Speech on Gautama Buddha

Gautama Buddha, the founder of Buddhism gave a strategic blow to Brahmanism. He freed the common people from the Yoke of polytheism, ritualistic practices and false dogmas. He became the liberator and by his preaching’s eradicated the darkness and thus became the ‘Light of Asia’.

Early Life:

Gautama Buddha was born in 567 or 566 B.C. in Lumbini of the Napalese Tarai. His father was Siddhartha and mother Trisala. He belonged to the royal family of the Sakyas. Since he was brought up by the step mother Gautami, his name was Gautama.

Marriage:

From the very beginning he became disinterested for life. He was married to Yosodhara or Gopa and from her was born a son named Rahula Still then Gautama was not interested for pleasure in life.

Four scenes:

Gautama came across four scenes which changed his life. He first met an old man. Then he met a diseased person, dead man and finally, a sage. The sage looked very cheerful. That is why Gautama thought to leave the palace.

Great Renunciation and enlightenment:

On the full moon light of ‘Baisakh’, he left house and at last he resorted to severe penance. His body became weak. At the forest of Uruvilwa or Daruvilwa, he took milk from a milk-maid Sujata and sat under the Pipal tree near river Niranjana. He was enlightened. After that he has famous as Buddha.

Turning the wheel of law:

Buddha first preached Buddhism near the Deer Park at Saranath which was known as ‘Turning the Wheel of Law’ (Dharma Chakra Pravartana). After that he preached his religion in many places of India He visited places like Kapilavastu, Vailsali, Sravasti, Nalanda, Kusinara, Pava, Kausambi and several other places.

Death:

Buddha preached his religion for more than forty years in India. He created many disciples among whom famous were Sariputta, Upali and Maudgalayana. Atlast he came to a placed named Kusinara in the Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh and breathed his last in 487 or 486 B.C.

Teachings of Gautama Buddha:

The teachings of Gautama Buddha were very simple.

Those are as follows.

Four Noble Truths:

Gautama Buddha had realized the impermanence of the world. He formulated paths for life.

Those paths are known as ‘Four Noble Truths’. Such as:

1. Life is full of sorrow,

2. Pain, disease, old age etc. are the causes of suffering,

3. Desire is the cause of suffering, and

4. There is a path to get rid of the sorrow.

Eight-fold Path:

Buddha formulated ‘Eight-fold Path’ which would destroy the desire of a man.

Those paths are:

1. Proper speech,

2. Proper action,

3. Proper means of livelihood,

4. Proper effort,

5. Proper views,

6. Proper aspiration,

7. Proper mindfulness and

8. Proper contemplation.

These paths use famous as ‘Middle Path’.

Ten Principles:

Buddha formulated ten principles for leading a moral life.

Those principles are:

1. Follow non-violence towards animals,

2. Do not steal,

3. Leave filthy conduct,

4. Do not tell lie,

5. Do not take intoxicants,

6. Avoid comfortable bed,

7. Do not be attracted towards music and dance,

8. Do not take meal untimely,

9. Do not possess gold and other valuable metals,

10. Do not save money.

By following these paths one can lead a blissful life. These were the preconditions for attaining salvation.

Theory of Action:

Gautama Buddha advocated the “theory of Karma” (Karmavada). The condition of man in this world depends upon his own deeds. If one is not free from desire, he is indulged in deeds which prompt him to take birth again and again. This is known as the “Theory of Karma”. If a man resorts to good deeds he is free from vices or sins.

The eight-fold path which prompts a man to follow good conduct will lead to achieve the desired goal. When one becomes free from ‘Karma” he does not take birth again and again. He escapes the bondage of birth and death. Then he attains a place which is frill of bliss. Thus, he attains ‘Nivrana’.

God:

Buddha maintained silence about Gods. Whenever, a question regarding God was asked to Buddha, he remained silent. Buddha was concerned with the deliverance of man from untold sufferings. God did not appear between Buddha’s thinking and teaching. So Buddha maintained a strange silence regarding God and avoided any question on God.

Principle of Non-violence:

Buddha preached non-violence. He emphasized that non­violence was the golden principle which a man should cultivate in his life. He denied killing of animals. Of course, he advised his followers to take meat whenever it was a must to save one’s life. He was the classic example in this matter when he took the mat of a pig offered to him by one of his disciples. However, Mahavir’s principle of non­violence was better than Buddha. Still then Buddha was the embodiment of love and non-violence.

Three Jewels:

Buddhism puts emphasis on ‘Buddha’ (the preceptor), ‘dharma’ (the principle) and ‘sangha’ (the monastic order) when one becomes a Buddhist he has to accept these three things in his life. This was meant to regulate the life of a Buddhist monk.

Thus, he takes the oath as such:

‘Buddham sharanam gachhami,

(I seek refuge in Buddha)

‘Dharmam sharanam gachhami’,

(I seek refuge in the religion)

‘Sangham sharanam gachhami’

(I seek refuge in monastic order)

These are the three jewels of Buddhism. A monk has to strictly adhere to these principle for betterment of his life.

Critic of Brahmanism:

Buddha was a critic of Brahmanism. He rejected the superiority of the Brahmins. He emphasized that there is no caste distinction in the society. Religion is not the monopoly of the Brahmins. Every caste is competent to perform religion according to his own desire. The Brahmins are not indispensable for religion.

Rejection of Vedas:

Buddha rejected the Vedas. He criticized the rituals and sacrifice of the Vedas. He told that the Vedas contend superstitions and perversions. In every sense the Vedas misguide the human beings. So, he advised to reject the Vedas in toto.

Opposition to Caste System:

Buddha vehemently opposed the caste system. He emphasized that a man is known by his own quality and character but not by his birth. If a man belonging to high caste performs a sin where lies his greatness? So, there should not be any caste distinction in the society.

He allowed all castes including the aboriginals to enter into his Sangha. Thus, Buddha was a crusader and fought against the caste system, which was one of the evil practices of ancient India. That is why, Buddha is called as “The Luther of India’.

Thus, Gautam Buddha fought vehemently against the Vedic religion and supremacy of the Brahmins. Due to his charming personality and simplicity in his religion. Buddhism grew from strength to strength. With the gradual march of time by the patronage of kings like Ashok, Kaniska and Harsha Vardhan, Buddhism spread in the nook comer of India. In due course of time, it also crossed the barrier of India and spread to other parts of the world.