Постинг
25.09.2020 23:35 -
The last days of Siddhartha Gautama - Afterword and Glossary
Afterword
With the sermon at Isipatana (today Sarnath) which was later called “Turning the wheel of Dharma” or “The first sermon”, began the forty-five years of preaching and missionary activity of the sage Gautama, the prince of the Sakyas, the one who achieved full enlightenment. It was he who the world called Buddha – the Fully Awakened One. For many years his tall, broad-shouldered and honourable figure could be seen at market-places and bazaars in the cities and smaller towns around the Middle country, on broad roads and small paths. Buddha did not avoid meeting anyone who wished to be taught or find refuge in his Doctrine. He associated with kings, Brahmans and rich merchants as well as common people like craftsmen, fishermen and farmers, people from all the castes of ancient India. After visiting Rajagaha (today Rajgir) in this first year of his missionary, the sage of the Sakyas received as a gift from king Bimba the Veluvana grove where a Buddhist monastery was later founded. Called vihara, it was a centre in which the monks gathered mainly during the rainy season. Another famous centre of that time was founded in Jetavana garden, donated to the Sangha by the rich merchant Anathapindika in Savatthi, the capital of Kosala. In Rajagaha, during this first visit of Siddhartha Gautama, he was joined by the two most prominent of his students and followers – Sariputra and Maudgalyayana. Soon after that, or seven years after leaving Kapilavastu, the prince returned to the capital of the Sakyas, but this time as Fully Awakened One. His meeting with Yasodara, king Sudhodana and his son Rahula and other relatives and associates of the kings family is relatively well preserved and described in the Buddhist literature. It is hard to retell, even briefly, all the talks, meetings, deeds and teachings of the Blessed One during his forty five years missionary activity. All of them are described in a considerable number of texts and other literature. The main core of this literature, regarded as the most authentic, is the so called Buddhist canon – records in Pali language, created by the group of the elder (Theravada). In addition, writings revealing biographical features concerning the life of Buddha are found in Lalitavistara, attributed to Mahayana school. In the biography of the Awakened One there are several instances where, in order to convince his opponents in the rightness of the Doctrine, he was forced to perform miracles. However he regarded such actions as a last resort and did not encourage them. Best known is the miracle in Savatthi when, after a hard and fruitless discussion between the Awakened One and the leaders of six famous sects, he projected his body into the air in a thousand different aspects, so that all the participants saw a thousand images of Buddha at the same time. Gradually the teachings of the Middle way, of the Four noble truths, of temperance, tolerance and non violence, combined constantly with the personal example of the Awakened One, won numerous followers across North India, and, during the course of time, spread beyond the boundaries of the ancient Jabudvipa. After four and a half decades of missionary work, comprising the building and organizing of a new order of thousands of followers and even more lay followers, happened the end of the earthly path of the Perfect One, the so called Parinirvana. The description of this final nirvana in the Buddhist literature is also quite detailed. At the age of eighty, with a faint body because of his years, the Blessed One heads to his home town to meet death, but his last stop on the way is Kushinagara (today Kushinagar), the capital of Malla kingdom. Here he parts with his students saying: “You may think that the teacher is gone, that you have a teacher no more. But do not see things that way. Let the teaching and the rules I gave you be your teacher after my end.” The last words of the Awakened One have been kept: “Now, monks, I declare that all elements that build the body are transient. Strive towards perfection without flinching.”
Glossary:
Aciravati – also known as river Rapti, which springs from the Himalayas and flows southeast before flowing into the river Sardju (Gorga).
Agni (sanskr.) – in the Vedic religion, God of the fire.
Anga – an area near the delta of the Gang, east of Magadha.
Arahant (sanskr.) – a man who has achieved spiritual perfection during his life. The moral ideal of Hinayana Buddhism.
Asvattha (sanskr.) – lat. Ficus religiosa. Tree, later named “Bodhi”, because Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment sitting under one of these impressive trees.
Asvina – month of the year, corresponding to September- October on the Juliano-Gregorian calendar.
Atman (sanskr.) – eternal soul, the same for all the people; one and the same with Brahman – the supreme reality.
Banyan – lat. Ficus benghalensis; worshiped as a tree of desires because it is believed that it can provide clothing, food, decorations and other things.
Benares – modern city of Varanasi (Banaras), located on the left bank of the river Ganges, (Uttar Pradesh).
Bhikkhu (pali) - Buddhist monk, a member of the Buddhist community (the Sangha).
Bodhi – 1. Bodhi tree – sacred tree for the Buddhist under which Siddhartha Gautama received enlightenment, in present Bodhgaya. 2. The ultimate state of consciousness – enlightenment.
Bodhisattva (sanskr.) – a person who is on the way to achieve a perfect knowledge. The moral ideal of Mahayana Buddhism.
Brahma – in Hindu tradition - the higher God, creator of the universe.
Brahma Sahampati – a senior representative of Brahma’s world. Sometimes it is represented with four faces, facing in the four directions.
Brahman – 1. The absolute, the ultimate reality, base of and the reason of all that exists. 2. See Brahmin.
Brahmin – a member of the highest, priestly caste, traditionally a bearer of the highest moral qualities.
Castes – also known as “varnas”; four major castes – priests (Brahmins); warriors (Kshatriyas); merchants , craftsmen and farmers (Vaishyas); servants (Shudras).
Deva – an ancient Indian designation of God; appellation of the three main gods in the Indian pantheon.
Dharma (sanskr.) – the doctrine in the form in which it was established. A fundamental concept in Buddhism which, in the course of history, acquires new meanings – text, or collection of texts, of the Buddhist doctrine; condition; moral quality; the teaching of the Buddha.
Eightfold path – serves for understanding the truth and getting closer to enlightenment. Comprises – right view, right intention (resolve), right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration (meditation).
Gaya – the modern city of Gaya (Bihar), near Bodhgaya.
Great river – in the text a signification of the Gang (Ganges). The old name - Ganga.
Himavat – the other name of the Himalayas.
Indra (sanskr.) – the supreme god in the Vedic pantheon, a god of thunders, storms and the wars.
Isipatana – the deer park or the park of the roes. Modern Sarnath, near Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
Jambu – lat. Eugenia jambos, or Syzygium jambos (Malay syzygium). A kind of fruit tree, rose-apple tree, whose homeland is in Southeast Asia.
Jambudvipa – the ancient designation of India (jambu – rose-apple tree and dvipa – island, island continent).
Jatilas (pali) – matted-hair ascetics, fire-worshippers.
Karma (sanskr.) – action; in the Indian mythology “a law of the retribution”, according to which, in accordance with the good or evil deeds accomplished by a living creature, it gets its next rebirth.
Kapilavastu (sanskr.)– the capital of the Sakya clan. The modern city of Piprahwa (India) or Tilaurakot (Nepal), both near the Indo-Nepalian border.
Koliyas – a small kingdom, neighbouring the Sakyas on the east. The capital of the Koliyas is Ramagama (Koliyanagara).
Kosala – big kingdom, neighbouring the Sakyas on the southwest, who also lead their royal family from the Kosalas. The capital of the Kosalas is Savatthi.
Kshatriyans – caste of the warriors, who were also administrators.
Kusha – lat. Poa cynosuroides; type of grass used for bedding.
Lumbini – a park, on the territory of Nepal, near the border with India. Lumbini is revered as a place of peace and understanding.
Magadha – big kingdom, on the right bank of the Ganges. According to some interpretations “land of the magicians” or “middle country”. The capital of Magadha was initially Rajagaha, then Pataliputra.
Malla– a small kingdom, neighbouring the Sakyas on the south east. The main cities of the Malla are Pava and Kushinagara.
Mara – Master of temptation and also a personification of death. Frequent companion and opponent of the future Buddha, after his renunciation.
Middle country (land) – the appellation of North India in the past.
Namuci – the evil enemy of Indra; appellation used by Siddhartha for addressing Mara the Tempter.
Neranjara (pali) – a river, that runs near Bodhgaya and Gaya.
Niggantha (pali) – “free from fetters”, name adopted by the Jains, followers of Mahavira (Jina), a contemporary of Buddha.
Nirvana (sanskr.) – “extinction”, “cessation”, “suppression”. According to another interpretation – “liberation from desires”. Nirvana is one of the basic concepts in Buddhism and is the ultimate goal of every Buddhist.
Parivrajaka (sanskr.) – wandering homeless coming out of the Brahmans’ caste.
Parinirvana – final (complete) nirvana. It’s used most often for the condition of final non-retrieval, which expects the Awakened One after the end of his earthly body.
Rajagaha (Rajagriha) - modern city of Rajgir (Bihar), the ancient capital of Magadha.
Rishi (sanskr.) – 1. The first beings, created by Brahma. 2. Wise, holy person; prophet.
Sacred songs – in the text a synonym of the Vedas.
Salva (Sal tree) – lat. Shorea robusta. A kind of deciduous tree, reaching up to 40 m. high.
Sakyas (Shakyas) – one of the Aries tribes, that settled in North India, in the II mil. B.C., coming from Iran’s territory or from Central Asia. The capital of the Sakyas is Kapilavastu.
Sangha (sanskr.) – the community of the Buddhist monks. Today it is a name for all the Buddhist monks and nuns around the world.
Senani (Senanigama) – a village close to Uruvela, situated at the other side of the river Neranjara.
Sitar – a stringed instrument.
Snowy mountains – in the text a descriptivedefinition of the Himalayas.
Sramana (samana) – wandering homeless coming from the different castes (except that of the Brahmins), which follow different teachings.
Sutra (sanskr.) – sacred words; a text comprising religious dogmas, often in measured speech.
Tathagata (sanskr.) – this name can be translated as “Thus come one” or “Thus gone one”. One of the epithets with which the Awakened One called himself.
Upanishads – philosophical treatises, written on the basis of the Vedas. The Upanishads first occurred in the VII century B.C.
Uruvela – the ancient name of the present Bodhgaya (Bihar).
Varuna – 1. In the Vedas – the supreme god creator of the earth, sky and stars. 2. River which flows into Ganges near Varanasi.
Vassa – an indication of the rainy season, lasting about three months, approximately from July to September.
Vedas (sanskr.) – sacred songs, or hymns, brought from the Aries around the II mil. B.C. and spread gradually across North India, from west to the east. Four main songs – Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda.
Vesaka (pali) – month of the year, corresponding to April- May of the Juliano-Gregorian calendar.
With the sermon at Isipatana (today Sarnath) which was later called “Turning the wheel of Dharma” or “The first sermon”, began the forty-five years of preaching and missionary activity of the sage Gautama, the prince of the Sakyas, the one who achieved full enlightenment. It was he who the world called Buddha – the Fully Awakened One. For many years his tall, broad-shouldered and honourable figure could be seen at market-places and bazaars in the cities and smaller towns around the Middle country, on broad roads and small paths. Buddha did not avoid meeting anyone who wished to be taught or find refuge in his Doctrine. He associated with kings, Brahmans and rich merchants as well as common people like craftsmen, fishermen and farmers, people from all the castes of ancient India. After visiting Rajagaha (today Rajgir) in this first year of his missionary, the sage of the Sakyas received as a gift from king Bimba the Veluvana grove where a Buddhist monastery was later founded. Called vihara, it was a centre in which the monks gathered mainly during the rainy season. Another famous centre of that time was founded in Jetavana garden, donated to the Sangha by the rich merchant Anathapindika in Savatthi, the capital of Kosala. In Rajagaha, during this first visit of Siddhartha Gautama, he was joined by the two most prominent of his students and followers – Sariputra and Maudgalyayana. Soon after that, or seven years after leaving Kapilavastu, the prince returned to the capital of the Sakyas, but this time as Fully Awakened One. His meeting with Yasodara, king Sudhodana and his son Rahula and other relatives and associates of the kings family is relatively well preserved and described in the Buddhist literature. It is hard to retell, even briefly, all the talks, meetings, deeds and teachings of the Blessed One during his forty five years missionary activity. All of them are described in a considerable number of texts and other literature. The main core of this literature, regarded as the most authentic, is the so called Buddhist canon – records in Pali language, created by the group of the elder (Theravada). In addition, writings revealing biographical features concerning the life of Buddha are found in Lalitavistara, attributed to Mahayana school. In the biography of the Awakened One there are several instances where, in order to convince his opponents in the rightness of the Doctrine, he was forced to perform miracles. However he regarded such actions as a last resort and did not encourage them. Best known is the miracle in Savatthi when, after a hard and fruitless discussion between the Awakened One and the leaders of six famous sects, he projected his body into the air in a thousand different aspects, so that all the participants saw a thousand images of Buddha at the same time. Gradually the teachings of the Middle way, of the Four noble truths, of temperance, tolerance and non violence, combined constantly with the personal example of the Awakened One, won numerous followers across North India, and, during the course of time, spread beyond the boundaries of the ancient Jabudvipa. After four and a half decades of missionary work, comprising the building and organizing of a new order of thousands of followers and even more lay followers, happened the end of the earthly path of the Perfect One, the so called Parinirvana. The description of this final nirvana in the Buddhist literature is also quite detailed. At the age of eighty, with a faint body because of his years, the Blessed One heads to his home town to meet death, but his last stop on the way is Kushinagara (today Kushinagar), the capital of Malla kingdom. Here he parts with his students saying: “You may think that the teacher is gone, that you have a teacher no more. But do not see things that way. Let the teaching and the rules I gave you be your teacher after my end.” The last words of the Awakened One have been kept: “Now, monks, I declare that all elements that build the body are transient. Strive towards perfection without flinching.”
Glossary:
Aciravati – also known as river Rapti, which springs from the Himalayas and flows southeast before flowing into the river Sardju (Gorga).
Agni (sanskr.) – in the Vedic religion, God of the fire.
Anga – an area near the delta of the Gang, east of Magadha.
Arahant (sanskr.) – a man who has achieved spiritual perfection during his life. The moral ideal of Hinayana Buddhism.
Asvattha (sanskr.) – lat. Ficus religiosa. Tree, later named “Bodhi”, because Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment sitting under one of these impressive trees.
Asvina – month of the year, corresponding to September- October on the Juliano-Gregorian calendar.
Atman (sanskr.) – eternal soul, the same for all the people; one and the same with Brahman – the supreme reality.
Banyan – lat. Ficus benghalensis; worshiped as a tree of desires because it is believed that it can provide clothing, food, decorations and other things.
Benares – modern city of Varanasi (Banaras), located on the left bank of the river Ganges, (Uttar Pradesh).
Bhikkhu (pali) - Buddhist monk, a member of the Buddhist community (the Sangha).
Bodhi – 1. Bodhi tree – sacred tree for the Buddhist under which Siddhartha Gautama received enlightenment, in present Bodhgaya. 2. The ultimate state of consciousness – enlightenment.
Bodhisattva (sanskr.) – a person who is on the way to achieve a perfect knowledge. The moral ideal of Mahayana Buddhism.
Brahma – in Hindu tradition - the higher God, creator of the universe.
Brahma Sahampati – a senior representative of Brahma’s world. Sometimes it is represented with four faces, facing in the four directions.
Brahman – 1. The absolute, the ultimate reality, base of and the reason of all that exists. 2. See Brahmin.
Brahmin – a member of the highest, priestly caste, traditionally a bearer of the highest moral qualities.
Castes – also known as “varnas”; four major castes – priests (Brahmins); warriors (Kshatriyas); merchants , craftsmen and farmers (Vaishyas); servants (Shudras).
Deva – an ancient Indian designation of God; appellation of the three main gods in the Indian pantheon.
Dharma (sanskr.) – the doctrine in the form in which it was established. A fundamental concept in Buddhism which, in the course of history, acquires new meanings – text, or collection of texts, of the Buddhist doctrine; condition; moral quality; the teaching of the Buddha.
Eightfold path – serves for understanding the truth and getting closer to enlightenment. Comprises – right view, right intention (resolve), right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, right concentration (meditation).
Gaya – the modern city of Gaya (Bihar), near Bodhgaya.
Great river – in the text a signification of the Gang (Ganges). The old name - Ganga.
Himavat – the other name of the Himalayas.
Indra (sanskr.) – the supreme god in the Vedic pantheon, a god of thunders, storms and the wars.
Isipatana – the deer park or the park of the roes. Modern Sarnath, near Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh).
Jambu – lat. Eugenia jambos, or Syzygium jambos (Malay syzygium). A kind of fruit tree, rose-apple tree, whose homeland is in Southeast Asia.
Jambudvipa – the ancient designation of India (jambu – rose-apple tree and dvipa – island, island continent).
Jatilas (pali) – matted-hair ascetics, fire-worshippers.
Karma (sanskr.) – action; in the Indian mythology “a law of the retribution”, according to which, in accordance with the good or evil deeds accomplished by a living creature, it gets its next rebirth.
Kapilavastu (sanskr.)– the capital of the Sakya clan. The modern city of Piprahwa (India) or Tilaurakot (Nepal), both near the Indo-Nepalian border.
Koliyas – a small kingdom, neighbouring the Sakyas on the east. The capital of the Koliyas is Ramagama (Koliyanagara).
Kosala – big kingdom, neighbouring the Sakyas on the southwest, who also lead their royal family from the Kosalas. The capital of the Kosalas is Savatthi.
Kshatriyans – caste of the warriors, who were also administrators.
Kusha – lat. Poa cynosuroides; type of grass used for bedding.
Lumbini – a park, on the territory of Nepal, near the border with India. Lumbini is revered as a place of peace and understanding.
Magadha – big kingdom, on the right bank of the Ganges. According to some interpretations “land of the magicians” or “middle country”. The capital of Magadha was initially Rajagaha, then Pataliputra.
Malla– a small kingdom, neighbouring the Sakyas on the south east. The main cities of the Malla are Pava and Kushinagara.
Mara – Master of temptation and also a personification of death. Frequent companion and opponent of the future Buddha, after his renunciation.
Middle country (land) – the appellation of North India in the past.
Namuci – the evil enemy of Indra; appellation used by Siddhartha for addressing Mara the Tempter.
Neranjara (pali) – a river, that runs near Bodhgaya and Gaya.
Niggantha (pali) – “free from fetters”, name adopted by the Jains, followers of Mahavira (Jina), a contemporary of Buddha.
Nirvana (sanskr.) – “extinction”, “cessation”, “suppression”. According to another interpretation – “liberation from desires”. Nirvana is one of the basic concepts in Buddhism and is the ultimate goal of every Buddhist.
Parivrajaka (sanskr.) – wandering homeless coming out of the Brahmans’ caste.
Parinirvana – final (complete) nirvana. It’s used most often for the condition of final non-retrieval, which expects the Awakened One after the end of his earthly body.
Rajagaha (Rajagriha) - modern city of Rajgir (Bihar), the ancient capital of Magadha.
Rishi (sanskr.) – 1. The first beings, created by Brahma. 2. Wise, holy person; prophet.
Sacred songs – in the text a synonym of the Vedas.
Salva (Sal tree) – lat. Shorea robusta. A kind of deciduous tree, reaching up to 40 m. high.
Sakyas (Shakyas) – one of the Aries tribes, that settled in North India, in the II mil. B.C., coming from Iran’s territory or from Central Asia. The capital of the Sakyas is Kapilavastu.
Sangha (sanskr.) – the community of the Buddhist monks. Today it is a name for all the Buddhist monks and nuns around the world.
Senani (Senanigama) – a village close to Uruvela, situated at the other side of the river Neranjara.
Sitar – a stringed instrument.
Snowy mountains – in the text a descriptivedefinition of the Himalayas.
Sramana (samana) – wandering homeless coming from the different castes (except that of the Brahmins), which follow different teachings.
Sutra (sanskr.) – sacred words; a text comprising religious dogmas, often in measured speech.
Tathagata (sanskr.) – this name can be translated as “Thus come one” or “Thus gone one”. One of the epithets with which the Awakened One called himself.
Upanishads – philosophical treatises, written on the basis of the Vedas. The Upanishads first occurred in the VII century B.C.
Uruvela – the ancient name of the present Bodhgaya (Bihar).
Varuna – 1. In the Vedas – the supreme god creator of the earth, sky and stars. 2. River which flows into Ganges near Varanasi.
Vassa – an indication of the rainy season, lasting about three months, approximately from July to September.
Vedas (sanskr.) – sacred songs, or hymns, brought from the Aries around the II mil. B.C. and spread gradually across North India, from west to the east. Four main songs – Rig Veda, Sama Veda, Yajur Veda, Atharva Veda.
Vesaka (pali) – month of the year, corresponding to April- May of the Juliano-Gregorian calendar.
Следващ постинг
Предишен постинг
Търсене
