| Buddha Gifts
The name “Budda” means “Awakened One” or “Enlightened One,” the founder of Buddhism was actually born Siddhartha Guatama. His birth and death remains uncertain, but most scholars posit his lifetime to be from circa 563BCE to circa 483BCE. Buddha—known in his early years as Siddhartha—had a king and queen for parents, making him a prince. He was surrounded by luxury, and was shielded from sadness and harsh reality. One day, the prince left one of his three castles to meet with his subjects, and it was on the road that his illusions of utopia were shattered. Everywhere, he saw old, decrepit men, sick women, and poor children. He vowed to find a way to overcome human suffering. He escaped the palace and lived as a mendicant. Through asceticism and meditation, one could reach pure and total enlightenment, also known as Nirvana. Siddhartha came to be known as Buddha, and for years, he gathered followers and taught them the ways of transcending earthly toils. According to scholars, at the age of 80, Buddha announced that he would be abandoning his earthly body. He ate his last meal, and then left the earth. Today, Buddhism is one of the most widely studied and practiced way of life.
|
“All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relationship to everything else.”
“An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.”
“Have compassion for all beings, rich and poor alike; each as their suffering. Some suffer too much, others too little.” |
Note: If you're using a pop up blocker, you may need to press CTRL on your keyboard while clicking the "send to friend" link.
Copyright 2000-2010 Shakespeare's Den, Inc. All Rights Reserved
|
|
