Download - Who Was Siddhartha Gautam
7/31/2019 Who Was Siddhartha Gautam
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/who-was-siddhartha-gautam 1/4
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.
7/31/2019 Who Was Siddhartha Gautam
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/who-was-siddhartha-gautam 2/4
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
7/31/2019 Who Was Siddhartha Gautam
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/who-was-siddhartha-gautam 3/4
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
7/31/2019 Who Was Siddhartha Gautam
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/who-was-siddhartha-gautam 4/4
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