini has been one of

the most important tourism destinations of the world. Lumbini is itself an intersting place

as a whole with the beautiful landscape and he green forestry. Several beautiful shrines

have been set up by devotees from all around the world. Although this place has been

spiritually important, one is sure to perceive solace and satisfaction in such a calm and

peaceful place.

2) Tengboche Monastery, Nepal

3) Swayambhunath Stupa, Nepal

4) Boudhanath Stupa , Nepal

5) Bodhgaya, India

Bodhgaya

Historically, one of the most significant Buddhist pilgrimage site in the world Bodhgayamarks the site of Buddha's enlightenment. Situated in the northeastern India, two major sacred sites : Mahabodhi Temple and the Bodhi Tree, around which many other temlesand monasteries of various Buddhist tradition have been built, are the major attractions.Millions of Buddhist pilgrims from all around the world flock to Bodhgaya to be to see themagnificent architectural work of Mahabodhi temple and the serenity of the atmospherein Bodhgaya. The Vajrasana, a stone platform where Buddha sat in meditation and

attained enlightenment has even enhanced the spirituality of the pilgrims.

6) Tigers Nest Monastery, Bhutan

7) Ruwanwelisaya Stupa, Sri Lanka

8) The temple of sacred tooth relic, Sri Lanka

9) Jokhang Temple, Tibet

10) Wat Phra Dhammakaya, Thailand

Visit Lumbini Year 2012



With the conclusion of Nepal Tourism year, the government of Nepal launched Visit Lumbini year

2012 which commenced on January 14, 2012 with an objective to spread the message of Buddha

regarding peace and develop Lumbini, as a peaceful city and a global Buddhist hub with intent to

increase the tourism in the country. Tourism, which is one of the largest industries in Nepal, and a

major source of foreign currency, was deeply affected by the civil war for decades. However,

celebrating Lumbini Visit Year is believed to send a positive message all around the world from a

country in peace process after a long transition. This announcement was also made to mark thebirthpalce of Buddha being Lumbini, Nepal and not any other part of the word. Evaluating the visit

Nepal year, and realizing the importance of Buddhism and Lumbini, there is much to be done to

make this Visit Lumbini Year 2012 a successful one.

-Shardul Sapkota

-Pathshala Nepal

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