The Buddha- Page 21-23 Flashcards
What was Siddhartha prophesied to be?
A holy Man or a great ruler
What was special about Siddhartha’s birth?
He immediately walked seven paces and from each footstep a Lotus flower grew.
What did he say on the day of his birth?
That this would be his last birth and he would end the sorrow of birth and death
What did his statement at birth show?
That we are driven by past lives
What were the ‘Four Sights’?
Illness
Old Age
Death
Holy Man
What was the significance of seeing an old man?
That ageing happened to all regardless of wealth
What was the significance of seeing an ill man?
That illness is an unavoidable part of life
What was the significance of seeing a dead man
That everything is impermanent and that we will all crumble to dust eventually
Why did Siddhartha seek a holy Man?
Because he was dissatisfied with his wealth after seeing the old, sick and dead men.
What did Siddhartha do for the next 6 years after leaving the palace?
Lived as an Ascetic where he learned meditation and deprived himself of food
Why did this not work for Siddhartha?
Because it was the opposite extreme from his life of luxury inside the palace.
What metaphor did he hear for him to give up his Ascetic life?
Fasten the strings to tightly and they will snap, to loosely and they will not play.
What did his failure of extreme depriving inspire him to do?
Create Buddhism which is known as the middle way due to it being in between the two extremes of poverty and wealth
How did Siddhartha achieve enlightenment?
Sat beneath a tree and meditated until he reached enlightenment.
Who tried to to stop him achieving enlightenment and what did he send?
The demon Mara
Sent fierce armies and his daughters to try and tempt Siddartha
