Buddhism

The Origins

Buddhism emerged as a school of thought that did not accept the authority of the Vedas. It was founded by Siddhartha Gautama roughly 2,500 years ago (approx. 560 BCE).

The Turning Point

Siddhartha was a prince who lived a protected life. At age 29, he saw four sights that changed his life:

1. An old man
2. A sick man
3. A dead body
4. An ascetic (who appeared happy and at peace)

Realizing the suffering inherent in life, he left his palace to find the root cause of this suffering.

Enlightenment and Teachings

After years of searching and meditating under a pipal tree at Bodh Gaya (Bihar), he attained enlightenment. He became known as the Buddha (‘The Awakened One’).

Core Realizations

The Buddha identified the sources of human suffering:

• Avidya: Ignorance.
• Attachment: Craving and bonding to temporary things.

Key Values

• Ahimsa: Often translated as non-violence, it originally meant ‘non-injuring’ or ‘non-hurting’.
• Inner Discipline: Conquering oneself is greater than conquering others.

“Conquering oneself is greater than conquering a thousand men on the battlefield a thousand times.” — The Buddha

The Sangha

The Buddha founded the Sangha, a community of:

• Bhikshus (Monks)
• Bhikshunis (Nuns)

These were individuals who dedicated their lives to practicing and spreading the Dharma (teachings).

Jataka Tales

Buddhism used stories called Jataka tales (stories of the Buddha’s former births) to teach values.

• Example: The story of the Monkey King who sacrificed his own body to form a bridge so his troop could escape human hunters. This illustrated selflessness and leadership.