Buddhism

Gautama Buddha

Life

  • Birth: 623 BC – Lumbini (Nepal)
  • Death: 483 BC – Kushinagar
  • Father: Suddhodana (Sakya clan)
  • Mother: Mahamaya
  • Stepmother: Mahaprajapati Gautami → 1st Bhikkhuni
  • Wife: Yashodhara, Son: Rahul

Renunciation & Teachers

  • Left home at 29 years (Mahabhinishkramana)
  • Teachers:
    • Alara Kalama
    • Udraka Ramputra

Enlightenment & Teaching

  • Enlightenment: Bodh Gaya (Uruvela) → under Bodhi Tree (Niranjana river)
  • 1st Sermon: Sarnath → Dharmachakrapravartana

Symbols

  • Lotus → Birth
  • Horse → Renunciation
  • Bodhi Tree → Enlightenment
  • Wheel (Dharma Chakra) → First Sermon
  • Stupa → Death

Philosophy

Four Noble Truths

  • Life is full of suffering
  • Cause = Desire
  • End of suffering possible
  • Path = Eightfold Path

Eightfold Path

  • Right View, Intention, Speech, Action
  • Right Livelihood, Effort, Mindfulness, Concentration

Buddhist Councils

1st Council (480 BC – Rajgriha)

  • King: Ajatashatru, Head: Mahakasyapa

2nd Council (383 BC – Vaishali)

  • King: Kalasoka, Head: Sabakami

3rd Council (250 BC – Pataliputra)

  • King: Ashoka, Head: Moggaliputta Tissa

4th Council (72 AD – Kashmir)

  • King: Kanishka, Head: Vasumitra
  • Division: Mahayana & Hinayana

Sects

Hinayana

  • No idol worship
  • Language: Pali

Mahayana

  • Idol worship
  • Language: Sanskrit
  • Concept of Bodhisattva

Vajrayana

  • Tantric Buddhism

Buddhist Texts

Pali (Tripitaka)

  • Sutta Pitaka → teachings
  • Vinaya Pitaka → rules
  • Abhidhamma Pitaka → philosophy
  • Milindapanho → Milinda & Nagasena dialogue

Sanskrit

  • Buddhacharita (Ashvaghosha)
  • Jataka Tales → previous births

Terms

  • Chaitya → prayer hall
  • Vihara → residence
  • Dhamma → teachings
  • Stupa → relic structure

Stupas

  • Kesariya (Bihar) → largest
  • Dhamek (Sarnath)
  • Ramabhar (Kushinagar)
  • Sanchi (MP)
  • Borobudur (Indonesia)

Universities

  • Nalanda – Kumaragupta I
  • Vikramshila – Dharmapala
  • Odantapuri – Gopala

🔥 Memory Tricks

  • “L-B-S-K = Lumbini → Bodh Gaya → Sarnath → Kushinagar”
  • “D-E-P = Desire → End → Path”
  • “H = No Idol, M = Idol”

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top