The Birth of Buddha and Siddhartha's Destiny

The Birth of Buddha

• Many versions of the Buddha's birth exist in sacred texts like the Mahavastu, Buddhacarita, and Lalitavistara Sutra
• Siddhartha Gautama belonged to the Ksatriya (warrior) class of the Sakya people, based in modern Nepal
• Siddhartha's father was the local ruler Suddhodana, and his mother was Maya
• Maya dreamed a white elephant entered her womb ten months before Siddhartha's birth
• Siddhartha was born from Maya's side beneath a tree
• Baby Siddhartha stood, took seven paces, and declared he would have no more rebirths

Siddhartha's Destiny

• Some predicted Siddhartha would be a strong ruler, following his father's path
• Asita predicted Siddhartha would be either a local ruler or a wandering holy man
• Kondanna predicted Siddhartha would become a holy man pursuing truth
• To prevent Siddhartha from becoming a holy man, his father ensured he lived a life of luxury, shielded from unpleasantness

The Four Signs

• The "four signs" or "four sights" are old age, sickness, death, and a wandering holy man
• Keeping Siddhartha from these sights was meant to prevent him from abandoning his path to becoming a king
• Siddhartha married Yasodhara at 16 and lived a life of luxury within the palace

Encounters Outside the Palace

• At 29, Siddhartha's excursions from the palace with his charioteer Channa led to significant change
• He saw an old, weak man, bent over with age
• He saw a man ravaged by disease, reduced to skin and bones
• He witnessed a funeral procession with grieving relatives carrying a corpse

The Impact of Suffering

• Siddhartha's sheltered life amplified the impact of these sights
• He realized he was not exempt from aging, sickness, and death
• Siddhartha questioned the nature and cause of suffering

Seeking Freedom

• Siddhartha was deeply moved by the sight of a wandering holy man, who seemed content and at peace
• Upon returning to the palace, Siddhartha renounced his birthright and became a wandering holy man
• He studied yoga with two teachers, but became extremely weak

The Middle Way

• After being revived by Sujata who offered milk-rice, Siddhartha decided to pursue the Middle Way
• Siddhartha sat beneath a pipal tree, meditating on the nature of existence
• The demon god Mara challenged Siddhartha's quest, questioning his good works

Enlightenment

• Siddhartha touched the earth to bear witness to his good works
• At the point of enlightenment, Siddhartha became the Buddha, the "fully awakened one"
• Buddha could see past lives, the workings of karma, and liberation from craving and suffering

The Eightfold Path

• The Buddha taught The Eightfold Path as a guide to balanced and positive living
• The Eightfold Path is divided into wisdom, morality, and meditation
• Right View: Understanding the reality of life, suffering, its origins, and its extinction
• Right Thought: Aiming for pure, wholesome, and positive thoughts, free of attachment and full of compassion
• Right Speech: Speaking truthfully and politely, avoiding lies, exaggeration, and cruelty
• Right Action: Abstaining from violence and theft, and promoting selflessness
• Right Livelihood: Earning a living that benefits others without causing harm
• Right Effort: Avoiding evil and stimulating wholesome states of mind
• Right Mindfulness: Being fully aware of one’s motives and reasons
• Right Concentration: Focusing the mind in meditation to detach from unwholesome states

The Three Refuges (Three Jewels)

• The three refuges offer support and guidance on the spiritual path
• The three jewels are Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
• The three jewels provide inspiration, truth, and support
• In Theravada tradition, the Buddha is Gotama, the historical Buddha
• Mahayana Buddhism views Buddha as more complex, including other Buddhas and Buddha-nature
• Dharma is the truth or teachings, such as the Noble Eightfold Path and the Middle Way
• The Sangha can refer to monks, nuns, laypeople, or all Buddhists worldwide
• Going for refuge in the Sangha involves thinking about past practitioners, teachers, and those who support one's spiritual life
• Chanting the refuges reaffirms commitment in Buddhist ceremonies
• Repetition is important because it alters mental states

Dukkha

• "Dukkha" refers to the Buddhist teaching that describes the nature of "the problem" faced in life
• Dukkha is the first of the Noble Truths
• It can be translated as "frustration" or "that which is difficult to endure."
• Dukkha arises because we desire permanence and individuality in a world of constant change
• Dukkha is inherent in the very fabric of life and experienced through the four sights
• Birth, aging, sickness, death, sorrow, and despair are examples of dukkha
• Dukkha not only includes painful experiences but also the insecurity of all conditioned phenomena, including pleasurable experiences.
• Suffering results from not seeing things as impermanent (anicca) and without self (anatta)

The Bodhisattva Path

• The Bodhisattva path, rather than the path of the arhat, which focuses on individual enlightenment, is the focus of Mahayana Buddhism
• Mahayana Buddhism believes that "buddha nature" (tahagata garbha) is inherent in all individuals
• Stimulation can arouse the "intelligence consciousness" (bodhicitta) and start the bodhisattva path
• Bodhisattvas take vows (pranidhana) to be shared with all beings
• Bodhisattvas vow to aspire to enlightenment but only enter into full enlightenment when all other beings are enlightened
• Bodhisattvas return to the world of samsara to help others

Ten Bhumis (Stages) of the Bodhisattva Path

• Delight and Joy: Generosity (dana) is perfected, and merit is invested in future Buddhahood
• Purity: Actions are spontaneously pure, and moral virtue (sila) is perfected
• Brightness: Patience (ksanti) is perfected through meditation on compassion
• Inflammation: Ignorance is consumed, and vigor (virya) is perfected
• Very Difficult to Conquer: Meditative trances (dhyana) are perfected
• Manifest: Wisdom (prajna) is perfected, and the nature of existence is seen as empty
• Going Far Away: Skillful means (upaya kausalya) are applied to help and teach others
• Immovable: All desire and aspiration for Buddhahood are removed from consciousness
• Good Intelligence: Comprehensive knowledge of the nature of things is acquired
• Clouds of Dharma: Knowledge (jnana) is complete, and final Buddhahood is prepared for