History of Buddism

The founder of the Buddhist Belief, which was established in the 6th Century B.C., was an Indian Prince named Siddartha Gautama, who later became The Buddha, or Enlightened One. Buddha was born on the plains of the Ganges. As he was the only son of a King many visitors, including seven Holy men from the Himalaya mountains came to congratulate his parents. The Holy men declared that he would grow up to be a great leader of men.

The little lad was brought up, as befitted the son of a King, in the Cast System of the Brahmans, but, in the fullness of time, when he became the Buddha, and, indeed, long before, he denounced the rigid Caste System as being devoid of Spiritual Truth or value.

At the age of sixteen the Prince married a beautiful girl of the same age and, for ten years they lived happily together and had one child.

One day, whilst on a hunting expedition, Buddha saw a poor man in great pain. He felt keenly for the man and tried to help him. The next day he went out and saw a man who was in a a very crippled state, his back being curved as a tightened bow.

Buddha gave the man some money and returned home feeling very sad that such pain and poverty existed whilst he and his friends had so much. Shortly afterwards Buddha met a funeral procession and it hurt his tender heart to see the ill clad widow and children of the dead man walking behind weeping bitterly. This happened on the day that his wife had arranged a lavish festival, to which many wealthy guests had been invited to eat, drink and revel. Buddha, however, who had lived in luxury all his life, suddenly became sickened at the heartless attitude of the wealthy to the povery, suffering and misery of the poor, whose plight was made even worse by the Caste System of the Brahmans. He decided, therefore, to forsake his life as a Prince and become a wandering Holy man in search of Spiritual Truth, with a view to discovering a method whereby he could help the Untouchable Caste.

He pondered deeply why the Hindu God Brahma, who was believed to be the Creator of the Universe, divided people into so many Castes. This was certainly not right. Somehow everything he had learned in the Vedas and other Holy Scriptures seemed wrong to him. His final decision to abandon his life of ease and wealth came when he observed a monk, dressed in coarse yellow robes, begging his food who, nevertheless, seemed to be calm and happy.

If he could live like one of the monks, thought Buddha, perhaps he could learn how people should adjust themselves in order to live a good life and to help others as well.

"Until I discover this", he determined, "I shall not be happy." He subsequently provided for his wife and child and then left home to discover for himself The Wisdom of The World.

The night that Buddha left his Palace and all his possessions, to become a monk is known to Buddhists as The Night of the Great Renunciation. For seven years the young monk wandered from place to place in search of Wisdom. His voice was gentle, his conversation simple and wise. In due course he met the great philosopher and teacher, Alara, whom he asked to teach him the Wisdom of The World. Alara's advice, however, was not satisfactory, as he merely referred him back to the Vedas. Buddha also consulted another philosopher, named Udaka but he gave him the same advice.

Sadly, but hopefully, Buddha wandered on and on, later met five monks who advised him to fast for the purpose of improving his Soul. All six retreated into the forest and fasted for many days. Buddha eventually fainted and, when he was revived, told the monks that he did not think this was the right way to learn Wisdom. So the monks deserted him after stating that he was on the wrong track and should observe the teachings of the Hindu priests.

For many months he wandered through the forests and towns, living on berries and fruit, which he found, and rice given by kindly folk. Being only human he sometimes, longed to see his wife and little boy but he knew, in his heart, that he could never be happy until he had learned how to end suffering for all mankind.

One day Buddha sat down under a wild fig tree where he came into the realization that man cannot get Spiritual Enlightenment from routine beliefs and practices devised by priests, it is to be found only within one's own Soul, and man must be his own Mediator when dealing with the Supreme Power which created the Universe. Then he made a vow "Not until I gain this Wisdom will I move from this tree."

At last he realized that he had found The First Law of Life: FROM GOOD MUST COME GOOD, AND FROM EVIL MUST COME EVIL.

All night long Buddha sat there thinking for, with the First Law of Life as the Key to Wisdom he found that he could answer all the questiuons that had troubled him since he became a monk. The night that Prince Siddhartha Gautam became the Buddha, or The Enlightened One is called by his followers The Sacred Night whilst the tree under which he sat is called the Bo Tree or Tree of Wisdom. After the Sacred Night The Lord Buddha sat seven times seven days under the Bo Tree thinking of the First Law of Life, and the wisdom he had gained through that. When all his ideas were so clear that he was ready to answer questions about them, he decided to go out and teach them to the world.

Buddha counselled his followers that to live a life of selfish indolent pleasure, whilst misery, poverty and suffering existed all around one was evil. But, on the other hand, the Hindu Doctrine of Self Torture was the wrong way too. He went on to explain that The Middle Path was the only way. Upon being asked what one did to find the Middle Path Buddha explained that the secret was to follow The Eight-fold Path. The Hindu monks asked what was the Eight-fold Path and Lord Buddha then told them:

RIGHT BELIEF, which is the belief that Truth is the guide of man.

RIGHT RESOLVE, which is to be calm all the time and never do any harm to any living creature.

RIGHT SPEECH, never to lie, never to slander anyone, and never to use coarse or harsh language.

RIGHT BEHAVIOUR, never to steal, never to kill, and never to do anything that one may later regret or be ashamed of.

RIGHT OCCUPATION, never to choose an occupation that is bad, such as forgery, the handling of stolen goods, usery and similar negative persuits.

RIGHT EFFORT, always to strive after that which is good, and always to keep away from that which is evil.

RIGHT CONTEMPLATION, always to be calm and not allow one's thoughts to be mastered by either joy or sorrow for one's self.

RIGHT CONCENTRATION, is then found when all other rules have been followed, and one has reached the stage of perfect peace.