2. FAITH CATHEDRAL DELIVERANCE CENTRE

3. Welcome To The Study On BUDDHISM

4. BIBLE VERSE

5. REVIEW What did you learn from the lesson done previously?

6. PART TWO

7. THE HISTORICAL BUDDHA

8. Writing was uncommon in India at the time Buddha lived. So everything known about him was carefully memorized and passed on orally until it was written down, probably during the first century B.C. Introduction

9. In writing her biography of Buddha, Karen Armstrong noted, “It is obviously difficult, therefore, to write a biography of the Buddha that will meet modern criteria, because we have very little information that can be considered historically sound… Introduction cont’d

10. …but we are reasonably confident Siddhatta Gotama did indeed exist and that his disciples preserved the memory of his life and teachings as well as they could” Introduction cont’d

11. HIS FATHER The name of his father was King Suddhodana Gautama. He was a chief (raja) of the Sakya clan and an Indian warrior King. He was of a proud independent people (Sakyas) who were probably already great economically. He reigned over a small region between India and Nepal

12. MAP OF ASIA

13.  He won a battle against his father, and gained permission to marry the two sisters of his cousin  Two sisters of his eventually marry that same cousin. Father cont’d

14. HIS MOTHER  Queen Maha Maya of the Sakyas group was the birth mother of the historical Buddha. Maha means ‘great’ Maya means ‘illusion’ or ‘enchantment’ (in Sanskrit and Pāli).

15. His Mother Cont’d Also called Mayadevi (‘devi’ means goddess). She was born in one of the areas (kingdom) of Nepal and has been compared with Mary, Jesus’ mother.

16. Queen Māyā and King Suddhodhana did not have children for twenty years into their marriage. CONCEPTION

17. According to some accounts the Buddha-to-be chose her to be his own mother because of her faith and purity. While she slept he took the form of a white elephant and entered her side. Maha Maya was blessed with the immaculate conception. Conception cont’d

19. Another account said that one full moon night, while sleeping in the palace, the queen had a vivid dream. She felt herself being carried away by four devas (spirits) to a Lake. Conception cont’d

20. After bathing her in the lake, the devas (spirits) clothed her in heavenly cloths, anointed her with perfumes, and bedecked her with divine flowers. Conception cont’d

21. Soon after a white elephant with six tusks, holding a white lotus flower in its trunk, appeared and went round her three times, entered her womb through her right side. Conception cont’d

22. Finally the elephant disappeared and the queen awoke, knowing she had been delivered an important message, as the elephant is a symbol of greatness in Nepal.

23. HOW IS IT SO FAR?

24. True or False Writing was very common in India at the time Buddha lived. King Suddhodana was a chief of the Sakyas clan. The king & queen had children before & after the Buddha. The elephant was not a symbol of greatness in Nepal.

25. According to Buddhist tradition, the Buddha-to-be was residing as a Bodhisattva, in the Tu ṣ ita heaven, surveyed the world and when he found that conditions were ripe for his descent to earth, to be reborn for the last time, he changed himself and entered the womb of Maya while she was sleeping. Conception cont’d

26. Maya’s pregnancy lasted ten months. Following custom, the Queen returned to her own home in order to give the birth. On the way, she stepped down from her palanquin BIRTH

28. Birth cont’d …to have a walk under the Sal tree, in the beautiful flower garden of Lumbini Park, (Lumbini Zone, Nepal). Maya Devi was delighted by the park and gave birth standing while holding onto a Sal branch.

29. Legend has it that the baby emerged from her right side to the accompaniment of flowers blooming out of season, and of happiness pervading the world. Birth cont’d

30. All hatred, struggle jealousy, sadness, selfishness and fear disappeared, sickness was healed, hunger satisfied and thirst quenched. Birth cont’d

31. There are stories of the whole earth being flooded with light, of the blind being able to see, of the lame being able to walk, of prisoners chains being snapped opened, and of the baby walking seven steps as soon as he was born, and being bathed in perfumed water by the gods. Birth cont’d

32. One version indicates that on the sole of his feet were wheels and his fingers and toes were joined by webs. Birth cont’d

33. Some accounts say Maya gave him his first bath in a pond in Lumbini Zone. But legend has it that devas caused it to rain to wash the newborn babe. Birth cont’d

34. Maya died seven days after giving birth and ascended to one of the Buddhist heavens to be reborn there as a deity. Birth cont’d

35. Buddhist theologians say that absolute rule/law states that the mother of a future Buddha must die seven days after birth. This law would imply that Buddha is omniscient, knowing what woman would die at a given time Birth cont’d

36. It was also held that the mother must die since the womb must not have another occupant, also that it was better for her to die and avoid heart break when her son would have left home. Birth cont’d

37. After she died, Saddohdana took her two sisters as his wives. The Buddha was therefore brought up by his maternal aunt. Birth cont’d

38. The information for this should be given with certainty, however, chronology never comes easy in India for historical record were not kept. BIRTH DATE, PLACE AND NAME

39. His biography was not written during his life time. Based on historical and legendary descriptions the earliest account of his life were collected some three hundred years after his death. Birth Date, Place And Name cont’d

40. Calculations based on traditional events have been used to approximate his date of birth to be 563 BC. He was born in the geographical area Lumbini in modern day Nepal. (Theravada Scriptures – Pali) He was later named Siddhartha Birth Date, Place And Name cont’d

41. ONCE AGAIN, HOW IS IT SO FAR?

42. True or False One story says that Buddha had 10 ‘webbed’ fingers on one hand. There was a rule that the mother of a future Buddha must die seven days after giving birth. Three reasons were given for the death of his mother after seven days

43. True or False The earliest accounts of Buddha’s life were collected soon after his death. According to calculations the Buddha was born 563 BC

44. Siddhartha is known by a number of names. This can cause confusion to a person first seeking to understand the religious tradition. NAMES (TITLES )

45. Siddhartha – (Pali language, Siddatha)  Birth Name  Meaning “he who hath accomplished his objectives” or “Goal achieved/wish granted” Gautama- (Pali: Gotama)  Clan name  Surname  Family name Names (Titles) cont’d

46. Sakyamuni  Named after the ‘Sakya’ tribe  Regarded as their Sage Bodhisattva (Pali: Bodhisatta)  A being destined for enlightenment

47. Names (Titles) cont’d Buddha  One who had attained bodhi or enlightenment  Awakened one This name was given after the experience of enlightenment.

48. Names (Titles) cont’d Tathagata  An honorary title  Synonymous with title ‘The Buddha’  Meaning – ‘Thus-gone’. It indicates that he followed the way to liberation to the end as other Buddhas had done before him.

49. Names (Titles) cont’d Bhagavan  The Blessed One  Blessed with happiness Jina  The victorious Devote Buddhists avoid the use of his personal name Siddhartha and refer to him as the Buddha

50. On the day of birth, a sage named Asita saw the gods dancing in glee. When asked the reason for their delight he learned that a bodhisatta was born. BELIEVE IT OR NOT!!!!!!

51. Asita surveyed the land with his divine sight (one of the attributes of a sage) and saw him at home and flew through the air to where the bodhisatta was. Believe it or not!!!!!!

52. When he saw the child endowed with the thirty-two major and eighty minor marks of a great man he immediately realized that this child when grown up would either become a universal monarch, ruling over the entire realm or an enlightened one. At this thought, the sage wept. Believe it or not!!!!!!

53. Suddhodana, (father), surprised to see Asita weeping, thought something wrong so asked the reason for his strange behaviour. Asita said because he would not live long enough to see the infant grow up to become the Buddha and to hear his teachings. Believe it or not!!!!!!

54. According to narrative, shortly after his birth, an astrologer (Asita for some) prophesied that Siddartha would either be a great king, if he dwelt in his father’s house, or renounce the material world to become a holy man (Buddha), a remover of ignorance from the world depending on whether he saw what life was like outside the palace wall. LIFE IN THE PALACE

55. Another story states that his father asked eight wise men what would become of his son in later life. They all agreed he would become a great ruler unless he witnessed the four signs of what life is really like –old age, sickness, death, and a wandering ascetic –then he would become a great religious leader. Life in the Palace cont’d

56. King Suddhodana knew that the sight of human misery would cause his son to leave and to seek for truth. Since the king wanted his son to follow his footsteps to the throne, he issued strict orders to his subjects that the young prince was to be protected from these sights. (Called ‘The Four Passing Sights’). Life in the Palace cont’d

57. At sixteen he secured the hand of his cousin, Yashodara, in marriage, by demonstrating twelve marvelous feats in the art of archery. Life in the Palace cont’d

58. He might have had other wives, but legend says she was the most beautiful of women dressed in the finest fabrics. Life in the Palace cont’d

59. They had a son whom they called Rahula (chains) because Gautama felt thaat in spite of his life of luxury, he was in chains. Life offered him no pleasure or happiness. He longed to see how ordinary people lived but was trapped behind the walls of the palace. Life in the Palace cont’d

60. Suddhondana surrounded his son with a life of extreme luxury in the palace. He built for them three palaces – one for the rainy season, one for winter, and one for he heat of summer. Each palace was filled with every kind of enjoyment for the five senses according to the season of the year. Life in the Palace cont’d

61. His son expressed: ‘Monks I was delicately nurtured, exceedingly delicately nurtured. For instance in my father’s house lotus pools where made thus, one of blue lotuses, one of red, another of white lotuses, just for my benefit. Life in the Palace cont’d

62. No sandle wood power did I use that was of Kasi; of Kasi cloth was my turban made; of kasi cloth was my jacket, my tunic, and my cloak. By night and day a white canopy was held over me, less cold or heat, dust or chaff or dew, should touch me. Life in the Palace cont’d

63. More over I had three palaces, one for the winter, one for summer and one for the rainy season. In the four months of the rain, I was waited upon by minstrels, women all of them. I came not down from my palace in three months. Life in the Palace cont’d

64. Gautama drew less and less satisfaction from these pleasures as time went by, and he began to look for a deeper meaning to life. Then one day when he was twenty nine years old he went out with his charioteer driving in the park when suddenly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Life in the Palace cont’d

65. HOW WAS IT? LET’S SEE!! 1. Assessment 2. Christian Link (a) Questions & Answers (b) Comments

66. Assessment

67. What do you think is going to happen next?

68. Match each word on the left with one from the right: Chains Married Astrologer Winter (summer, rainy season) Charioteer Asita Palaces 16 (years old) 29 (years old) Rahula

69. Christian Link Questions & Answers

70. Christian Link Is there any difference between the naming of Jesus and that of Buddha?

71. Christian Link What part of Jesus’ birth could be paralleled with ‘god’s dancing in glee’ on the birth of Buddha?

72. Christian Link The story of Asita predicting the future of the Buddha may be paralleled (they say) with a Bible story? Relate it.

73. Christian Link Locate & quote a verse from the Bible (with names) that makes Buddha inferior to the name of Jesus?

74. Christian Link Identify & sing any ‘name’ song or chorus about Jesus.

75. THANKS FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION UNTIL NEXT WEEK God BLESSED!!