buddhas life Flashcards
When was the Buddha born?
around 500CE in Lumbini
What was Queen Maya’s dream?
A white elephant came down from heaven and entered her womb. Elephant told her she would give birth to a holy child and he would achieve perfect wisdom
What happened when he was born?
He walked and talked immediately. He walked 7 steps with lotus flowers springing up with every step he took. He stated that this was his last body and no more rebirths will be had for Siddhartha
What was the prophecy made about Siddhartha shortly after his birth?
He would be a great king or revered holy man
How did Siddhartha live his early life?
In 3 luxury mansions, one for the rainy season, one for winter, one for summer. Father wanted to protect him from pain, sadness and suffering
Why did Siddhartha leave the palace?
He grew curious and wanted to explore the world outside the palace
What were the 4 sights
Old age
Illness
Death
Holy man
What did Siddhartha do after seeing 4 sights?
He wanted to find the reason for suffering and this could not be done in the castle so he left. He cut off his hair and swapped his clothes for a beggar.
What does ascetic mean?
Living a simple, strict lifestyle with no pleasures or possessions
What made Buddha realise asceticism was not for him?
When he was bathing, he saw a girl with a herd of cows and she offered him a bowl of milk and rice and he accepted. He became too weak to even meditate. He stopped this life as he was no closer to finding the true reasons for suffering.
Middle way
Living a lifestyle between luxury life and ascetic life
How did Mara tempt the Buddha
•he sent his daughters to seduce Siddhartha
•he sent his armies to attack Siddhartha
•he offered Siddhartha control of his kingdom
•Mara tried attacking Siddhartha himself
How did Siddhartha stop Mara?
He touched the earth and called upon the earth to witness his right to sit under the peepul tree in meditation and the earth shook to acknowledge his right
Three watches of the night
•Siddhartha gained knowledge of his previous lives
•He came to understand repeating cycle of life, death, rebirth.Understood beings were born depending on kamma and realised importance of anatta
•Understood why and how suffering happens
What did he do after he was enlightened?
He went back to the place where he left the five ascetics and was determined to teach them about suffering and help others achieve enlightenment
