✨ Buddhism – Path to Liberation from Suffering 🕉️🕊️
👉 During a time when human life was filled with suffering and attachment,
Buddhism emerged, focusing on
meditation, liberation, and ethics. Let’s explore its story 🏺🌳.
1️⃣ Origin / Background
- 🔹 Gautam Buddha – Born: 623 BCE, Lumbini, Nepal
- 🔹 Death: 483 BCE, Kushinagar
- 🔹 Father: Suddhodana (Shakya clan), Mother: Mahamaya
- 🔹 Stepmother: Mahaprajapati Gautami (first Bhikshuni)
- 🔹 Wife: Yashodhara, Son: Rahul
- 🔹 Left home at age 29 for asceticism
- 🔹 Teachers: First – Alara Kalama, Second – Uddaka Ramaputra
- 🔹 Enlightenment: Bodh Gaya, under Bodhi tree, near Niranjan River
- 🔹 First sermon: Sarnath
- ⭐️ Importance: Guides humanity in understanding suffering and liberation.
2️⃣ Symbols
- 🔹 Lotus – Birth
- 🔹 Horse – Great renunciation
- 🔹 Bodhi tree – Knowledge / Nirvana
- 🔹 Dharmachakra – First sermon
- 🔹 Stupa – Death
- ⭐️ Importance: Represents key stages of life and the Buddhist path.
3️⃣ Philosophy
- 🔹 Truth of Suffering – Life is full of suffering
- 🔹 Cause of Suffering – Craving / desires
- 🔹 End of Suffering – Eightfold Path (Right View, Intention, Speech, Action, Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration)
- 🔹 Path to liberation – Following these principles
- ⭐️ Importance: Guide to life and liberation.
4️⃣ Sects
- 🔹 Hinayana – No idol worship, Pali language
- 🔹 Mahayana – Idol worship, Sanskrit language, Bodhisattvas
- 🔹 Vajrayana – Tantric Buddhism
- ⭐️ Importance: Different religious perspectives and practices.
5️⃣ Councils & Patrons
- 🔹 First Council – Rajgir, 480 BCE, Ajatashatru, Mahakashyap
- 🔹 Second – Vaishali, 383 BCE, Kalasoka, Sabkami
- 🔹 Third – Pataliputra, 250 BCE, Ashoka, Moggaliputta Tissa
- 🔹 Fourth – Kashmir, 72 CE, Kanishka, Vasumitra
- ⭐️ Importance: Structure of religion and preservation of texts.
6️⃣ Important Sites & Architecture
- 🔹 Chaitya – Prayer hall
- 🔹 Vihara – Monastery / residence
- 🔹 Stupa – Death and memorials
- Kesariya – Bihar, largest
- Dhamek – Sarnath, UP
- Ramabhar – Kushinagar, UP
- Sanchi – MP
- Borobudur – Indonesia
- ⭐️ Importance: Physical and cultural identity of Buddhism.
7️⃣ University & Education
- 🔹 Nalanda – Kumaragupta, Bihar
- 🔹 Vikramshila – Dharmapala, Bihar
- 🔹 Odantapuri – Gopala
- ⭐️ Importance: Spread of education and knowledge.
8️⃣ Texts
- 🔹 Pali – Tripitaka
- Suttapitaka – Teachings
- Vinayapitaka – Monastic rules
- Abhidharmapitaka – Commentary on Sutras
- Milindapanha – Dialogues of Milinda & Nagasena
- 🔹 Sanskrit – Buddhacharita, Jataka Tales
- ⭐️ Importance: Preservation of teachings and dissemination of knowledge.
🏁 Conclusion
- Buddhism – Path to liberation from suffering, meditation, and moksha.
- Buddha’s teachings, stupas, and universities left a lasting impact on Indian and global culture.
- Evolution Line: Gautam Buddha → Buddhist Councils → Medieval Buddhism → Modern Buddhist Community 🇮🇳
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