Buddhism: Buddha’s Life

Question 1

Buddha’s Birth

Answer 1

• Prince of Northern India.
• Mother’s dream of a white elephant dissolving into her, highlights purity.
• He walked 7 steps when he was born and the birth was said to be painless
• Lotus flowers bloomed where baby walked, symbol of purity due to clean flower blooming in dirty water.
• Mother died 7 days after birth

Question 2

Analysis of Buddhas birth

Answer 2

Significance:
- Shows purity and special since birth

Links:
- Mothers death links Dukkha and Annicca

Question 3

The Prophecy

Answer 3

• King asked seer (Asita) Siddhartha’s future
• If he saw suffering he would leave to become a great religious leader
• If he did not seen suffering then he would be a great king
• So, he was brought up in the palace without seeing any suffering

Question 4

Analysis of Prophecy

Answer 4

Links:
- 4 Sights
- Understanding of human condition

Question 5

4 Sights

Answer 5

• Saw old age, sickness, death and a holy man
• Holy man had nothing and knew about the human condition yet was content, hope
• He wanted to figure out how to stop everyone suffering

Question 6

Analysis of 4 Sights

Answer 6

Significance:
- Showed him human situations we all go through
- 4th Sight showed him if a man who knows about human suffering is content, there must be a way to end suffering

Links:
- Prophecy
- Human condition
- Dukkha and Annicca

Question 7

Asceticism

Answer 7

• Learnt meditation and became an ascetic
• Extreme ascetic and only ate a couple grains of rice
• Ate rice pudding when her realised starvation didn’t help

Question 8

Analysis of Asceticism

Answer 8

Significance:
- Learnt middle way
- Extremes like starvation or luxury are not the best

Link:
- Understanding Human condition
- Importance of meditation

Question 9

Enlightenment

Answer 9

• Sat under a Bodhi tree for days meditating
• Temptation from Mara and his daughters
• Became Buddha the enlightened and achieved Nibbana

Question 10

Analysis of Enlightenment

Answer 10

Significance:
- Anyone can become enlightened
- Takes time to become enlightened
- Meditation is key

Links:
- To all beliefs and practices
- 8 Fold Path

Question 11

Sermon at Benares

Answer 11

• Met followers at Benares
• Shared first teachings about human condition (4 Noble truths and 3 Marks of existence)
• Instructed followers to join him and teach others the way to end suffering

Question 12

Analysis of The Sermon at Benares

Answer 12

Significance:
- Teachings explain human condition and how to end it suffering
- Start of Buddhism and enlightenment

Links:
- Dhamma
- Wisdom section of 8 Fold Path