|
BUDDHA
|
ABOUT BUDDHA
One of the Great Teachers of mankind was Siddhartha Gautama, known also as Shakyamuni or Gautama Buddha. Siddhartha Gautama was born into a royal family in ancient India about five centuries B.C. During the celebration of His birth, a sage prophesized that the boy will become either a great king of a great holy man. His father desiring to make Siddhartha a king, shielded Him from religious education and from the knowledge about human suffering. For a long time, prince Siddhartha lived a luxury life in the royal palace, until one day, during a trip outside the palace, He learned about the poverty and suffering of people. After this discovery, He decided to leave the royal palace and dedicate Himself to seeking the cause of human suffering and the way to liberation from it. After many years of spiritual search and meditation, He achieved the state of Nirvana (full Self-realization). Since that time He began to preach His Teachings to people. As all other Great Teachers, Gautama Buddha preached first of all LOVE, which one can achieve in calm and lowliness of mind by developing oneself as a spiritual heart. He taught also the true simplicity in life (including abandonment of material attachments), loving and compassionate attitude toward other living beings, and attainment of the highest Self-realization in Mergence with the Primordial Consciousness. First, let us consider some important quotations
from the homilies of the Founder of Buddhism, and then — sayings
of some Teachers of Buddhism, Who attained the Perfection in the
past and are willing now to provide Their spiritual help to
everyone who wants to walk Their Path.
|
