Buddha Purnima—also known as Vesak, Buddha Jayanti, or Buddha Day—is the most sacred day for Buddhists around the world. It commemorates the birth, enlightenment (nirvana), and death (parinirvana) of Gautama Buddha, all believed to have occurred on the full moon day of Vaisakha (April–May).
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About Lord Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama):
1. Birth and Early Life:
Born around 563 BCE in Lumbini (present-day Nepal).
Born as Prince Siddhartha Gautama, in the Shakya clan.
His father, King Suddhodana, wanted him to become a great king, so he shielded him from suffering.
Married to Yashodhara and had a son named Rahula.
2. The Four Sights and Renunciation:
At the age of 29, Siddhartha witnessed the "four sights": an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a wandering ascetic.
These realizations led him to renounce his royal life in search of truth and an end to human suffering.
3. Enlightenment:
After years of intense meditation and austerity, Siddhartha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya.
From then, he became known as the Buddha, meaning “The Enlightened One.”
4. Teachings:
Taught the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, forming the core of Buddhist philosophy:
Life involves suffering (Dukkha)
Suffering is caused by desire (Tanha)
There is a way to end suffering
The path is the Eightfold Path: Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.
5. Legacy:
Founded the Sangha (community of monks).
Traveled and taught across India for over 40 years.
Attained Mahaparinirvana at the age of 80 in Kushinagar, India.
Significance of Buddha Purnima:
Celebrated with prayer, meditation, and acts of kindness.
Devotees visit temples, offer flowers and incense, and listen to sermons.
Symbolizes the possibility of enlightenment for all beings.
Lord Buddha himself did not write down any of his teachings. His discourses and teachings were oral and passed down by his disciples. These were later compiled, memorized, and preserved by followers, especially during Buddhist councils held after his Mahaparinirvana (death).
Language of Buddha’s Teachings:
Spoken Language: Most scholars believe Buddha taught in Magadhi Prakrit, a vernacular language of his time, accessible to ordinary people (not in Sanskrit).
Preserved Writings: His teachings were first written down in Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, and Chinese—depending on the region and school of Buddhism.
Major Collections of Buddha's Teachings:
1. The Pali Canon (Tipitaka or Tripitaka) – Theravāda Buddhism
Written in Pali language.
Comprises three "baskets" (Pitakas):
1. Vinaya Pitaka – Monastic rules and discipline
2. Sutta Pitaka – Discourses (Suttas) of the Buddha (includes Dhammapada)
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka – Philosophical and psychological analysis
Size: Over 40 volumes in English translation, with thousands of pages. Considered the earliest and most complete collection of Buddha’s teachings.
2. Sanskrit-based Mahayana Sutras – Mahāyāna Buddhism
Includes texts like:
Lotus Sutra
Heart Sutra
Diamond Sutra
Lankavatara Sutra
Written later, often in Sanskrit, and translated into Chinese and Tibetan.
The Mahayana canon is much larger, containing hundreds of volumes depending on tradition.
3. Tibetan Kangyur and Tengyur – Vajrayāna Buddhism
Kangyur (translated words of Buddha): ~108 volumes
Tengyur (commentaries): ~225 volumes
Translated from Sanskrit into Classical Tibetan.
Key Teachings (Dhamma/Dharma):
Four Noble Truths
Eightfold Path
Three Marks of Existence (Impermanence, Suffering, Non-Self)
Five Precepts
Dependent Origination (Paticca Samuppāda)
Middle Way (Majjhima Patipada)
Key teachings in the Theravāda tradition, based on the Pāli Canon (Tipitaka)—the most ancient and authoritative scripture in Theravāda Buddhism:
Structure of the Pāli Canon (Tipitaka):
1. Vinaya Pitaka (Discipline Basket):
Contains rules for monks and nuns.
Includes 227 rules (Patimokkha) for monks.
Emphasizes moral conduct, harmony in the Sangha (monastic community), and a disciplined life for spiritual growth.
2. Sutta Pitaka (Discourse Basket):
Contains the actual teachings (Suttas) of the Buddha.
Divided into 5 collections called Nikayas:
Digha Nikaya – Long Discourses (e.g., Mahāparinibbāna Sutta)
Majjhima Nikaya – Middle-Length Discourses
Samyutta Nikaya – Thematic Discourses
Anguttara Nikaya – Numerical Discourses
Khuddaka Nikaya – Minor Works (includes Dhammapada, Jataka tales, Sutta Nipata)
3. Abhidhamma Pitaka (Higher Teachings Basket):
Analytical and philosophical framework of the mind and reality.
Explores mental states, consciousness, and the nature of reality in detail.
Used mainly by monks for advanced study.
Key Teachings in Theravāda Buddhism:
1. The Four Noble Truths
Dukkha – Life is unsatisfactory and involves suffering.
Samudaya – Suffering is caused by craving (tanhā).
Nirodha – There is a cessation of suffering (Nirvana).
Magga – The path to end suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path.
2. The Noble Eightfold Path
1. Right View
2. Right Intention
3. Right Speech
4. Right Action
5. Right Livelihood
6. Right Effort
7. Right Mindfulness
8. Right Concentration
3. Three Marks of Existence
Anicca – Impermanence
Dukkha – Suffering
Anattā – Non-self (no permanent soul or ego)
4. Five Precepts (for laypeople):
1. Do not kill any living being.
2. Do not steal.
3. Avoid sexual misconduct.
4. Do not lie or use harmful speech.
5. Abstain from intoxicating drinks and drugs.
5. Mindfulness and Meditation (Vipassana):
Emphasizes Satipatthana (Four Foundations of Mindfulness).
Purpose is to gain direct insight into the nature of mind and reality.
Meditation (Bhavana) is a central practice leading to Nirvana.
Important Texts in Theravāda:
Dhammapada: A collection of 423 verses summarizing Buddha's ethical and philosophical teachings.
Satipatthana Sutta: Foundation for mindfulness meditation.
Anapanasati Sutta: On mindfulness of breathing.
Mahāparinibbāna Sutta: Last days of the Buddha and his final teachings.
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