Buddhism: Buddha’s Life

Question 1

Buddha’s Birth

Answer 1

• Prince of Northern India.
• Mother’s dream of a white elephant dissolving into her, highlights purity.
• He walked 7 steps after born and birth said to be painless
• Lotus flowers where baby walked, symbol of purity; clean flower blooming in dirty water.
• Mother died 7 days after birth, showing Annicca and Dukkha

Question 2

The Prophecy

Answer 2

• King asked seer
  Siddhartha’s future
• If he saw suffering he would leave to become a great religious leader
• If he did not seen suffering then he would be a great king
• So, he was brought up in the palace without seeing any suffering; didn’t see human condition

Question 3

4 Sights

Answer 3

• Saw old age, sickness, death and a holy man; human condition
• Holy man had nothing and knew about the human condition yet was content
• Siddhartha learned there must be a way to stop suffering

Question 4

Asceticism

Answer 4

• Learnt meditation and became an ascetic
• Extreme ascetic and only ate a couple grains of rice
• Ate rice pudding when her realized starvation didn’t help; learning middle way.

Question 5

Enlightenment

Answer 5

• Sat under a Bodhi tree for days meditating
• Temptation from Mara and his daughters
• Became Buddha the enlightened and achieved Nibbana; learning anyone can be enlightened it just takes time.
• Importance of meditation and 8 fold path

Question 6

Sermon at Benares

Answer 6

• Met followers at Benares
• Shared first teachings about human condition (4 Noble truths and 3 Marks of existence)
• Instructed followers to join him and teach others the way to end suffering
• Start of Buddhism and the Dhamma