Buddha
Buddham Sharanam Gacchaami
Did you know that:
The Full Moon Day of the month of Vaishaakha (May) is the:
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The Birthday of Gautama Buddha
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The Renunciation day of Gautama Buddha
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The Enlightenment day (Nirvaana) day of Gautama Buddha.
Buddha was born near Kapilavastu in Nepalese Terai.
Buddhists
associate Mansarovar with the legendary Anotatta Lake, where Buddha's mother,
Queen Maya, conceived him. Legend says that the Queen, while in a dream state,
was transported to Mansarovar by the Gods and bathed in the lake's holy waters.
When her body was purified and her womb thus ready to receive Buddha, he
appeared from the direction of Kailash riding a white elephant.
Above paragraph
information from:
http://www.kailashmansarovar.org/
At his
birth-site stands an engraved pillar, erected by Ashoka proclaiming: 'Here the
Buddha was born!' Here Siddhartha lived a life of luxury up to the age of 29
years. After the young prince witnessed 'old age', 'sickness' and 'death', the
future Buddha renounced his princely life in search of the key to 'freedom from
sorrow'.
After 7 years of severe austerities, Buddha went into a state of
deep meditation and attained 'Nirvaana' (Enlightenment) under the shade of a
peepal tree in Bodh Gaya, 6 miles south of Gaya in Bihar.
'Budh' means 'knowledge'
Buddha attained Supreme Nirvaana in his 80th year after
spreading his wondrous message to so many. When Buddha was asked if he was
enlightened, he replied: "I am awake"
Vivekananda considered Buddha to be a great seeker, probably the
'greatest'
Though Buddha was fearless and bent to neither caste nor
traditions, he was extremely kind and loving.
Today, on the full moon day of the month of Vaisaakha, let us
pay homage to the man who taught humanity to follow the 'Middle Path' (Not too
much austerity, not too much indulgence)
Who expounded the theory that Desire is the root of all
suffering.
And who preached and urged man to practice compassion and to
have love in their hearts for their fellow beings on earth. Probably some of the
qualities that one must aspire for in excess.
Thought 2
The Four Noble Truths that the Great Buddha pondered upon are:
1 The existence of suffering.
2 The causes of suffering
3 The cessation of suffering
4 The path that leads to the cessation of suffering - this is known as the
Noble Eightfold Path and is divided into Shila - moral discipline comprising
of Right Speech, Right Action, Right Livelihood, then Samatha or developing Mental
Discipline by meditation. It is made up of Right Effort, Right Right
Awareness and Right Concentration. Finally there is prajna or wisdom that
comprises Right View and Right Thought.
Read
Budhha and his teachings (Dadi Nani ki Kahaani)
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