The Origins of Buddhism and the Footsteps of Buddha: Over 2500 Years of Searching for Truth

Mr. Buddha: When you hear this name, many people might think of you as the founder of Buddhism.

However, Buddha was not a god, but a human being who was born into this world and gained "enlightenment" through suffering.

During his life 2500 years ago, there are many suggestions and learnings for us living in the present age.

In this article, we will trace the life of Buddha and delve into what he saw, what he realized, and what the essence of Buddhism is.

The Birth of Buddha and Its Background

Siddatta was born as a prince of the Buddha tribe.

Buddha, whose real name is Gautama Siddatta, was born around 563 BC in what is now Nepal.

His origin was a prince of a small country called the Shaka tribe, and his father, the Pure Rice King, ruled this small kingdom.

Birth as a prince was a great joy for the family, and he was expected to be a future emperor.

However, it is said that its birth was accompanied by a number of mysterious events.

Mrs. Maya s Dream and the Miracle of Birth

It is said that when Mrs. Maya, the mother of Buddha, conceived Siddatta, she had a vision of a white elephant in her dream.

This dream was interpreted by the ancient Indian astrologers as a sign of the birth of a great man.

On her way home to give birth, she gave birth to Buddha in the Garden of Lumbini.

Legend has it that Siddatta, who was born, immediately walked seven steps and declared himself "the only god in the world."

This word symbolizes the Buddha's idea that all life is equally precious.

2. The Suffering of Life that Sprouted in Childhood and Boyhood

· Siddatta to touch the world of the weak

As a child, Siddatta lived a comfortable life in the royal palace.

But one event has a big impact on his mind.

It was during a ritual in a farmland that insects appeared from the dug up soil, a small bird caught it, and then witnessed the scene where the small bird was preyed on by raptors.

It is said that Siddatta, who came into contact with the reality of this "diet of the weak," felt that "the world is full of suffering" and sank deeply into thought.

· Zazen in childhood and events that surprised the surroundings

This thought led him to meditation.

It is said that one day when he was 12 years old, when he practiced zazen for the first time under a big tree, a miracle happened, as if time had stopped.

As the sun moved, the shade of the tree where he sat did not move, and there was a mysterious silence around him.

When my father and the people around him saw this event, they said that they realized once again how special Siddatta was.

3. Experience of "Shimon Deyu" who decided to become a priest

・ Encounters with old age, illness and death

Growing up, Siddatta lived a life of luxury in the royal palace at her father's will, but had few opportunities to know the reality of the outside world.

However, one day, the experience of going out from the four gates of the castle, north, south, east and west, will change his life greatly.

At the east gate, I met an old man and learned the reality of human aging.

At the South Gate, you will witness the suffering of the sick and learn the inevitable suffering of illness.

And at the west gate, I saw the dead and faced the inevitable fate of "death."

These encounters gave him a strong recognition that "life is full of suffering."

・ The turning point brought by the encounter with Shamon

Finally, at the North Gate, you meet the monk Shamon.

It transcended suffering and was filled with silence.

By this encounter with Shamon, Siddatta came to think that "I want to overcome suffering through training myself."

Thus, at the age of 29, Siddatta decided to leave his wife and children behind and become a monk. Behind this decision was a strong desire for freedom from the suffering of life.

4. The State of Enlightenment at the End of Penance

Days of penance and meditation.

After entering priesthood, Siddatta continued his severe penance.

It is said that he practiced beyond human limitations, such as standing on one foot and staring at the sun with the naked eye.

It is also said that as a result of fasting and training without eating or drinking for 42 days, he became a body with only bones and skin.

Such penance was considered a means of enlightenment among the monks of the time, but Siddatta felt that continued penance did not lead to true enlightenment.

Realizing the meaninglessness of penance.

One day he listened to a song sung by a passing peasant.

The lyrics were "If you tighten the string too much, it will break. If you loosen it too much, there will be no sound."

From this word, he realizes that extreme penance is meaningless and comes to the idea of the Middle Way.

It is a way of life that avoids extremes such as pleasure and penance and maintains an appropriate balance.

This realization paved the way to later enlightenment.

Buddha's Enlightenment and the Core of Buddhist Teachings

· Enlightenment obtained under the bodhi tree

Realizing the meaninglessness of penance, Siddatta began meditating under a bodhi tree after recovering his strength on the Nyurenzen River near the Ganges.

He resolved that he would not rise until he found the truth, and he immersed himself in deep meditation.

According to legend, the demon Mara was afraid and tried to prevent his enlightenment, but Siddatta continued to meditate without wavering.

And one dawn, he finally gains "enlightenment."

In this enlightenment, he understood thirst (desire), which is the cause of life s suffering (suffering), and the way to overcome it.

This made him a "Buddha (Awakened One)" and he would devote the rest of his life to communicating this truth.

Teachings of the Middle Path and the Eightfold Path

Siddatta, who gained enlightenment, showed the Middle Path and the Eightfold Path.

Middle Way means avoiding extreme ways of living such as pleasure and penance and maintaining a moderate balance.

He preached that this would free him from the sufferings of life.

The Eightfold Path is a concrete practice method for attaining enlightenment and consists of the following eight.

Shoken: The right way to see things.

2. Right Thinking: The Right Way of Thinking

3. Shogo: Correct use of words

Shogo: The right thing to do

Shomyo: The Right Way to Live

6. Shoshojin: Right effort

7. Shonen: The Right Awareness

8. Shojo: Right concentration of mind

This teaching can be practiced by anyone in their daily lives and can reduce the suffering in life and ultimately lead to liberation.

6. Message that Buddhism conveys to the modern age

・ Learning from the life of Buddha "freedom from suffering"

The teachings that Buddha preached 2500 years ago still influence many people today.

The idea of knowing the cause of life's suffering and overcoming it in the right way is still valid in modern society.

We have many troubles such as work, human relationships, financial pressure, etc., but the teachings of Buddha's "Middle Way" suggest a way of life that is not swayed by such troubles.

It can be stressful to seek too much "perfectionism."

In such a situation, "moderation" is the key to the solution.

The idea of the "middle way" that Buddha calls can be used in such everyday situations.

・ The spirit of the "middle way" necessary for modern people

In modern society, extreme choices can be touted.

While excessive efficiency and pursuit of profit are emphasized, there are also lifestyles that abandon everything.

However, what Buddha's teachings show is the importance of maintaining balance without being biased towards either of them.

In addition, the practice of "Jinen (mindfulness)" included in the Eightfold Path is currently attracting attention in many scenes.

Jonen is the idea of "focusing on the present moment and living consciously."

This can reduce anxiety and stress and restore peace of mind.

This teaching, taught by Buddha, is also widely used in modern psychotherapy and stress management.

Conclusion: A rich life guided by the teachings of Buddha

When we trace the life of Buddha, we realize that the questions and troubles he had are not so different from those of us living in the present age.

The teachings of the Middle Path and the Eightfold Path that he discovered are universal truths that reduce the suffering of life and lead to a happy way of life.

How we adopt the teachings of Buddha is up to us.

In your daily life, you will be able to live a spiritually rich life by re-examining your mind and being conscious of maintaining a moderate balance.

Every time we touch the words of Buddha, we can gain new awareness.

That's it for today.

Thank you for watching until the end.

Buddhism Buddha # enlightenment The Nakamichi The Eighth Path