The Buddha
(Top Posts - Philosophy (General) - 050401)

Why would a disbeliever in gods and religions find
a religious figure such as the Buddha to be of interest?

Well, many of the Buddha's tenets are similar to mine
(a small number are not), and curiously, many of the
Buddha's tenets are similar to the pro-human aspects
of the Jesus Christ of gospel fame.

For those not aware of the Buddha and what, traditionally,
has been attributed to him, the following is provided for
enlightenment in that regard and in consideration of the
profound philosophies present before any of the Christ
stories were written into the gospel documents of the
christian bible.

For those familiar with christianity, compare the following
to christianity and note the similarities and the differences:

Introduction
Flourished c. 6th–4th century BCE
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=108287

Excerpt:

"... The term buddha, literally meaning 'awakened
one' or 'enlightened one,' is not a proper name but
rather a title, such as messiah (the Christ).

Thus, the term should be accompanied by an arti-
cle, such as 'the Buddha' or 'a buddha' (because
of a belief that there will be innumerable buddhas
in the future as there have been in the past).

The Buddha who belongs to the present world era
was born into the Gotama (in Pali), or Gautama (in
Sanskrit), clan and is often referred to as Gotama.

When the term the Buddha is used, it is generally
assumed that it refers to Gotama the Buddha. ..."

- - -

The Great Enlightenment
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=108287&tocid=67697

Excerpt:

"... In order to attain buddhahood, all bodhisattvas
(i.e., those who aspire to become buddhas) have to
perfect, during innumerable lives, these 10 paramitas
('great virtues'): charity, morality, renunciation, wis-
dom, effort, patience, truth, determination, universal
love, and equanimity. ...

"The battle with Mara (the evil one, the tempter who
is the lord of the world of passion, determined to
defeat him and prevent him from attaining Enlighten-
ment) is graphically described in ancient Buddhist
texts and depicted in paintings on the walls of Bud-
dhist temples.

In the Padhanasutta ('Discourse on the Exertion')
of the Pali Suttanipata, one of the earliest texts, the
Buddha states that, when he was practicing austerities
by the Nerañjara River in Uruvela, Mara approached
him, speaking such words as: 'You are emaciated,
pale, you are near death. Live, Sir, life is better. Do
meritorious deeds. What is the use of striving?'

After some preliminary words, Gotama replied:

'Lust is your first army;

the second is dislike for higher life;

the third is hunger and thirst;

the fourth is craving;

the fifth is torpor and sloth;

the sixth is fear (cowardice);

the seventh is doubt;

the eighth is hypocrisy and obduracy;

the ninth is gains, praise, honour, false glory;

the tenth is exalting self and despising others.

Mara, these are your armies. No feeble man can
conquer them, yet only by conquering them one
wins bliss. I challenge you! Shame on my life if
defeated! Better for me to die in battle than to
live defeated.'

Mara, overcome with grief, disappeared. ..."

- - -

Four Noble Truths
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?idxref=72793

Excerpt:

"... The essence of Buddhist religious doctrine,
expounded by Gautama Buddha in his first sermon
at the deer park near Benares (Varanasi), India,
shortly after his having attained Enlightenment.

The four truths are:

(1) that existence is suffering (dukkha);

(2) that this suffering has a cause (samudaya);

(3) that it can be suppressed (nirodha); and

(4) that there is a way (magga) to accomplish this,
the noble Eightfold Path ..."

- - -

Eightfold Path
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=32692

Excerpt:

"... Doctrine taught by Gautama Buddha in his first
sermon at the deer park near Benares (Varanasi),
in India. Together with the Four Noble Truths, of
which it forms a part, it sums up the whole of Bud-
dhist teaching.

It is also called the Middle Path, as it steers a course
between the sensual pleasures of the materialists and
the self-mortification of the ascetics.

Those who follow the noble Eightfold Path are freed
from the suffering that is an essential part of human
existence and are led ultimately to Nirvana, or Enlight-
enment.

Some Buddhist teachings have held that to enter this
path in itself implies an experience of Nirvana.

The Eightfold Path consists of:

(1) right understanding—faith in the Buddhist view
of the nature of existence in terms of the Four Noble
Truths;

(2) right thought—the resolve to practice the faith;

(3) right speech—avoidance of falsehoods, slander,
or abusive speech;

(4) right action—abstention from taking life, stealing,
and improper sexual behaviour;

(5) right livelihood—rejection of occupations not in
keeping with Buddhist principles;

(6) right effort—avoidance of bad and development
of good mental states;

(7) right mindfulness—awareness of the body, feelings,
and thought; and

(8) right concentration—meditation."

- - -

The Founding of the Sangha (Buddhist monastic
order, traditionally composed of four groups:
monks, nuns, laymen, and laywomen)
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=108287&tocid=67699

Excerpt:

"The Buddha spent about three months in the Vara-
nasi/Benares region. During this period an important
and influential wealthy young man named Yasa be-
came his disciple and entered the order.

His father and mother, along with his former wife,
also were converted. They were the first lay disciples
to take refuge in the 'Triple Jewel': the Buddha, the
dhamma (the interrelated elements which make up the
empirical world), and the sangha (see above).

Later, four of Yasa's close friends followed his ex-
ample and entered the order. Enthusiasm for this new
movement became so impelling that 50 of their friends
also joined them in the sangha. All these became arhats
(a Buddhist who has reached the stage of enlighten-
ment) in due course, and the Buddha soon had 60
disciples who were perfected ones.

The Buddha addressed this group in the following
words and sent them out into the world to spread his
message of peace, compassion, and wisdom:

'Bhikkhus, I am freed from all fetters, both divine and
human. You, too, are freed from all fetters, both divine
and human. Wander forth, bhikkhus, for the good of
the many, for the happiness of the many, out of com-
passion for the world. . . .

Let not two of you go by one road [i.e., go in different
directions]. Teach the Dhamma which is good at the
beginning, good in the middle, and good at the end. . . .

There are people who will understand the Dhamma. I,
too, will go to Uruvela to teach the Dhamma.'

The 60 disciples went in various directions to spread
the teaching of the Buddha. The Buddha himself set
out for Uruvela. On the way he converted 30 young
men, who then entered the order. ..."

- - -

Death
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=108287
&tocid=67700#67700.toc

Excerpt:

" ... The Buddha told Ananda that he had decided to die
after three months and asked him to assemble in the hall
at Mahavana all the monks who were at that time residing
in the neighbourhood of Vesali.

At this meeting, the Buddha advised the monks to follow
what he had taught them and to spread it abroad for the
good of the many, out of compassion for the world.

He then announced that he had decided to die after three
months. ..."

- - -

Assessment of the Personality
and Character of the Buddha
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article?eu=108287&tocid=67701

Excerpt:

"... The Buddha, affectionate and devoted to his
disciples, was always inquiring after their well-being
and progress. When he was staying in a monastery,
he paid daily visits to the sick ward. Once, he himself
attended a sick monk neglected by others and made
the comment that 'he who attends on the sick attends
on me.'

The Buddha refused to recognize the religious signifi-
cance of the caste system that was a long-established
and respected institution in India and recognized the
religious potential of men and women of all social
ranks.

He also recognized the connection between economic
welfare and moral development. Trying to suppress
crime through punishment, he said, was futile. Poverty,
according to the Buddha, was a cause of immorality
and crime; therefore, the economic condition of people
should be improved.

He appreciated both natural and physical beauty. On
several occasions he was moved aesthetically, as he
told Ananda how delightful certain places were to him.
At Vesali he told the monks that, if they had not seen
the devas (gods) of Tavatimsa (Heaven), they should
look at the handsome Licchavis, beautifully and
elegantly dressed in different colours.

King Pasenadi could not understand how the Buddha
maintained such order and discipline in the community
of monks, when he, a king, with the power to inflict
punishment, could not maintain it as well in his court.
The Buddha, however, kept order and discipline on
the basis of a mutual love, affection, and respect that
exists between teacher and pupil.

Many miraculous powers were attributed to the Buddha,
and he performed a number of miracles during his min-
istry. At the same time, however, he did not consider
magical powers to be of primary importance. Once,
when one of his disciples performed a miracle in public,
the Buddha reproached him and laid down a rule that
his disciples should not perform miracles before the
laity. In his view, the greatest miracle was to explain
the truth and to make people recognize its importance.

Behind his philosophy and strict ethics, the Buddha had
a quiet sense of humour. A conceited Brahman, who
was in the habit of denigrating others, questioned him
as to the qualities of a true Brahman. In a list of such
high qualities as freedom from evil and purity of heart,
the Buddha gently included 'not denigrating others.'

The portrait of the Buddha, as can be inferred from the
lines of the ancient texts, is thus one of a man of great
wisdom and great compassion, one who was moved
by the spectacle of human suffering and was determined
to teach his fellow human beings how that suffering
could be confronted and overcome. ..."