Buddhism Notes with PDF

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The Life of Gautama Buddha

1. Early Life & Family

• Birth:
  • Born in 563 B.C. in Lumbini (modern-day Nepal).
  • Born into the Shakya Kshatriya clan.
• Family:
  • Father: King Shuddhodana (ruler of the Shakya clan).
  • Mother: Queen Mayadevi (from the Koliyan clan).
• The Great Departure (Mahabhinishkramana):
  • Left home at the age of 29.
  • Departed on his horse “Kantaka” with his charioteer Channa.

2. Key Life Events

• Enlightenment (Nirvana):
  • Attained enlightenment at the age of 35.
  • Location: Under a peepal tree (Bodhi Tree) in Bodh Gaya.
  • Defeated the demon Mara.
• First Sermon (Dharmachakrapravartana):
  • Delivered at Deer Park, Sarnath.
• Final Days and Death (Mahaparinirvana):
  • Last Rainy Season: Spent in Vaishali.
  • Last Convert: Subhadda.
  • Last Meal: Ate Sukaramaddava (likely pork), offered by the blacksmith Chund in Pava. This caused his illness.
  • Died at the age of 80 in 483 B.C. in Kushinagar (capital of the Malla republic).

3. Core Teachings & Concepts

• Fundamental Beliefs:
  • Believed in Karma, Rebirth, and the goal of attaining Nirvana (defined as “the extinction of the flame of desire”).
  • Did not believe in the power of a creator God or the authority of the Vedas.
  • Core doctrines include Anitya (अनित्य – Impermanence), Anatmavada  (अनात्मवाद – No-Self), Kshanikavada (क्षणिकवाद – Momentariness), and Pratityasamutpada (प्रतित्यसमुत्पाद – Dependent Origination).
• The Four Noble Truths:
  1. There is suffering (Dukkha).
  2. There is a cause of suffering (Dukkha Samudaya).
  3. There is a cessation of suffering (Dukkha Nirodha).
  4. There is a path leading to the cessation of suffering (the Noble Eightfold Path).
• The Noble Eightfold Path: The way to end suffering, central to the Dharmachakrapravartana Sutta.
• The Triratna (Three Jewels): Buddha, Dhamma (teachings), and Sangha (monastic community).
• Nature of Teachings: Focused on the purity of personal conduct over religious rituals.

The Buddhist Community (Sangha) & Texts

1. The Sangha

• Leadership:
  • Devadatta tried to take over the leadership during Buddha’s lifetime.
  • Buddha did not appoint a successor after his death.
• Inclusion: Women were allowed to join as Bhikshunis at Vaishali. The first ordained woman was Mahaprajapati Gautami (Buddha’s foster mother).
• Practices:
  • Pavarana Ceremony: Held at the end of the rainy season retreat (Varshavas) for monks to confess offenses.

2. Buddhist Scriptures (Tripitaka)

• Vinaya Pitaka: Rules for monastic life.
• Sutta Pitaka: Sermons and ethical teachings of Buddha.
• Abhidhamma Pitaka: Philosophical analysis and doctrine (contains texts like Yamaka).

Buddhist Councils

Major Buddhist Sects

1. Hinayana (Theravada)

• Sects: Sthaviravadins, Sautrantika, Sammitiya.
• Features: Focus on original teachings, monastic discipline, and individual liberation. Did not practise idol worship.
• Site: The largest rock-cut Chaitya hall of this phase is at Karle (Maharashtra).

2. Mahayana

• Formal Emergence: During the reign of Kanishka at the Fourth Council.
• Features:
  • Deification of Buddha and beginning of idol worship (the first human statues worshipped in India were of Buddha).
  • Concept of Bodhisattva (a compassionate being who delays their own salvation to help others) is central.
  • Path of Paramitas (perfections) leading to Bodhisattvahood.
• Sects: Lokottaravadin (an offshoot of the Mahasanghika sect), Sarvastivadin.
• Bodhisattva: Avalokitesvara (also known as Padmapani – Lotus-Bearer).

3. Others

• Vajrayana: Prominent from the 8th century onwards.
• Neo-Buddhism: Modern reinterpretation by B.R. Ambedkar, focusing on social equality and rejecting karma, rebirth, and monasticism.

Sacred Sites, Architecture & Art

1. The Four Main Pilgrimage Sites & Symbols

• Lumbini: Birthplace. Symbolized by a Lotus. (Confirmed by Ashoka’s Rummindei Pillar Inscription).
• Bodh Gaya: Place of Enlightenment. Symbolized by the Bodhi Tree.
  • Situated on the bank of the Niranjana River.
  • The current Bodhi tree is the fifth-generation descendant (original destroyed by King Shashank).
  • Mahabodhi Temple built here to mark the site.
• Sarnath: Place of First Sermon. Symbolized by a Wheel (Dharma Chakra) and Deer.
• Kushinagar: Place of Death (Mahaparinirvana). Symbolized by a Stupa. Home to the Mahaparinirvana Temple.

2. Other Key Sites & Universities

• Rajgir: A major Buddhist holy place. Home to the world’s highest Vishwa Shanti Stupa (World Peace Pagoda).
• Nalanda: Great seat of Buddhist learning, founded by Kumargupta I.
• Vikramshila, Vallabhi, Odantapuri: Other major ancient centers of Buddhist learning.
• Ajanta Caves: Lie in the gorge of the Waghora River.

3. Stupas & Architecture

• Etymology: The word ‘Stupa’ first appears in the Rigveda, meaning a mound or heap.
• Chaitya: Prayer hall.
• Vihara: Dwelling place for monks.
• Chronological Order of Stupas: Bharhut → Sanchi (ancient name: Kaknam) → Amaravati → Dhamekh.
• Sanchi Stupa is not directly connected to any event in Buddha’s life.

4. Buddhist Art & Iconography

• Origin: The first standing Buddha statues emerged during the Kushana period (Gandhara & Mathura schools).
• Mudras (Hand Gestures):
  • Dharmachakra Mudra: Turning the Wheel of Law (First Sermon at Sarnath).
  • Bhumisparsha Mudra: Earth-touching gesture (calling the Earth to witness his enlightenment at Bodh Gaya). The famous Sarnath image in this mudra is from the Gupta period.

Historical Context, Figures & Spread

1. Associated Kingdoms and Patronage

• Buddha was primarily associated with the kingdoms of Kosala and Magadha.
• He did not have direct associations with Avanti or Gandhara during his lifetime.
• Key Royal Patrons:
  • Ashoka: Built the Ashokaram Monastery in Pataliputra.
  • Kanishka: Convened the 4th Council; patronized Mahayana.
  • King Udayana of Kaushambi (contemporary of Buddha).
  • Balaputradeva, ruler of Suvarnabhumi (Sriwijaya Empire, Sumatra), built a monastery at Nalanda.
• Ruler who persecuted Buddhists: Pushyamitra Shunga.

2. Key Figures

• Teachers: Alara Kalama taught Buddha meditation and Samkhya philosophy.
• Philosophers:
  • Nagarjuna: Propounded the Madhyamika school and the Doctrine of Void (Shunyata). Major work: Madhyamika Karika.
  • Adi Shankaracharya: Later Hindu philosopher sometimes called a ‘Crypto-Buddhist’ for incorporating Buddhist concepts.
• Tibetan Buddhism: The Karmapa Lama belongs to the Kangyupa sect.

3. Terminology

• Parivrajaka / Shramana: A wandering ascetic or monk (not a high-status priest).
• Upasaka: A lay follower of Buddhism.
• Maitreya: The future Buddha, yet to come.

4. Spread and Decline

• Reasons for Expansion:
  • Simplicity of teachings (Middle Path, Non-violence).
  • Appeal to lower castes (challenged Brahmin authority).
  • Use of Pali (a regional language).
  • Missionary efforts.
• Reasons for Decline in India:
  • Absorption of Buddha into Vaishnavism as an incarnation of Vishnu.
  • Loss of state patronage & Muslim invasions (e.g., decline of Nalanda).

5. Buddhism vs. Jainism

• Commonalities:
  • Indifferent to Vedas; denied efficiency of rituals.
  • Believed in Ahimsa, Karma, and Transmigration.
  • Founded by Kshatriyas in 6th century BCE Northern India.
  • Non-theistic (no creator God).
• Differences:
  • Mortification: Jainism advocates self-mortification; Buddhism preaches the Middle Path.
  • Soul: Jainism believes in it; Buddhism denies it (Anatmavada).
  • Varna System: Jainism did not outright condemn it; Buddhism challenged Brahmin supremacy.
  • Salvation: In Jainism, only after death; in Buddhism, possible in one’s lifetime.

Know More about Buddhism:

• Buddhism One Liner Questions & Answers
• Buddhism – Old Year Questions and Answers