Buddhism: Study Notes

Gautam Buddha: Founder of Buddhism

• • Buddhism was founded by Gautama Buddha.
• Birth and Early Life:
  • Born as Prince Siddhartha in 566 BC at Lumbini near Kapilavastu (present Nepal).
  • Son of Suddhodhana and Mahamaya; known as ‘Sakyamuni’ due to his father’s leadership in the Sakya clan.
  • Raised by maternal aunt Prajapati Gautami after his mother’s death.
• Marriage and Family:
  • Married to Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula.
• Renunciation:
  • Left home at 29 for ascetic life (Mahabhishkramana).
  • Inspired by witnessing the suffering of a sick man, old man, corpse, and ascetic.
• Enlightenment:
  • Attained enlightenment at 35 while meditating under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya (Bihar).
  • First sermon (Dharmachakra Pravartana) given at Sarnath near Varanasi.
• Death:
  • Died in 483 BC under a Sal tree in Kushinagar (UP) – Mahaparinirvana.
• Significance of ‘Buddha’:
  • The term ‘Buddha’ means the ‘enlightened one.’
• Contemporaries:
  • Notable contemporaries include Mahavira Jaina, and Kings Prasenjit, Bimbisara, and Ajatasatru.

Buddhist Philosophy/Teachings of the Buddha

The teachings include:

• Middle Pathgk
  • Emphasizes the Middle Path by renouncing extreme steps like indulgence and strict abstinence.
• Four Noble Truths (Arya Satya)
  • 1. The World is Full of Sorrow:
    • Acknowledges the pervasive existence of suffering in the world.
  • 2. Desire is the Root Cause of All Sorrow:
    • Identifies desire as the fundamental cause of suffering.
  • 3. Sorrow Can be Conquered by Conquering Desire:
    • Proposes that overcoming desire leads to the conquest of sorrow.
  • 4. Desire Can be Conquered by Following the Eight-fold Path (Ashtangirka Marga):
    • Prescribes the Eight-fold Path as the means to conquer desire and achieve liberation.

Eightfold Path in Buddhism:

1. Right Understanding
   • Developing a correct understanding of the nature of existence, suffering, and the path to liberation.
2. Right Resolve
   • Cultivating a sincere commitment to the path of enlightenment and ethical conduct.
3. Right Speech
   • Engaging in truthful, compassionate, and non-harmful communication.
4. Right Action
   • Practicing ethical and righteous actions that contribute to well-being and avoid harm.
5. Right Livelihood
   • Choosing a means of livelihood that aligns with ethical and moral principles, avoiding harm to others.
6. Right Effort
   • Exerting disciplined effort to cultivate positive qualities, eliminate negative tendencies, and maintain a balanced mind.
7. Right Mindfulness
   • Developing keen awareness and mindfulness of one’s thoughts, actions, and the present moment.
8. Right Concentration
   • Cultivating focused and concentrated mental states through meditation and contemplation, leading to mental clarity and insight.

Tri Ratnas of Buddhism:

1. Buddha
   • Meaning: The highest spiritual potential in everyone.
   • Significance: Represents the enlightened and awakened nature within each individual.
2. Dhamma
   • Meaning: The teachings of Buddha (Pali for Sanskrit Dharma or righteousness).
   • Significance: Encompasses the ethical and spiritual principles taught by Buddha, guiding followers on the path to enlightenment.
3. Sangha
   • Meaning: Order of monks who follow Buddhism.
   • Significance: Refers to the community of Buddhist monks and nuns who have renounced worldly pursuits to pursue the teachings of Buddha and support others on their spiritual journey.

Additional Points:

• Buddha’s Beliefs
  • Did not believe in God or the soul.
  • Stressed on karma (law of cause and effect) and ahimsa (non-violence).
  • Opposed the varna system.
• Language of Teaching
  • Buddha taught in Pali, which is a language related to Sanskrit.
• Spread of Buddhism
  • Buddhism spread to several countries outside India.
  • China adopted Buddhism in the 1st century AD.

List of Buddhist Councils

First Buddhist Council

• Conducted under the patronage of King Ajatasatru of Haryanka dynasty.
• Established in 483 BC just after Buddha’s demise.
• Held at Sattapani caves (Sattaparnaguha) in Rajagriha.
• The monk who presided over the first council was Mahakassapa.
• Main objective was to preserve the Buddha’s teachings.
• Ananda composed the Suttapitaka (Buddha’s Teachings) and Mahakassapa composed the Vinaypitaka (monastic code).

Second Buddhist Council

• Conducted under the patronage of King Kalasoka of Sisunaga dynasty.
• Held in 383 BC, a hundred years after the Buddha’s death.
• Held at Vaishali.
• Sabakami presided over the council.
• Main objective was to discuss ten disputed points under the Vinaypitaka.
• First major split – two groups that would later evolve into Theravada and Mahayana.

Third Buddhist Council

• Conducted under the patronage of Emperor Ashoka of Maurya dynasty.
• Held in 250 BC at Pataliputra.
• Council presided over by Mogaliputta Tissa.
• Main objective was to purify Buddhism from opportunistic factions and corruption in the Sangha.
• The Abhidhamma Pitaka was composed.
• Buddhist missionaries were sent to other countries.
• Buddhism preached by Emperor Ashoka was Hinayana.

Fourth Buddhist Council

• Conducted under the patronage of King Kanishka of Kushan dynasty.
• Held in the 1st century AD (72 AD) at Kundalvana in Kashmir.
• Vasumitra and Ashvaghosha presided over this council.
• All deliberations were conducted in Sanskrit.
• Abhidhamma texts were translated from Prakrit to Sanskrit.
• Resulted in the division of Buddhism into two sects: Mahayana (the Greater Vehicle) and Hinayana (the Lesser Vehicle).
• Mahayana believed in idol worship, rituals, and Bodhisattvas, regarding the Buddha as God. Hinayana continued the original teachings and practices of the Buddha, adhering to Pali scriptures. Mahayana includes Sanskrit scriptures as well.

Buddhist Texts

• Tripitakas / Tipitaka: The most important sources of Buddhism, written in the Pali language.
  • Sutta Pitaka
  • Vinaya Pitaka
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka
• Dhammapada: A part of the Khuddaka Nikaya of the Sutta Pitaka. Contains a collection of the sayings of the Buddha in verse form.
• Milinda Panha: Literal meaning in Pali – Questions of Milinda. Written around 100 BC. Contains a dialogue between the Indo-Greek King Menander I or Milinda of Bactria and sage Nagasena where Milinda asks questions on Buddhism to the sage.
• Buddhacharita: An epic poem composed in Sanskrit by Ashvaghosha in the early 2nd century AD. About the life of the Buddha.

Buddha’s Impactful Attributes

• Magnetic Personality: Buddha’s compelling charisma left a lasting impact on his followers.
• Language of Masses: He taught in Pali, a language understood by the masses, making his teachings accessible.
• Social Equality: Admitted people into the Sangha irrespective of caste distinctions, promoting social equality.
• Democratic Sanghas: The initial Sanghas were characterized by democracy and discipline, fostering organized communities.
• Widespread Travel: Monks traveled extensively, spreading Buddha’s teachings to different places.
• Royal Patronage: Received patronage from notable rulers like Bimbisara, Ajatasatru, Ashoka, Kanishka, and Harshavardhana.

Decline of Buddhism

• Schism Weakens Buddhism: The split into Mahayana and Hinayana weakened the unity of Buddhism, dividing followers.
• Corruption Among Monks: Corruption crept in among Hinayana monks, leading to the abandonment of austerity and indulgence in luxuries, causing a decline in moral standards.
• Decline in Royal Patronage: The decline of royal patronage post the Gupta dynasty’s end (around 650 AD) affected Buddhism adversely.
• Resurgence of Hinduism: Orthodox Hinduism gained popularity, fueled by the works of scholars like Kumarila Bhatt and Adi Shankara.
• Invasions Impact: Invasions by the Huns and later Islamic armies further contributed to the decline of Buddhism in the subcontinent.