Buddhism

Buddhism

What is Buddhism?

Buddhism is a philosophy of life, it was started by Siddhartha Gotma , who is more commonly known as Buddha. Buddha isn’t god to them however he is well respected for passing down knowledge of how to find true happiness. The Buddhists major aim in life is to find enlightenment (true happiness).Buddhist monks live by a strict moral code, in which they are given food, they live a life structured around the teachings of Buddha.

Who was Buddha?

Siddhartha Gotama was born into a rich royal family, located in Nepal in 563 BC. Siddhartha’s birth was prophesied by his mother whom had Queen Maya dreamt that a white elephant with six white tusks entered her right side (a sign of great importance in that culture) it was prophesied that he would be a great emperor or great religious leader.He was provided with all the luxuries of life and was shielded from all harm and those whom needed help. However he encounted an old man disturbed by this he consulted a guard who told him that everyone grows old, later he encounted a diseased man, then a corpse and then finally a ascetic. These are known as the four great sightings. He realized at the age of 29 that, not all lived a life like him and didn’t all have immeasurable riches, and he found that these luxuries didn’t necessarily provide happiness. So he left the palace and his family and decided to trial the different teachings, religions and philosophies of the period. After six long years of meditation and study he attained Enlightenment. Siddhartha is said to have discovered what Buddhists call the Middle Way—a path of moderation away from the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification. He accepted a little milk and rice pudding from a village gir...

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...on cuts through our absentmindedness.

Pilgrimages:

1. Lumbini, where Gotama the Buddha was born.

2. Bodhagaya, where the Buddha experienced full enlightenment.

3. Saranath, where the Buddha set in motion the Wheel of Dhamma.

4. Kusinara (Kushinagar), where the Buddha attained final emancipation.

“Pilgrimage is first mentioned in the Pali Tipitaka where the Buddha says that one should try to visit at least once in Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Isipatana and Kusinara. He says that if such a journey is undertaken with a 'devout heart' it will be very beneficial to one's spiritual growth. Obviously pilgrimage, like worshipping Buddha statues or performing pujas, is a behaviour growing out of and able to reinforce positive emotions like faith, determination and humility which in turn strengthens one's practice.” http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/dharmadata/fdd39.htm