Gautam Buddha – The Light of Asia

LIFE, TEACHINGS, AND LEGACY

1^ST SEM NEP

BY

DR. JAGDIP KUMAR CHOWHAN

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY_______

Early Life

• Real Name: Siddhartha Gautama

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• Born: 563 BCE in Lumbini (present-day Nepal)

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• Father: King Suddhodana
• Mother: Queen Maya Devi

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• Childhood: Grew up in luxury in Kapilavastu

Renunciation

• Married Princess Yashodhara and had a son, Rahul

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• Saw the Four Sights – old man, sick man, dead man, and monk

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• Left palace at age 29 in search of truth and end of suffering

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• This journey is called the Great Renunciation

Enlightenment

• Meditated under the Bodhi Tree at Bodh Gaya

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• Gained Enlightenment after 49 days of meditation

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• Became Gautam Buddha – “The Enlightened One”

Teachings

• The Four Noble Truths:
• - Life is full of suffering (Dukkha)
• - Suffering has a cause (Desire)
• - It can be ended
• - Follow the Eightfold Path

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• Eightfold Path includes:
• Right View, Right Intention, Right Speech,
• Right Action, Right Livelihood, Right Effort,
• Right Mindfulness, Right Concentration

Spread of Buddhism

• Buddha preached in Pali language

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• Traveled and taught across India

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• Gained many followers

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• Buddhism spread to Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Myanmar, and more

Death (Mahaparinirvana)

• Died at Kushinagar at age 80

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• Attained Mahaparinirvana – final liberation from rebirth

Legacy

• Founder of Buddhism

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• Promoted peace, non-violence, and compassion

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• Inspired Emperor Ashoka to spread Buddhism

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• Famous Buddhist sites: Sarnath, Bodh Gaya, Lumbini, Kushinagar

Quotes of Buddha

• “Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.”

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• “Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth.”

Conclusion

• Gautam Buddha was a great teacher and philosopher

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• His life teaches us to be kind, wise, and peaceful

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• His message of love and non-violence is needed even today