Guest guest Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 The birth anniversary of Lord Buddha is celebrated as the Buddha Purnima. In about 500 B.C. Prince Siddhartha Goutama, was born in the small kingdom of Kapilavastu, now in the Indo-Nepal border. According to Buddhist mythology, days before his birth, his mother, the Queen of Kapilavastu, wife of King Shuddhodhan, visited the forest of Lumbini, and there while sleeping she dreamt that a white elephant had entered her belly. She took this as a charm. Soon a son was born and the parents decided to call her Siddhartha. Young Siddhartha was an exceptionally kind hearted boy and continued to grow up in the same manner. He was married to princess Yashodhara who bore him a son whom they named Rahul. But somehow, Siddhartha was not happy with his life. One day, while strolling through his capital in a chariot, Siddhartha saw an aged sick man, then a very old man and then a dead body, one after another. He saw suffering and realized that he should find out a way from the pain and earthly sufferings. He made up his mind to leave his family and palace in search of the 'Nirvana' or the ultimate knowledge. After years of salvation, in Gaya he attained 'Nirvana' and was known Buddha or the enlightened one. This understanding manifested itself in the Four Noble Truths. 1. Dukkha: All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, suffering. 2. Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or desire . 3. Nirodha: There is a way out of suffering, which is to eliminate attachment and desire. 4. Marga: The path that leads out of suffering is called the Noble Eightfold Path. Here are the steps of the eight-fold path. Step 1: Right knowledge Step 2: Right intention Step 3: Right speech Step 4: Right conduct Step 5: Right means of livelihood Step 6: Right effort Step 7: Right mindfulness Step 8: Right concentration His teachings are accumulated in 3 books: Sutta pitaka, Vinaya pitaka and Avidhamma pitaka, together known as Tripitaka. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2004 Report Share Posted May 4, 2004 this one thing, that suffering exists, is so fundamental. it is what is denied in our culture [in general] and is related to affluenza. it is not a matter of depression or being overwhelmed by it, it is related to sobriety and calmness required for insight. thank you, buddha, thank you sangha, happy b-day gautama. peace. s , "Latha Nanda" <lathananda> wrote: > The birth anniversary of Lord Buddha is celebrated as the Buddha > Purnima. > > > In about 500 B.C. Prince Siddhartha Goutama, was born in the small > kingdom of Kapilavastu, now in the Indo-Nepal border. According to > Buddhist mythology, days before his birth, his mother, the Queen of > Kapilavastu, wife of King Shuddhodhan, visited the forest of > Lumbini, and there while sleeping she dreamt that a white elephant > had entered her belly. She took this as a charm. Soon a son was born > and the parents decided to call her Siddhartha. Young Siddhartha was > an exceptionally kind hearted boy and continued to grow up in the > same manner. He was married to princess Yashodhara who bore him a > son whom they named Rahul. But somehow, Siddhartha was not happy > with his life. > > > One day, while strolling through his capital in a chariot, > Siddhartha saw an aged sick man, then a very old man and then a dead > body, one after another. He saw suffering and realized that he > should find out a way from the pain and earthly sufferings. He made > up his mind to leave his family and palace in search of > the 'Nirvana' or the ultimate knowledge. After years of salvation, > in Gaya he attained 'Nirvana' and was known Buddha or the > enlightened one. This understanding manifested itself in the Four > Noble Truths. > > > > 1. Dukkha: All worldly life is unsatisfactory, disjointed, > suffering. > 2. Samudaya: There is a cause of suffering, which is attachment or > desire . > 3. Nirodha: There is a way out of suffering, which is to eliminate > attachment and desire. > 4. Marga: The path that leads out of suffering is called the Noble > Eightfold Path. > > > Here are the steps of the eight-fold path. > > Step 1: Right knowledge > Step 2: Right intention > Step 3: Right speech > Step 4: Right conduct > Step 5: Right means of livelihood > Step 6: Right effort > Step 7: Right mindfulness > Step 8: Right concentration > > His teachings are accumulated in 3 books: Sutta pitaka, Vinaya > pitaka and Avidhamma pitaka, together known as Tripitaka. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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