BUDDHA

Buddha word is a title, not a name. Buddha is derived from the Sanskrit: "Budh", to know. means "one who is awake" in the sense of having "woken up to reality." This title "Buddha" was first given to a man named Siddartha Gautama, who lived 2,500 years ago in Nepal. On the full moon day of May, in the year 623 B.C., a noble prince destined to be the greatest religious teacher of the world was born in the Lumbini (NEPAL).

BUDDHA BIRTH ::: Siddartha Gautama Buddha was son of the Rajah (ruler) of the Sakya tribe of Kapilavastu, Nepal. Buddha father was King Suddhodana of the aristocratic Sakya clan and his mother was Queen Maha Maya. The beloved queen died seven days after his birth. Her younger sister, Maha Pajapati Gotami, who was also married to the King, adopted the child while entrusting her own son, Nanda, to the care of the nurses.

Great were the rejoicings of the people over the birth of this illustrious prince (buddha). An ascetic of high spiritual attainments, named Asita (also known as Kaladevala), was particularly pleased to hear this happy news. Being a tutor of the King, he visited the palace to see the Royal baby. The King, who felt honoured by his unexpected visit, carried the child up to him in order to make the child pay him due reverence. To the surprise of all, the child's legs turned and rested on the matted locks of the ascetic. Instantly, the ascetic rose from his seat and, foreseeing with his supernormal vision the child's future greatness, saluted him with clasped hands. The Royal father did likewise.

The great ascetic smiled at first and then was sad. Questioned regarding his mingled feelings, he answered that he smiled because the prince would eventually become a Buddha, an Enlightened One, and he was sad because he would not be able to benefit from the superior wisdom of the Enlightened One owing to his prior death and rebirth in a Formless Plane (Arupaloka).

BUDDHA NAMING CEREMONY ::: On the fifth day after the prince's (buddha) birth he was named Siddhattha which means "wish fulfilled". Buddha family name was Gotama. In accordance with the ancient Nepali custom, many learned brahmins were invited to the palace for the naming ceremony. Amongst them there were eight distinguished men. Examining the characteristic marks of the child, seven of them raised two fingers each, indicative of two alternative possibilities, that he would either become a Universal Monarch or a Buddha. But the youngest, Kondanna, who excelled others in wisdom, noticing the hair on the forehead turned to the right, raised only one finger and convincingly declared that the prince would definitely retire from the world and become a Buddha.

BUDDHA EDUCATION ::: As a Royal child, Prince Siddhartha (buddha) must have received a royal education, although no details are given about it. As a scion of the warrior race he also received special training in the art of warfare.

BUDDHA MARRIED LIFE ::: At the early age of sixteen, Buddha married his beautiful cousin of equal age, Princess Yasodhara. For nearly thirteen years, after his happy marriage, Buddha led a luxurious life, blissfully ignorant of the vicissitudes of life outside the palace gates. Of his luxurious life as prince, Buddha states:

• "I was delicate, excessively delicate. In my father's dwelling three lotus-ponds were made purposely for me. Blue lotuses bloomed in one, red in another, and white in another. I used no sandal-wood that was not of Kasi. My turban, tunic, dress and cloak, were all from Kasi."
• "Night and day a white parasol was held over me so that I might not be touched by heat or cold, dust, leaves or dew."
  
• "There were three palaces built for me -- one for the cold season, one for the hot season, and one for the rainy season. During the four rainy months, I lived in the palace for the rainy season without ever coming down from it, entertained all the while by female musicians. Just as, in the houses of others, food from the husks of rice together with sour gruel is given to the slaves and workmen, even so, in my father's dwelling food with rice and meat was given to the slaves and workmen."

With the march of time, truth gradually dawned upon him. Siddhartha Gautama Buddha contemplative nature and boundless compassion did not permit him to spend his time in the mere enjoyment of the fleeting pleasures of the Royal palace. Buddha knew no personal grief but Buddha felt a deep pity for suffering humanity. Amidst comfort and prosperity, Buddha realized the universality of sorrow.

BUDDHA RENUNCIATION ::: One glorious day as buddha went out of the palace to the pleasure park to see the world outside, Buddha came in direct contact with the stark realities of life. Within the narrow confines of the palace he saw only the rosy side of life, but the dark side, the common lot of mankind, was purposely veiled from him. What was previously conceived only mentally, he now saw in vivid reality for the first time. On his way to the park his observant eyes met the strange sights of a decrepit old man, a diseased person, a corpse and a dignified hermit. The first three sights convincingly proved to him, the inexorable nature of life, and the universal ailment of humanity. The fourth signified the means to overcome the ills of life and to attain calm and peace. These four unexpected sights served to increase the urge in him to loathe and renounce the world.
Realizing the worthlessness of sensual pleasures, so highly prized by the worldling, and appreciating the value of renunciation in which the wise seek delight, Buddha decided to leave the world in search of Truth and Eternal Peace.

When this final decision was taken after much deliberation, the news of the birth of a son was conveyed to him while buddha was about to leave the park. Contrary to expectations, buddha was not overjoyed, but regarded his first and only offspring as an impediment. An ordinary father would have welcomed the joyful tidings, but Prince Siddhattha, the extraordinary father as he was, exclaimed -- "An impediment (rahu) has been born; a fetter has arisen". The infant son was accordingly named Rahula by his grandfather.

The palace was no longer a congenial place to the contemplative Prince Siddhattha Gautama Buddha. Neither his charming young wife nor his lovable infant son could deter him from altering the decision he had taken to renounce the world. He was destined to play an infinitely more important and beneficial role than a dutiful husband and father, or even as a king of kings. The allurements of the palace were no more cherished objects of delight to him. Time was ripe to depart.

Buddha ordered his favourite charioteer Channa to saddle the horse Kanthaka, and went to the suite of apartments occupied by the princess. Opening the door of the chamber, Buddha stood on the threshold and cast his dispassionate glance on the wife and child who were fast asleep. Great was his compassion for the two dear ones at this parting moment. Greater was his compassion for suffering humanity. He was not worried about the future worldly happiness and comfort of the mother and child as they had everything in abundance and were well protected. It was not that he loved them the less, but that he loved humanity more.

Leaving all behind, he stole away with a light heart from the palace at midnight, and rode into the dark, attended only by his loyal charioteer. Alone and penniless he set out in search of Truth and Peace. Thus did he renounce the world. It was not the renunciation of an old man who has had his fill of worldly life. It was not the renunciation of a poor man who had nothing to leave behind. It was the renunciation of a prince in the full bloom of youth and in the plenitude of wealth and prosperity -- a renunciation unparalleled in history.

It was in his twenty-ninth year that Prince Siddhattha Gautama Buddha made this historic journey.

Buddha journeyed far and, crossing the river Anoma, rested on its banks. Here Buddha shaved his hair and beard and handing over his garments and ornaments to Channa with instructions to return to the palace, assumed the simple yellow garb of an ascetic and led a life of voluntary poverty.

The ascetic Siddhattha, who once lived in the lap of luxury, now became a penniless wanderer, living on what little the charitably-minded gave of their own accord.

Buddha had no permanent abode. A shady tree or a lonely cave sheltered him by day or night. Bare-footed and bare-headed, Buddha walked in the scorching sun and in the piercing cold. With no possessions to call his own, but a bowl to collect his food and robes just sufficient to cover the body, he concentrated all his energies on the quest of Truth.

BUDDHA SEARCH FOR TRUTH ::: Thus as a wanderer, a seeker after what is good, searching for the unsurpassed Peace, Buddha approached Alara Kalama, a distinguished ascetic, and said: "I desire, friend Kalama to lead the Holy Life in this Dispensation of yours." Thereupon Alara Kalama told him: "You may stay with me, O Venerable One. Of such sort is this teaching that an intelligent man before long may realize by his own intuitive wisdom his master's doctrine, and abide in the attainment thereof."
Before long, he learnt his doctrine, but it brought him no realization of the highest Truth.

Then there came to him the thought: When Alara Kalama declared: "Having myself realized by intuitive knowledge the doctrine, I -- 'abide in the attainment thereof --, it could not have been a mere profession of faith; surely Alara Kalama lives having understood and perceived this doctrine."

So he went to him and said "How far, friend Kalama, does this doctrine extend which you yourself have with intuitive wisdom realized and attained?"

Upon this Alara Kalama made known to him the Realm of Nothingness (Akincannayatana), an advanced stage of Concentration.

Then it occurred to him: "Not only in Alara Kalama are to be found faith, energy, mindfulness, concentration, and wisdom. I too possess these virtues. How now if I strive to realize that doctrine whereof Alara Kalama says that he himself has realized and abides in the attainment thereof!"

So, before long, he realized by his own intuitive wisdom that doctrine and attained to that state, but it brought him no realization of the highest Truth. Then he approached Alara Kalama and said; "Is this the full extent, friend Kalama, of this doctrine of which you say that you yourself have realized by your wisdom and abide in the attainment thereof?

"But I also, friend, have realized thus far in this doctrine, and abide in the attainment thereof."

The unenvious teacher was delighted to hear of the success of his distinguished pupil. He honoured him by placing him on a perfect level with himself and admiringly said:

"Happy, friend, are we, extremely happy; in that we look upon such a venerable fellow-ascetic like you! That same doctrine which I have realized by my wisdom and proclaim, having attained thereunto, you have realized by your wisdom and abide in the attainment thereof; ..... Thus the doctrine which I know, you know too; ..... As I am, so are you; as you are, so am I. Come, friend, let both of us lead the company of ascetics."

The ascetic Gotama was not satisfied with a discipline and a doctrine which only led to a high degree of mental concentration, but did not lead to "disgust, detachment, cessation (of suffering), tranquillity; intuition, enlightenment, and Nibbana." Nor was he anxious to lead a company of ascetics even with the co-operation of another generous teacher of equal spiritual attainment, without first perfecting himself. It was, he felt, a case of the blind leading the blind. Dissatisfied with his teaching, he politely took his leave from him.

In those happy days when there were no political disturbances, the intellectuals of India were preoccupied with the study and exposition of some religious system or other. All facilities were provided for those more spiritually inclined to lead holy lives in solitude in accordance with their temperaments, hence most of these teachers had large followings of disciples. It was not difficult for the ascetic Gotama to find another religious teacher who was more competent than the former.

On this occasion he approached one Uddaha Ramaputta and expressed his desire to lead the Holy Life in his Dispensation. He was readily admitted as a pupil.

Before long the intelligent ascetic Gotama, mastered his doctrine and attained the final stage of mental concentration, the Realm of Neither Perception nor Non-Perception (N'eva Sanna N'asannayatana), revealed by his teacher. This was the highest stage in worldly concentration when consciousness becomes so subtle and refined that it cannot be said that a consciousness either exists or not. Ancient Indian sages could not proceed further in spiritual development.

The noble teacher was delighted to hear of the success of his illustrious royal pupil. Unlike his former teacher the present one honoured him by inviting him to take full charge of all the disciples as their teacher. He said: "Happy friend, are we; yea, extremely happy, in that we see such a venerable fellow-ascetic as you. The doctrine which Rama knew, you know; the doctrine which you know, Rama knew. As was Rama so are you; as you are, so was Rama. Come, friend, henceforth you shall lead this company of ascetics."

Still he felt that his quest of the highest Truth was not achieved. He had gained complete mastery of his mind, but his ultimate goal was far ahead. He was seeking for the Highest, the Nibbana, the complete cessation of suffering, the total eradication of all forms of craving. "Dissatisfied with this doctrine too, he departed thence, content therewith no longer."

Buddha realized that his spiritual aspirations were far higher than those under whom he chose to learn. Buddha realized that there was none capable enough to teach him what he yearned for -- the highest Truth. Buddha also realized that the highest Truth is to be found within oneself and ceased to seek external aid.

According to Buddhist tradition, Buddha sat through the night until a glimpse of the morning star suddenly provoked a state of perfect clarity and understanding. Buddha experienced unexcelled, complete, awakening. For the next 40 years he taught the principles of his teaching, gaining many disciples and followers. Buddha died at the age of about 80 in Kusinagara, Oudh.

Buddha's teaching is summarized in the Four Noble Truths, the last of which affirms the existence of a path leading to deliverance from the universal human experience of suffering. The goal is Nirvana, which means "the blowing out" of the fires of all desires, and the absorption of the self into the infinite.

Buddha said:

Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. Do not believe anything because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything because it is written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and the benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.

The following prose, attributed to Buddha, is a poetic expression of the way he saw the world.

Buddha said:

Buddha consider the positions of kings and rulers as that of dust motes.

Buddha observe treasures of gold and gems as so many bricks and pebbles.

Buddha look upon the finest silken robes as tattered rags.

Buddha see myriad worlds of the universe as small seeds of fruit, and the greatest lake in India as a drop of oil upon my foot.

Buddha perceive the teachings of the world as the illusions of magicians.

Buddha discern the highest conception of emancipation as a golden brocade in a dream, and view the holy path of the illuminated ones as flowers appearing in one's eyes.

Buddha see meditation as a pillar of a mountain, nirvana as a nightmare of daytime.

Buddha look upon the judgments of right and wrong as the serpentine dance of a dragon, and the rise and fall of belief as traces left by the four seasons.