Reading Notes: Life of Buddha part C


Howdy again everyone, NitroDubbz here.

Today I'm reading more of the life of Buddha. Let's get started.

Previously: Siddhartha just went off into the forest to be a hermit. He becomes an ascetic under Arata Kamala. He realizes that all that the hermits are doing is indulging in suffering. They haven't overcome or figured anything important out. So he decides to leave them and head to Magadha. Siddhartha arrives at the city of Rajagriha and meditates on a mountainside near the city. People are so moved by his presence that they inform the king who rides out to meet him. The king offers Siddhartha his kingdom and all the riches that he has, but Siddhartha told him that he has rid himself of desire. The king is moved and asks Siddhartha to return and teach him once he has discovered the truth. Siddhartha decides to leave the city and gains some disciples along the way.

Siddhartha then sits at the banks of the Nairanjana and meditates until he stops breathing. His mother, Maya comes down from heaven because she thinks he's dead, but he reassures her that he isn't. Siddhartha meditates for six years straight and barely eats anything. Eventually he realizes he's going to waste away, so he decides to eat more. His followers decide that he's cheating by eating, so they desert him.

Siddhartha has a dream of death, decomposing and becoming one with nature. He realizes he is close to attaining supreme knowledge. He sits down under the tree of knowledge and says that he's going to meditate until he ascertains the truth.

Mara, a demon, tries to destroy Siddhartha before he can enlighten everyone. He sends a massive army but that fails.

Siddhartha becomes Buddha that night by understanding death and rebirth, and the chain of desire. The Gods all celebrate because Buddha is now going to bring everyone to Nirvana.







http://sacred-texts.com/bud/lob/lob17.htm

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