The Life of Buddha
The Buddha. The history of Buddhism is the story of one man's spiritual journey to Enlightenment, and of the teachings and ways of living that developed from it. Siddhartha Gautama - The Buddha. By finding the path to Enlightenment, Siddhartha was led from the pain of suffering and rebirth towards the path of Enlightenment and became known as the Buddha or 'awakened one'.
A life of luxury. Siddhartha Gautama was born around the year 580 BCE in the village of Lumbini in Nepal. He was born into a royal family, and his privileged life insulated him from the sufferings of life; sufferings such as sickness, age and death.
Discovering cruel reality. One day, after growing up, marrying and having a child, Siddhartha went outside the royal enclosure where he lived. When he went outside he saw, each for the first time, an old man, a sick man, and a corpse. This greatly disturbed him, and he learned that sickness, age, and death were the inevitable fate of human beings - a fate no-one could avoid.
Becoming a holy man. Siddhartha had also seen a monk, and he decided this was a sign that he should leave his protected royal life and live as a homeless holy man. Siddhartha's travels showed him much more of the the suffering of the world. He searched for a way to escape the inevitability of death, old age and pain first by studying with religious men. This didn't provide him with an answer.
As far as the Buddha-Vishnu identity goes, that's not just in hinduism
but in buddhism itself as well. In Lankavatara sutra (76) Buddha says
that Vishnu, Ishvara, Kapila, Rama or Vyasa are among the countless
names of Tathagata (Buddha). In Dasharatha Jataka (#461 in Jataka
cannon) he identifies himself with Rama. Amitabha's (jap. Amida) bija
mantra is hrim (Hari) and his two-armed form Sho Kannon playing flute,
with a peacock feather in hair, is identical with Krishna. It is shown
e.g. on the Great Lantern in Yakushi (Bhaishajya-guru) temple Todaiji
in Nara, Japan.
I agree that the original path taught by the Buddha is not a religion; it’s actually a system of applied psychology that, followed to its logical conclusion, results in the attainment of mastery over the mind (as opposed to allowing the mind to control oneself as most people do).
What is Buddhism?
I think it is a scientific behaviour which helps a man to become his own lamp.
Buddhism is not a religion if you search for the word 'Religion' in dictionary. I'd like to accept Buddhism as a philosophy only.
Buddha got fit...
wow, such anger writings and debates.... please wih compaasion try to only understand one another in if we can explain each side respectfully in the end if the other doesnt see your side. it is okay! patience may be exhausted, and it may be time to listen to teachings of buddah...
They shld have mentioned abt influence of samkhya school of thought(a theistic version of hinduism)on Buddha.
I find it funny, if only because it's so ironic, that every time experts -- including the Dalai Lama himself -- say that Buddhism is a "science of mind" or a psychology and, therefore, not a Religion, that they fail to realize how this LOWERS or DEVALUES the very thing they're attempting to praise. So Buddhism is merely a study in psychology, aye? Then, by definition, it is the study of a lower order of reality (the Mind), and, as such, you have REDUCED it to the realm of the profane (like so many university departments studying the almighty Science). And the Buddha -- instead of a god-like being meant to be worshiped as one -- is, what?, the original psychologist? Let's be clear, this denoting of Buddhism as Psychology makes it, by definition, LESSER than true Religion, the latter being a study in ultimate transcendence of the phenomenal, the material, the visible, toward the Invisible and the Divine (e.g. God, Extinction (Nirvana), the Pure Land).
Aye, but here's the rub. If you think that Buddhism is NOT a Religion (It is, because of Its ability to transcend the worldly) and does NOT believe in a God (the Buddha has been and continues to be worshiped as Divine -- just look at the worldwide temples, statues, and the prostrating, devout millions, all in worship of or prayer to the Buddha), then you don't understand Buddhism. To call It a Psychology is not only insulting. It's just plain wrong.
This is a good documentary about Buddha but misses some important incidences of his life. There is also a good documentary about Buddha in a series "Story of India"which provides those details. It is funny as hell that here people are fighting over nation's border after watching documentary on Buddha who believed and taught renunciation. Why Nepalis are so defensive about whether Kapilvastu was in Nepal or India? Nobody knows that. What we know that there was a kingdom which could have spread in both countries. Buddha, anyway then move in present day India to live all his life and to get Nirvana. In those times, Nation's boundaries were not clearly defined and more importantly people were joined through cultures rather boundaries. It was also dependent on the King as some king would go on winning lands by war and increase their kingdom which would shrink or increase in following generations. More importantly whole present day India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal (don't know about Sri Lanka) was following Vedic culture ( you can call it Hinduism now but term which is more accurate is "Sanaatan Dharm" which meant religion which is continuous with no start and end), There was no religion called Brahminism which is so many times used by narrators in documentary. Also, important point is though Buddhism is now a different religion than Hinduism, it is very much influenced by Hinduism. Buddha himself was a Hindu and meditation techniques which he used, are described in various hindu religious texts like Geeta (which is part of Mahabhartha), Saankhya yoga, Yoga vashisht etc. Hope people will take teachings from documentary rather than going into insignificant details.
When he realized it was perfect is the only part that matters. Listen.
how can i download this documentary
best documentary to initiate for Buddhism, without any of the cliche usually superimposed to meditation and Buddhism by westerners, which usually greatly slow our progress at the beginning of our practice.
(instead of just doing and getting whatever results, we expect things to be very different from what they truly are. So first we must rid ourselves from our expectations, then we can begin the actual work.)
converting to this religion or that religion doesn't matter . All that matters is are you really willing to lead a pure life of morality ... if u live a life of morality then u belong to all the religion and all religions belong to u ... If the essence of morality is lost then everything you do is just waste of time and precious life u got ....
Dear Khalil Ahmed
Obviously you have misunderstood Lord Buddha's teachings.
If your leg is injured you have to seek treatment. It is a necessity just like the way we have to eat when we are hungry. There had been one or two occasions where the Great Lord himself had received treatment for minor ailments from a medic called "Jeewaka".
Desire is the craving or the longing (greed) that we feel for various things both living and lifeless. For example, you see a pretty woman and you want to have her. You start thinking about her. That is desire. And that creates suffering because everything we desire is impermanent, subject to change, subject to decay and is eventually destroyed. We cannot change the "Law of impermanence".
Methodical elimination of all craving through meditation (Vipassana Meditation) leads to "Nirvana" - the escape from "Samsara".
I will conclude by quoting a small piece of advice the Great Lord has given to a person called "Darucheeriya".
"What you saw is just that, nothing more,
think no more of it.
What you heard is just that, nothing more,
think no more of it.
What you felt is just that, nothing more,
think no more of it."
Dear Ahmed,
Read more about lord Buddha's teachings.
Venerable Achan Cha's sermons and Venerable Ajahn Brahmawamso's sermons (Available on the web) would be very
helpful for a novice like you.
vikum
@ just signing in.
Sid: You said you hope the Dali Lama becomes a Buddah. What do you mean by that?
I also know that he has asked if they want the Dali Lama to be reborn in Tibet again (as he always is), or in India next time so the Communists can't control him from birth.
Anyway, I really am not fond of Buddhists, but I'm not as worried about them chopping off my head for my opinions as I am the other guys! Seriously. But I do try to be polite as there are lots here in Korea.
Give me a break!!! @Bullon Who the hell are u tell us that Nepal was part of India???? huh??? did you flunk you history and geography class did you or you country teach all the b@##$%^& in the world!!!
Nepal has always been a part of India for centuries before British Rule , just like Pakistan,Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Accept it.
sorry guys
nepal brave gurkhali have never been part of india its the only country which was unable to be ruled by even Britisher.Nepali(gurkhali)seeing their bravery even british government started requiting them.
The point i just wanted to say was buddha was born in nepal and nepal was not part of india.
Thank you
Anbu, thanks for the advice, i will most certainly read about them as well. Peace and happiness to you.
ravi its great to have these noble ideas!! its really good the advice you gave to ahmed and ahmed although i am by birth a hindu i am fascinated by most religions and in islam if i remember correctly there is imam ali who said"every man you meet is a muslim or a brother of humanity"!!and i really love that saying!! also you can read jiddu krishnamurti my favorite philosopher and you will learn a lot!may all be well with you people!!
Ahmed my friend.. Buddhism is not something you need to convert into follow.. what matters is how you live your life.. to take the right path you don't need a label saying you are Buddhist .. read and understand what it is all about.. in Buddhism the main teaching is that we our selves must find the way.. by living correctly.. if i am not mistake even in Muslim they teach you to live a life of non-violence and do good to others.. thats all that is required.. and the final and most important thing is learning to control once mind and desires. Show kindness to those who oppose you for they too are your brothers just that they are not open minded.. peace and happiness to you. If you need any info just ask.
This is really cool i m tryin 2 make a very big decision of my life - to covert from muslim to a Buddhist as i hv studied both religions but my community peoples are opposing that strongly and satanically i need help can somebody tell me..........
Nice Doc. I see that in short order the source of the video was moved from youtube to google. Thanks Vlatki(sp) This doc describes exactly where I am in this journey called life. The beginning stages of searching for enlightenment. *bows*. Buddhism is the vehicle of choice for me.
@ Ravi; Thanks to you for being the voice of reason. You put a roadblock to my making a negative comment to syly1212.