the enlightenment of the buddha

Question 1

why is the enlightenment of the buddha so significant

Answer 1

the Enlightenment of the Buddha (also known as Buddha’s Awakening) is the central event in the life of Siddhartha Gautama, who became the Buddha, or “The Awakened One.” It marks his complete realization of the nature of suffering (dukkha), the causes of suffering, and the path to end suffering. This event occurred under the Bodhi Tree in Bodh Gaya, India, after a period of intense meditation and struggle with the mind. The significance of the Buddha’s enlightenment is profound, not just for Buddhism but for the understanding of human suffering and the potential for liberation.

Question 2

background to the enlightenment

Answer 2

• sddharta grew up as Siddhartha Gautama was born into a royal family in the 6th century BCE, in what is now Nepal. After a sheltered upbringing, he encountered the realities of life—old age, illness, and death—and was deeply disturbed by the suffering he witnessed. In search of a way to transcend suffering, he left his royal life and embarked on a quest for spiritual truth.

Question 3

what is the middle path and why is it significant

Answer 3

The Middle Path: Realizing that both indulgence and extreme asceticism were unhelpful, Siddhartha chose to follow a middle path—one of moderation, where neither sensual pleasure nor self-mortification was pursued. He sat down under the Bodhi Tree, vowing not to rise until he had attained enlightenment.

Question 4

why did he choose the middle path

Answer 4

nitially, Siddhartha tried extreme ascetic practices, such as fasting and harsh self-discipline, in an effort to attain enlightenment. He reached the limit of human endurance but found that these practices did not bring him the insight he sought. so he chose the middle path way

Question 5

what are the three watched of the night

Answer 5

The Three Watches of the Night:

First Watch: He saw, through the power of deep concentration, his past lives—rebirths in different forms and realms of existence. This experience gave him insight into the cyclical nature of existence (samsara) and the reality of the law of karma.

second Watch: He gained insight into the nature of all beings’ suffering, understanding that all sentient beings are trapped in samsara and that suffering is a part of the human condition.

Third Watch: He attained full understanding of the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path, thus realizing the way to end suffering and achieve nirvana (the cessation of suffering).

Question 6

what is the significance of the bodhi tree

Answer 6

• siddhartha found a large fig tree and made a cushion of grass inder it
• it later became known as the bodhi tree or tree of the tree of enlightenmnet
• he sat facing eat under it and he wouldnt move until he reached enlightemnet - it is told in texts that the world held its breath and the spirts rejoiced
• on the first night of meditation all his past lives passed before him
• on the second night he saw the cycle of birth and rebirth and recognised the law that governs it
• on the third night he came to undertsoof the founr noble truth
• • these are the three watches of the night

Question 7

who is mara the tempyter and hwy are they significant

Answer 7

• mara is the embodiment of all evil things in the world
• he wanted siddhartah to abaonded his course to enlightenment
• maras mission was to ensure that all existence was driven by delusions so she caused distruption between siddhartha and his cycle of enlightement
• there are four mains parts mara plays

1. maras army
2. maras daughter
3. the earth touching gesture
4. hagiographical and mythological interpretations of mars defeat

Question 8

mara

what is maras armys

Answer 8

• maras army observed gautama firmly resolved to seek out enloghtenmnet sitting under the bodhi tree
• mara summonded all his mighty forces and sent his army weaponded up
• guatuma summonded his own defense agsinst maras attack by preseting ten perfections

1. namely
2. generosity
3. virtue
4. renunciatio
5. 5. wisdom
6. energy
7. patoence
8. truthfulness
9. detemination
10. loving kindness

and defeat maras arms

Question 9

mara

who is maras daughters and why are tehy significant

Answer 9

• tried to presuade and seduce guatama from his path to enloghtenmnet
• however he is not swayed by them

Question 10

mara

what is the earth touching gesrure

Answer 10

The Earth-Touching Gesture (or Bhumisparsha Mudra) is a hand gesture (mudra) in Buddhism that represents the moment of the Buddha’s enlightenment. In this gesture, the Buddha sits cross-legged with his right hand reaching down to touch the ground, while his left hand rests on his lap.

Meaning
This gesture symbolizes the Buddha calling the Earth to witness his enlightenment. As the story goes, while he was meditating under the Bodhi Tree, Siddhartha Gautama was confronted by negative forces (known as Mara) who tried to shake his resolve. In response, Siddhartha reached down and touched the Earth, asking it to bear witness to his right to attain enlightenment, based on his past compassionate actions and efforts.

Significance
Affirming Resolve: It shows the Buddha’s determination to achieve enlightenment despite challenges.
Connection to Nature: By calling the Earth as his witness, it also symbolizes a deep connection to nature.
Victory over Temptation: It represents his triumph over distractions and his inner struggles, leading to his awakening.
In Buddhist art, this mudra is often seen in statues and paintings of the Buddha, depicting the powerful moment he achieved enlightenment.

Question 11

mara

what is the hagiographical and mythological interpretations of maras defeat

Answer 11

In Buddhism, the story of Mara’s defeat is a key event from the life of the Buddha, filled with hagiographical (sacred biography) and mythological meanings. Mara is often seen as a symbol of inner obstacles like fear, desire, and doubt, which can distract or deter anyone seeking enlightenment. In simple terms, here’s how the story is interpreted in hagiographical and mythological ways:

Hagiographical Interpretation
In the hagiographical interpretation, which focuses on the Buddha’s life as a sacred biography, Mara’s defeat shows the Buddha’s personal strength and moral purity:

Heroic Story: The Buddha is presented as a spiritual hero who triumphs over temptation and doubt, embodying the qualities of wisdom, courage, and compassion.
Exemplary Model: By facing Mara’s challenges, the Buddha shows others how to overcome their own struggles and inner obstacles on the path to enlightenment.
Divine Witness: When the Buddha calls the Earth as a witness by touching the ground, it serves as a powerful statement of his right to enlightenment, with the Earth itself confirming his worthiness. This act strengthens his role as a revered spiritual figure.
Mythological Interpretation
In the mythological interpretation, Mara’s defeat is filled with symbolic meanings about the nature of the mind and the obstacles to enlightenment:

Mara as Inner Demons: Mara represents negative forces within everyone—such as fear, greed, anger, and desire—that arise when one tries to make spiritual progress.
Universal Struggle: The battle between the Buddha and Mara symbolizes the universal struggle every person faces between wisdom and ignorance, peace and craving, clarity and delusion.
Victory Over Suffering: The Buddha’s victory over Mara represents not just his personal enlightenment but the possibility that all beings can overcome suffering and achieve freedom from the cycle of desire and attachment.
In Buddhist art and stories, Mara’s defeat remains a powerful reminder of the Buddha’s teachings: that through inner strength, awareness, and ethical conduct, anyone can overcome challenges and find peace.

Question 12

what are the four meditive absorptions and why are they significant

Answer 12

before reaching the enlightenmnet stage he made prodgessions through the medittive stages
- there are four stages

Question 13

four meditive absorptions

1st jhana

Answer 13

unbroken attention to the object of meditation detachd from the world and in a totl state of calm

Question 14

four meditive absorptions

what is the second jhana

Answer 14

• thoughts are discarded as detachmenet ecomes more prfound and a sense of joy

Question 15

four meditive absorptions

what is the third jhana

Answer 15

a state of equnimity totally composed and with absolute attentiveness but still lcearly consciounessn

Question 16

four meditive absorptions

what is the fourth and final jhanas

Answer 16

this is the state beyond all differentiation beyond pleasure and pain.

Question 17

what is the final stage of his expeirence

Answer 17

• access into three significant insights that has not been done before

Question 18

what are the last three final insights: what is the first one

Answer 18

The first was the elevated insight into his many previous lives throughout time. The Buddha recounted these stories of his previous lives to help him deliver a variety of practical examples of his teaching. These stories can be found in the Jatakas, of which there are around 550, where the Buddha was born as a human being, animal, bird and fish, male and female. The characters in the tales were identified with him in his current life. The main message behind the Jataka stories is the consistent and determined effort to perfect the qualities that led Gautama to attain Enlightenment as sammasambuddha.

Question 19

what are the last three final insights: what is the seocnd one

Answer 19

After this, he obtained pure observational insight of the plight of other beings tied to the world of rebirth. He had an objective overview of how the world of existence functioned in terms of birth, death and rebirth throughout the universe according to the laws of karma. The Buddha became aware that our intentions and actions (karma) were instrumental in determining the very nature of our existence and in the same way were the answer to changing our futures. As the Dhammapada 1:1 states: ‘All that we are is the result of what we have thought: it is founded on our thoughts, it is made up of our thoughts. If a man speaks or acts with an evil thought, pain follows him, as the wheel follows the foot of the ox that draws the carriage.’ The Buddha realised that for change to occur and the transformation from ignorance to Enlightenment to be made, we had to begin with the origins of karma in terms of mental formations.

Question 20

what are the last three final insights: what is the seocnd one

Answer 20

Finally, he went through the Enlightenment experience, gaining insight into true and perfect wisdom of how the barriers to spiritual truth can be destroyed through the cessation of dukkha. This was the final awakening that revealed the insight into how this process of a transformation from suffering and ignorance to Enlightenment could be experienced. The Buddha saw that the relentless turning of the cycle of existence involved suffering and ignorance. Suffering was to be eradicated through an awareness of the reality of the three marks of existence (suffering, impermanence and an absence of a substantial personal existence) and the removal of ignorance.
4. This was to be achieved through the destruction, or ‘blowing out’ of the three fires that cause such delusion and pain, namely, greed, hatred and delusion.

Question 21

what was

what was the enlightenment described as

Answer 21

Enlightenment
o It is said that the Buddha’s enlightenment is not something that can be put into words. Our words cannot express its meaning and only an enlightened person can really understand it. It can be expressed through the story of the turtle and the fish.
o The night of Siddhartha’s enlightenment was a full moon in the fourth Indian month. As the moon rose in the sky, Siddhartha’s meditative state deepened. His growing wisdom on the path to enlightenmen burned away any layers of unknowing that was clouding his mind. It all became clear.
o When he perceived a clear stream of his past lives, he understood exactly how past actions lead to the present results. In many of these past lives he saw himself as an animal. These stories have been made into the Jataka Tales and serve to teach Buddhist values and are popular with children.
o His enlightenment showed him many things. He began to understand that the cause of Dukkha is attachment. This need to be attached to things ultimately causes us to suffer. He saw that people, or ideas, or things cannot bring us happiness when in fact they are actually subject to change. The realisation of this is said to have overcome all craving and attachment and experienced the peace of nirvana.
He realised the role of karma the lives of all beings and saw the path to the cessation of Dukkha.
* The Buddha is often depicted in the earth touching mudra position. This represents the Buddha’s answer to Mara. The earth bore witness to his virtuous nature.

Question 22

what happned after his enlightenment

Answer 22

After his enlightenment he became the Buddha and he was asked by the high God, Brahman, three times to help others to enlightenment by teaching them. Someone who does this is called a bodhisattva. This is what the Buddha did.
o He preached his first sermon at Benares and his five former companions became his first five disciples.
Soon this number grew. People were convinced by the serene calm of the preacher.
o Buddha sent them out to preach the good news. The Buddha travelled around India for 44 years, living as a beggar-monk. At the age of 80, however he was taken ill during a meal and died in the town of kushinagara. There are many legends surrounding his death. They often describe his amazing and happy entry into nirvana and that there was a terrible earthquake that shook the earth during his cremation.