Siddhartha's Life

Question 1

What does ‘Buddha’ mean?

Answer 1

the enlightened one

Question 2

Who, although there have been many buddhas throughout history, is known as ‘The Buddha’?

Answer 2

Siddhartha Gautama

Question 3

Where was he born?

Answer 3

Lumbini, Northern India

Question 4

What year was he born?

Answer 4

563 BC

Question 5

What was his mother called?

Answer 5

Queen Maya - she died 7 days after his birth

Question 6

Who was his father?

Answer 6

King Shuddhodana

Question 7

Who was he brought up by?

Answer 7

His aunt who was also married to his father as men took many wives

Question 8

Who was Asita?

Answer 8

A seer - a person of supposed supernatural insight who sees visions of the future

Question 9

What did Asita predict?

Answer 9

Asita predicted that Siddhartha would either become a great king and warrior or a great religion leader

Question 10

What did King Shuddhodana feel about Asita’s prediction?

Answer 10

He wanted his son to become a great king not a religious man (since sramanas never carried many possessions) and he locked him up surrounded by fit and healthy people so that h’ed never experience suffering and he’d never ask any questions about the meaning of life. He was trained in archery, wrestling and swordsmanship

Question 11

What happened when Siddhartha was 16?

Answer 11

He married a princess named Yasodhara and they had a son named Rahula

Question 12

What happened when Siddhartha was 29?

Answer 12

He began to question where his life was going and why so he asked his charioteer, Chandra, to take him outside of the kingdom. While he was out, Siddhartha saw the Four Passing truths.

Question 13

What were The Four Passing Truths?

Answer 13

1. An old man - “this happens to all who make it that far”
2. A diseased man - “could happen to anyone”
3. A dead person - “will happen to anyone”
4. A sramana - “He thinks he can find the meaning of life”

Question 14

What happened after Siddhartha saw the Four Passing Truths?

Answer 14

Renunciation - he left home to become a sramana

Question 15

What did he do when he left home?

Answer 15

He joined a group of 5 sramanas and stayed with them for 6 years. The sramanas were trying to achieve enlightenment.

Question 16

What is asceticism?

Answer 16

severe self-discipline and avoiding of all forms of indulgence, typically for religious reasons - Siddhartha took these ideas very seriously and nearly starved himself to death

Question 17

What did Siddhartha do after 6 ears with the sramanas?

Answer 17

He realised he was getting nowhere and, being very weak he gave up. The other sramanas left him in disgust. So Siddhartha sat under a Pipal tree and vowed not to move until he reached enlightenment. He obtained enlightenment.

Question 18

What did Siddhartha realise when he reached enlightenment?

Answer 18

He realised that the cause of suffering is that we cant accept that everything will decay and die. We are attached to the idea of making things permanent and, with this craving, we create misery.

Question 19

What is it called when someone is fully enlightened?

Answer 19

Nirvana

Question 20

What happened when Siddhartha reached nirvana?

Answer 20

the three poisons of greed (raga), hatred (dvesha) and ignorance (moha) were extinguished in him.

Question 21

What decision did Siddhartha have to make after reaching nirvana?

Answer 21

Whether to share his knowledge or not

Question 22

Who convinced him to share his knowledge, according to legend?

Answer 22

The God, Brahma Sahampti. He said that people are like lotus flowers and that they all begin to grow in the mud at the bottom of a lake (the lake represents the evil and suffering in the world) and then they grow through the water and blossom at the surface (enlightenment). Some people are closer to enlightenment that others and some will never make it in this lifetime but with the teachings of the Buddha they have a much better chance.

Question 23

What did Siddhartha do in order to share his teachings?

Answer 23

He caught up with the sramanas and with his help they all achieved enlightenment. He then returned home to his family. Then he travelled Northern India for 45 years and founded an order of monks and nuns.

Question 24

How old was he when he died?

Answer 24

80

Question 25

What happened to his body after his death?

Answer 25

He was cremated but the bones wouldn’t burn so they were distributed to Buddhist rulers for safekeeping. Eventually, magnificent Buddhist monuments named Stupas were built over them.