NATIONAL COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ARTS

College of Nursing
Taytay, Rizal

SIDDHARTA GAUTAMA
“The Buddha”

Carmina T. Lomongo
NCBA | BSN | 4th Year

ASIAN CIVILIZATION
Submitted to: Ma Carmela Baloloy
 Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher in the ancient Indian subcontinent
and the historical founder of Buddhism. He is universally recognized by Buddhists as
the Supreme Buddha of our age. The time of his birth and death are unclear, but most
modern scholars have him living between approximately 563 BCE and 483 BCE. By
tradition, he was born with the name Siddhartha Gautama and, after a quest for the
truth behind life and death, underwent a transformative spiritual change that led him
to claim the name of Buddha. He is also commonly known as Sakyamuni ("sage of the
Sakya clan") and as the Tathagata ("thus-come-one"). 

Gautama is the key figure in Buddhism, and accounts of his life, discourses,
and monastic rules were summarized after his death and memorized by the sangha.
Passed down by oral tradition, the Tripitaka, the collection of discourses attributed to
Gautama, was committed to writing about 400 years later. 

CHRONOLOGICAL BIOGRAPHY
Siddhartha Gautama
563 BCE: Siddhartha Gautama, Buddha-to-be, is born in Lumbini, Ancient India. 
“The Buddha”
534 BCE: Gautama leaves his inheritance and becomes an ascetic.  Abt. 220 BCE: Theravada Buddhism is officially introduced to Sri Lanka by the
Venerable Mahinda, the son of the emperor Ashoka of India during the reign of King
528 BCE: Gautama attains Enlightenment, becomes the Buddha, and begins his Devanampiya Tissa. 
ministry. 
185 BCE: Brahmin general Pusyamitra Sunga overthrows the Mauryan dynasty and
Abt. 500 BCE: Classical Sanskrit replaces Vedic.  establishes the Sunga Empire, starting of wave of persecution against Buddhism. 

c.490 - 410 BCE: Life of the Buddha according to recent research  180 BCE: Greco-Bactrian king Demetrius invades India as far as Pataliputra, and
establishes the Indo-Greek kingdom (180-10 BCE), under which Buddhism flourishes. 
Abt. 483 BCE: Sakyamuni Buddha died at Kusinara (now called Kushinagar), India. 
Abt. 150 BCE: Indo-Greek king Menander I converts to Buddhism under the sage
400s BCE: Kharosthi script began to be used in Gandhara.  Nagasena, according to the account of the Milinda Panha. 

383 BCE: The Second Buddhist Council was convened by King Kalasoka and held at 120 BCE: The Chinese Emperor Han Wudi (156-87 BCE) receives two golden statues of
Vaisali.  the Buddha, according to inscriptions in the Mogao Caves, Dunhuang. 

300s BCE: Oldest Brahmi script (the ancestor of Indic languages) dates from this 1st century BCE: The Indo-Greek governor Theodorus enshrines relics of the Buddha,
period.  dedicating them to the deified "Lord Shakyamuni". 

Abt. 250 BCE: Third Buddhist Council convened by Ashoka and chaired by
Moggaliputta Tissa, compiled the Kathavatthu to refute the heretical views and
theories held by some Buddhist sects. Ashoka erected a number of edicts (Edicts of
Ashoka) about the kingdom in support of Buddhism. 

Abt. 250 BCE: First fully developed examples of Kharosthi script date from this period
(the Asokan inscriptions at Shahbazgarhi and Mansehra, northern Pakistan). 

200s BCE: Sanskrit and Prakrit languages emerge in northern India. Indian traders
regularly visited ports in Arabia, explaining the prevalence of place names in the
region with Indian or Buddhist origin. For example, bahar (from the Sanskrit vihara, a
Buddhist monastery). Ashokan emissary monks brought Buddhism to Suwannaphum, THE BUDDHA’S BIOGRAPHY
the location of which is disputed but the Dipavamsa and the (Mon believe it was a
Mon seafareing settlement in present-day Burma. 
 The other major challenge to orthodox Vedism was founded by the son of a to sect. 
chief of a region called the Shakyas. This region lay among the foothills of the
Himalayas in the farthest northern regions of the plains of India in Nepal. This founder, What follows, however, is the most common outline of the nature of
Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, has many legends and stories that have accreted Siddhartha's life and philosophy. When Siddhartha Gautama was born, a seer
around his life. While we can't be certain which of these stories and legends are true predicted that he would either become a great king or he would save humanity.
and which of the thousands of sayings attributed to him were actually said by him, we Fearing that his son would not follow in his footsteps, his father raised Siddhartha in a
do know that the basic historical outlines of his life are accurate.  wealthy and pleasure-filled palace in order to shield his son from any experience of
human misery or suffering. This, however, was a futile project, and when Siddhartha
He was the chief's son of a tribal group, the Shakyas, so he was born a saw four sights: a sick man, a poor man, a beggar, and a corpse, he was filled with
Kshatriya around 566 BC. At the age of twenty-nine, he left his family in order to lead infinite sorrow for the suffering that humanity has to undergo. 
an ascetic life. A few years later he reappears with a number of followers; he and his
followers devote their lives to "The Middle Way," a lifestyle that is midway between a After seeing these four things, Siddhartha then dedicated himself to finding a
completely ascetic lifestyle and one that is world-devoted. At some point he gained way to end human suffering. He abandoned his former way of life, including his wife
"enlightenment" and began to preach this new philosophy in the region of Bihar and and family, and dedicated himself to a life of extreme asceticism. So harsh was this
Uttar Kadesh. His teaching lasted for several decades and he perished at a very old way of life that he grew thin enough that he could feel his hands if he placed one on
age, somewhere in his eighties. Following his death, only a small group of followers the small of his back and the other on his stomach. In this state of wretched
continued in his footsteps. Calling themselves bhikkus, or "disciples," they wandered concentration, in heroic but futile self-denial, he overheard a teacher speaking of
the countryside in yellow robes (in order to indicate their bhakti, or "devotion" to the music. If the strings on the instrument are set too tight, then the instrument will not
master). For almost two hundred years, these followers of Buddha were a small, play harmoniously. If the strings are set too loose, the instrument will not produce
relatively inconsequential group among an infinite variety of Hindu sects. But when music. Only the middle way, not too tight and not too loose, will produce harmonious
the great Mauryan emperor, Asoka, converted to Buddhism in the third century BC, music. This chance conversation changed his life overnight. The goal was not to live a
the young, inconsequential religion spread like wildfire throughout India and beyond. completely worldly life, nor was it to live a life in complete denial of the physical body,
Most significantly, the religion was carried across the Indian Ocean (a short distance, but to live in Middle Way. The way out of suffering was through concentration, and
actually) to Sri Lanka. The Buddhists of Sri Lanka maintained the original form of since the mind was connected to the body, denying the body would hamper
Siddhartha's teachings, or at least, they maintained a form that was most similar to concentration, just as overindulgence would distract one from concentration. 
the original. While in the rest of India, and later the world, Buddhism fragmented into
a million sects, the original form, called Theravada Buddhism, held its ground in Sri With this insight, Siddhartha began a program of intense yogic meditation
Lanka.  beneath a pipal tree in Benares. At the end of this program, in a single night,
Siddhartha came to understand all his previous lives and the entirety of the cycle of
birth and rebirth, or samsara, and most importantly, figured out how to end the cycle
That's all we know about the historical life of Siddhartha, his mission, and the of infinite sorrow. At this point, Siddhartha became the Buddha, or "Awakened One."
fate of his teachings. When we move into the Buddhist histories, the record becomes Instead, however, of passing out of this cycle himself, he returned to the world of
much more uncertain, particularly since the events of the Buddha's life vary from sect humanity in order to teach his new insights and help free humanity of their suffering. 
 His first teaching took place at the Deer Park in Benares. It was there that he reality nor is it transported to a land of bliss, it simply ceases to exist. This is the state
expounded his "Four Noble Truths," which are the foundation of all Buddhist belief:  that the Buddha passed into at his death. 

1.) All human life is suffering (dhukka).  Like Jainism, then, Buddhism centrally concerns the problem of the eternal
2.) All suffering is caused by human desire, particularly the desire that birth and rebirth of the human soul. Unlike Jainism, Buddhism in its original form does
impermanent things be permanent.  not posit some transcendent alternative as a goal. In fact, Buddhism in its original
3.) Human suffering can be ended by ending human desire.  form held that the soul actually died when the body died. How, then, could a soul pass
from body to body? What passed from body to body was a chain of causes set in
4.) Desire can be ended by following the "Eightfold Noble Path": right
motion by each soul; the Buddhist philosopher Nagsena said it was like a flame
understanding, right thought, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort,
passing from candle to candle. The individual, in snuffing out the self, brings those
right mindfulness, and right concentration. 
chains of causes to an end. 

From a metaphysical standpoint, these Noble Truths make up and derive from
A large part of the program prescribed by Buddha involved selflessness in the
a single fundamental Truth (in Sanskrit, Dharma, and in Pali, Dhamma). The Buddhist
world. Buddhism represents one of the most humane and advanced moral systems in
Dharma is based on the idea that everything in the universe is causally linked. All
the ancient world. The first steps on the road to Nirvana were to focus one's actions
things are composite things, that is, they are composed of several elements. Because
on doing well to others. In this way one could lose the illusion that one is a unique self.
all things are composite, they are all transitory, for the elements come together and
The Buddhist scriptures disapprove of violence, meat-eating, animal sacrifice, and war.
then fall apart. It is this transience that causes human beings to sorrow and to suffer.
Buddha enjoined on his followers four moral imperatives: friendliness, compassion,
We live in a body, which is a composite thing, but that body decays, sickens, and
joy, and equanimity, the "Four Cardinal Virtues." 
eventually dies, though we wish it to do otherwise. Since everything is transient, that
means that there can be no eternal soul either in the self or in the universe. This, then,
is the eternal truth of the world: everything is transitory, sorrowful, and soulless–the This is the philosophy that Buddha left the world. In the years following his
three-fold character of the world.  death, the teachings began to slowly develop into various sects. Buddhism became so
fragmented that barely one hundred years after the death of Siddhartha, a council of
Buddhists was called to straighten out the differences. The earliest forms of
As pessimistic as these sounds, the philosophy of Siddhartha Gautama is a kind
Buddhism, which are now only practiced by a small minority, are called Theravada, or
of therapy. In fact, classifying it in Western terms is impossible. We think of Buddhism
"The Teachings of the Elders." 
as a religion, which it unquestionably became, but Siddhartha was less concerned with
theology or ritual or prayer as he was with providing a tool for individuals to use to
escape suffering. The goal of this method, the Eightfold Noble Path, is the elimination
of one's desires and one's attachment to one's self. Once one has understood
correctly the nature of the universe (Right Understanding) and devoted one's life to
selfless and altruistic actions (Right Action) and, finally, by losing all sense of one's self
and by losing all one's desires, one then passes into a state called Nirvana (in Pali, PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF “THE BUDDHA”
Nibbana). The word means "snuffed out" in the way a fire is snuffed out or
extinguished. At this point, the self no longer exists. It is not folded into a higher
 An extensive and colorful physical Although there are no extant representations of the Buddha in human
description of the Buddha has been laid form until around the 1st century CE, descriptions of the physical
down in scriptures. A Kshatriya by birth, he characteristics of fully enlightened Buddha are attributed to the Buddha in
had military training in his upbringing, and the Digha Nikaya's Lakkhaṇa Sutta. In addition, the Buddha's physical
by Shakyan tradition was required to pass appearance is described by Yasodhara to their son Rahula upon the Buddha's
tests to demonstrate his worthiness as a first post-Enlightenment return to his former princely palace in the non-
warrior in order to marry. He had a strong canonical Pali devotional hymn, Narasīha Gāthā ("The Lion of Men").
enough body to be noticed by one of the
kings and was asked to join his army as a
general. He is also believed by Buddhists to
have "the 32 Signs of the Great Man".

The Brahmin Sonadanda described

him as "handsome, good-looking, and
pleasing to the eye, with a most beautiful
complexion. He has a godlike form and countenance; he is by no means
unattractive.”

"It is wonderful, truly marvelous, how serene is the good Gautama’s

appearance, how clear and radiant his complexion, just as the golden jujube in
autumn is clear and radiant, just as a palm-tree fruit just loosened from the
stalk is clear and radiant, just as an adornment of red gold wrought in a crucible
by a skilled goldsmith, deftly beaten and laid on a yellow-cloth shines, blazes
and glitters, even so, the good Gautama’s senses are calmed, his complexion is
clear and radiant."

A disciple named Vakkali, who later became an Arahant, was so

obsessed by Buddha's physical presence that the Buddha is said to have felt
impelled tell him to desist, and to have reminded him that he should know the TEACHINGS OF “THE BUDDHA”
Buddha through the Dhamma and not through physical appearances.
 Some scholars believe that Although there are different levels of Dhukka and there are also
some portions of the Pali Canon and pleasurable experiences whilst living, which we generally like to perceive
the Āgamas contain the actual as the opposite of suffering. Conceptual abstractions such as Ease,
substance of the historical teachings Comfort and Happiness, for example, are seen as opposing extremes to
(and possibly even the words) of the Displeasure. Life in its Complexity is utterly imperfect and incomplete,
Buddha. This is not the case for the because our world and every Living Being in it are subject to
later Mahāyāna sūtras. The scriptural Impermanence. Impermanence means we are never able to keep
works of Early Buddhism precede the permanent hold of the things that we strive for, even as we enjoy
Mahayana works chronologically, and pleasurable moments, the sadness and maladies of misfortunes to come
are treated by many Western scholars are looming, and even we ourselves and our loved ones will have to pass
as the main credible source for on and leave this body and life behind.
information regarding the actual
2. The Root of all suffering is Attachment.
historical teachings of Gautama
Buddha. However, some scholars do The origin of suffering is attachment to transient things and the
not think that the texts report on ignorance thereof. Transient things do not only include the physical
historical events. objects that surround us, but also ideas, and -in a greater sense- all objects
of our perception. Ignorance is the lack of understanding of how our mind
Some of the fundamentals of the teachings attributed to Gautama Buddha is attached to impermanent things. The reasons for suffering are desire,
are: passion, ardor, pursuit of wealth and prestige, striving for fame and
popularity, or in short: craving and clinging. Because the objects of our
attachment are transient, their loss is inevitable, thus suffering will
The Four Noble Truths:
necessarily follow. Objects of attachment also include the idea of a "self"
1. Life is Dhukka (suffering).
which is a delusion, because there is no abiding self. What we call "self" is
To live is to suffer countless forms of pain, anguish, fear, and just an imagined entity, and we are merely a part of the ceaseless
physical torments, as well as psychological maladies and emotional becoming of the universe.
discomforts. One reason for this is because the nature of incarnate life is
3. The cessation of suffering is attainable.
not perfect and neither is the world we live in. During our lives, we
unavoidably must endure physical sufferings such as body pains, The cessation of suffering can be attained through nirodha.
sicknesses, injuries, fatigue, old age, and eventually death; also, there are Nirodha means the unmaking of sensual craving and conceptual
many disagreeable psychological forms of Suffering, like Sadness, Fear, attachment. The third noble truth expresses the idea that suffering can be
Frustration, Disappointment, and Depression. ended by attaining dispassion. Nirodha extinguishes all forms of clinging
 and attachment. This means that suffering can be overcome through aspect of wisdom. It means to see things through, to grasp the
human activity, simply by removing the cause of suffering. Attaining and impermanent and imperfect nature of worldly objects and ideas,
perfecting dispassion is a process of many levels that ultimately results in and to understand the law of karma and karmic conditioning. Right
the state of Nirvana. Nirvana means freedom from all worries, troubles, view is not necessarily an intellectual capacity, just as wisdom is
complexes, fabrications and ideas. Nirvana is not comprehensible for not just a matter of intelligence. Instead, right view is attained,
those who have not attained it. sustained, and enhanced through all capacities of mind. It begins
4. The path to the cessation of suffering. with the intuitive insight that all beings are subject to suffering and
There is a path to the end of suffering - a gradual path of self- it ends with complete understanding of the true nature of all
improvement, which is described more detailed in the Eightfold Path. It is things. Since our view of the world forms our thoughts and our
the middle way between the two extremes of excessive self-indulgence actions, right view yields right thoughts and right actions.
(hedonism) and excessive self-mortification (asceticism); and it leads to 2. Right Intention
the end of the cycle of rebirth. The latter quality discerns it from other a. While right view refers to the cognitive aspect of wisdom, right
paths which are merely "wandering on the wheel of becoming", because intention refers to the volitional aspect, i.e. the kind of mental
these do not have a final object. The path to the end of suffering can energy that controls our actions. Right intention can be described
extend over many lifetimes, throughout which every individual rebirth is best as commitment to ethical and mental self-improvement.
subject to karmic conditioning. Craving, ignorance, delusions, and its Buddha distinguishes three types of right intentions: 1. the
effects will disappear gradually, as progress is made on the path. intention of renunciation, which means resistance to the pull of
desire, 2. the intention of good will, meaning resistance to feelings
of anger and aversion, and 3. the intention of harmlessness,
The Noble Eightfold Path:
meaning not to think or act cruelly, violently, or aggressively, and
1. right understanding to develop compassion.
2. right thought 3. Right Speech
3. right speech a. Right speech is the first principle of ethical conduct in the eightfold
4. right action path. Ethical conduct is viewed as a guideline to moral discipline,
5. right livelihood which supports the other principles of the path. This aspect is not
6. right effort self-sufficient, however, essential, because mental purification can
7. right mindfulness only be achieved through the cultivation of ethical conduct. The
8. right concentration importance of speech in the context of Buddhist ethics is obvious:
1. Right View words can break or save lives, make enemies or friends, start war
a. Right view is the beginning and the end of the path, it simply or create peace. Buddha explained right speech as follows: 1. to
means to see and to understand things as they really are and to abstain from false speech, especially not to tell deliberate lies and
realise the Four Noble Truth. As such, right view is the cognitive not to speak deceitfully, 2. to abstain from slanderous speech and
 not to use words maliciously against others, 3. to abstain from a. Right effort can be seen as a prerequisite for the other principles of
harsh words that offend or hurt others, and 4. to abstain from idle the path. Without effort, which is in itself an act of will, nothing
chatter that lacks purpose or depth. Positively phrased, this means can be achieved, whereas misguided effort distracts the mind from
to tell the truth, to speak friendly, warm, and gently and to talk its task, and confusion will be the consequence. Mental energy is
only when necessary. the force behind right effort; it can occur in either wholesome or
4. Right Action unwholesome states. The same type of energy that fuels desire,
a. The second ethical principle, right action, involves the body as envy, aggression, and violence can on the other side fuel self-
natural means of expression, as it refers to deeds that involve discipline, honesty, benevolence, and kindness. Right effort is
bodily actions. Unwholesome actions lead to unsound states of detailed in four types of endeavors that rank in ascending order of
mind, while wholesome actions lead to sound states of mind. perfection: 1. to prevent the arising of unarisen unwholesome
Again, the principle is explained in terms of abstinence: right action states, 2. to abandon unwholesome states that have already
means 1. to abstain from harming sentient beings, especially to arisen, 3. to arouse wholesome states that have not yet arisen, and
abstain from taking life (including suicide) and doing harm 4. to maintain and perfect wholesome states already arisen.
intentionally or delinquently, 2. to abstain from taking what is not 7. Right Mindfulness
given, which includes stealing, robbery, fraud, deceitfulness, and a. Right mindfulness is the controlled and perfected faculty of
dishonesty, and 3. to abstain from sexual misconduct. Positively cognition. It is the mental ability to see things as they are, with
formulated, right action means to act kindly and compassionately, clear consciousness. Usually, the cognitive process begins with an
to be honest, to respect the belongings of others, and to keep impression induced by perception, or by a thought, but then it
sexual relationships harmless to others. Further details regarding does not stay with the mere impression. Instead, we almost always
the concrete meaning of right action can be found in the Precepts. conceptualize sense impressions and thoughts immediately. We
5. Right Livelihood interpret them and set them in relation to other thoughts and
a. Right livelihood means that one should earn one's living in a experiences, which naturally go beyond the facility of the original
righteous way and that wealth should be gained legally and impression. The mind then posits concepts, joins concepts into
peacefully. The Buddha mentions four specific activities that harm constructs, and weaves those constructs into complex
other beings and that one should avoid for this reason: 1. dealing interpretative schemes. All this happens only half consciously, and
in weapons, 2. dealing in living beings (including raising animals for as a result we often see things obscured. Right mindfulness is
slaughter as well as slave trade and prostitution), 3. working in anchored in clear perception and it penetrates impressions
meat production and butchery, and 4. selling intoxicants and without getting carried away. Right mindfulness enables us to be
poisons, such as alcohol and drugs. Furthermore any other aware of the process of conceptualization in a way that we actively
occupation that would violate the principles of right speech and observe and control the way our thoughts go. Buddha accounted
right action should be avoided. for this as the four foundations of mindfulness: 1. contemplation of
6. Right Effort the body, 2. contemplation of feeling (repulsive, attractive, or
 neutral), 3. contemplation of the state of mind, and 4. Anattā (Sanskrit: anātman): That nothing in the realm of experience can really
contemplation of the phenomena. be said to be "I" or "mine".
8. Right Concentration
a. The eighth principle of the path, right concentration, refers to the Nibbāna (Sanskrit: Nirvāna): It is possible for sentient beings to realize a
development of a mental force that occurs in natural dimension of awareness which is totally unconstructed and peaceful, and end
consciousness, although at a relatively low level of intensity, all suffering due to the mind's interaction with the conditioned world.
namely concentration. Concentration in this context is described as
one-wontedness of mind, meaning a state where all mental
However, in some Mahayana schools, these points have come to be
faculties are unified and directed onto one particular object. Right
regarded as more or less subsidiary. There is disagreement amongst
concentration for the purpose of the eightfold path means
various schools of Buddhism over more complex aspects of what the Buddha is
wholesome concentration, i.e. concentration on wholesome
believed to have taught, and also over some of the disciplinary rules for monks.
thoughts and actions. The Buddhist method of choice to develop
right concentration is through the practice of meditation. The According to tradition, the Buddha emphasized ethics and correct
meditating mind focuses on a selected object. It first directs itself understanding. He questioned everyday notions of divinity and salvation. He
onto it, then sustains concentration, and finally intensifies stated that there is no intermediary between mankind and the divine; distant
concentration step by step. Through this practice it becomes gods are subjected to karma themselves in decaying heavens; and the Buddha
natural to apply elevated levels concentration also in everyday is only a guide and teacher for beings who must tread the path of Nirvāṇa (Pāli:
situations. Nibbāna) themselves to attain the spiritual awakening called bodhi and
understand reality. The Buddhist system of insight and meditation practice is
not claimed to have been divinely revealed, but to spring from an
Dependent origination: the mind creates suffering as a natural product of a
understanding of the true nature of the mind, which must be discovered by
complex process.
treading the path guided by the Buddha's teachings.

Rejection of the infallibility of accepted scripture: Teachings should not be

accepted unless they are borne out by our experience and are praised by the
wise.

Anicca (Sanskrit: anitya): That all things that come to be have an end.

Dukkha (Sanskrit: duḥkha): That nothing which comes to be is ultimately
satisfying. The Eight Auspicious Symbols of Buddhism
“Spiritual Evolution”
 3). A Wheel
A constant intriguing factor in the 4). A Parasol (Umbrella)
imagery of the Great Buddha is the group of 5). An Endless Knot
three curving conch-like lines on his neck. In 6). A Pair of Golden Fishes
the varied world of Buddhist art this is one
7). A Banner Proclaiming Victory
common characteristic that shines across
8). A Treasure Vase
all aesthetic traditions. Like other Buddhist
motifs, it too is soaked in rich spiritual
symbolism. It is said to represent Buddha's The Conch Shell
deep and resonant voice, through which he
The conch shell has survived as the original
introduced his followers to the path of
horn trumpet since time immemorial. Ancient
dharma.
Indian epics describe how each hero of mythical warfare carried a mighty white
The association of the conch shell conch shell, which often bore a personal name. It is one of the main emblems
with Buddha's melodious voice, sweet with of Vishnu, and his conch bears the name of Panchajanya, meaning 'having
the tenor of his uplifting message, has both control over the five classes of beings.' Arjuna's (hero of the Mahabharata)
an archetypal simplicity and universal mighty conch was known as Devadatta, whose
appeal. It is a hard-hitting symbol which associates a primordial object triumphant blast brought terror to the enemy. As a proclaiming battle horn,
(deemed sacred in all ancient traditions) with the actual physical body of the the conch is akin to the bugle. It is an emblem of power, authority and
Buddha. Indeed, though much of Buddhist philosophy is esoteric, when it sovereignty whose blast is believed to banish evil spirits, averts natural
comes to aesthetics, Buddhist art is justly famous for giving a physical, easily disasters, and scare away poisonous creatures. Today, in its greatly tamed
recognizable representation to abstract philosophical truths. avatar, the conch is used in Tibetan Buddhism to call together religious
Buddhism has evolved over the centuries a complex, yet discernable assemblies. During the actual practice of rituals, it is used both as a musical
scheme of symbolism which has found adequate expression in Buddhist art. instrument and as a container for holy water.
Undoubtedly, the most popular of such symbols is the group of eight, known in Ancient Indian belief classifies the conch into male and female varieties.
Sanskrit as 'Ashtamangala,' ashta meaning eight and mangala meaning The thicker-shelled bulbous one is thought to be the male (purusha), and the
auspicious. Each of these symbols is also individually associated with the thin-shelled slender conch to be the female (shankhini).
physical form of the Buddha.
The fourfold caste division is also applied as follows:
a). The smooth white conch represents the Brahmin caste
These eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism are:
b). The red conch the kshatriyas (warriors)
1). A Conch Shell
c). The yellow conch the vaishyas (merchants)
2). A Lotus
 d). The grey conch the shudras (labourers) The lotus does not grow in Tibet and so Tibetan art has only stylized
Additionally, there is a fundamental classification of conch shells versions of it. Nevertheless, it is one of Buddhism's best recognized motifs
occurring in nature: those that turn to the left and those which turn to the since every important deity is associated in some manner with the lotus, either
right. being seated upon it or holding one in their hands.
The roots of a lotus are in the mud, the stem grows up through the
water, and the heavily scented flower lies above the water, basking in the
sunlight. This pattern of growth signifies the progress of the soul from the
primeval mud of materialism, through the waters of experience, and into the
bright sunshine of enlightenment. Though there are other water plants that
bloom above the water, it is only the lotus which, owing to the strength of its
stem, regularly rises eight to twelve inches above the surface.
Thus says the Lalitavistara, 'the spirit of the best of men is spotless, like
the lotus in the muddy water which does not adhere to it.' According to
another scholar, 'in esoteric Buddhism, the heart of the beings is like an
The Left Turning Conch The Right Turning Conch unopened lotus: when the virtues of the Buddha develop therein, the lotus
Shells which spiral to the right in a clockwise direction are a rarity and blossoms; that are why the Buddha sits on a lotus bloom.'
are considered especially sacred. The right-spiraling movement of such a conch Significantly, the color of the lotus too has an important bearing on the
is believed to echo the celestial motion of the sun, moon, planets and stars symbology associated with it:
across the heavens. The hair whorls on Buddha's head spiral to the right, as do 1). White Lotus: This represents the state of spiritual perfection and
his fine body hairs, the long curl between his eyebrows (urna), and also the total mental purity (bodhi). It is associated with the White Tara and
conch-like swirl of his navel. proclaims her perfect nature, a quality which is reinforced by the color
Vajrayana Buddhism absorbed the conch as a symbol which fearlessly of her body.
proclaimed the truth of the dharma. Among the eight symbols, it stands for the 2). Red Lotus: This signifies the original nature and purity of the heart
fame of the Buddha's teaching, which spreads in all directions like the sound of (hrdya). It is the lotus of love, compassion, passion and all other
the conch trumpet. qualities of the heart. It is the flower of Avalokiteshvara, the
In addition to Buddha's throat, the bodhisattva of compassion.
conch also appears as an auspicious mark on 3). Blue Lotus: This is a symbol of the victory of the spirit over the
the soles, palms, limbs, breast or forehead of a senses, and signifies the wisdom of knowledge. Not surprisingly, it is the
divinely endowed being. preferred flower of Manjushri, the bodhisattva of wisdom.
The Lotus
 4). Pink Lotus: This the supreme lotus, generally reserved for the The wheel evolved as a symbol of the Buddha's teachings and as an
highest deity. Thus naturally it is associated with the Great Buddha emblem of the Chakravartin or 'wheel turner,' identifying the wheel as the
himself. Dharmachakra or 'wheel of law.' The Tibetan term for Dharmachakra literally
The Wheel: means 'the wheel of transformation.' The wheel's swift motion serves as an
The wheel consists of three basic parts: the hub, the rim, and spokes (generally apt metaphor for the rapid spiritual change engendered by the teachings of
eight in number). Its underlying form is that of a circle, which is recognized the Buddha. Hence, Buddha's first discourse at the Deer Park in Sarnath is
across all traditions as a shape that is complete and perfect in itself, qualities known as the 'first turning of the wheel of
which inform the teachings of the Buddha too. dharma.' Likewise, his subsequent
discourses at Rajgir and Shravasti are known
Individually, the rim represents the element of limitation, the hub is the axis of
as the 'second and third turnings of the
the world, and the eight spokes denote the
wheel of dharma.'
Eightfold Path set down by the Buddha, which leads
to the cessation of all suffering. The Parasol:

A further esoteric interpretation makes Above the mountain is the dome of

reference to the three trainings which form an the sky. This is symbolized by the umbrella,
whose important function is to cast a The Tibetan Parasol
integral part of Buddhist meditative practice,
associating each of the three parts of the wheel with shadow, the shadow of protection. The
one such practice. This symbolism is as follows: dictionary defines a parasol as an umbrella used for protection from the sun.
Thus its function is to protect exclusively from the heat rather than the rain - as
a). The hub stands for training in moral
the word 'parasol,' meaning 'to hold off the sun,' and 'umbrella,' meaning 'little
discipline. Through this practise the mind is
shade,' similarly imply. The Sanskrit term 'chattra,' also means 'mushroom,' in
supported and stabilized. Thus it is the
an obvious reference to its shape.
practise of moral discipline that upholds our meditation, just like the
supporting axis of the world. The parasol or umbrella is a traditional Indian symbol of both protection
and royalty. The ability to protect oneself against inclement weather has
b). The spokes stand for the
always, in all cultures, been a status symbol. In Europe, until a few decades
correct application of wisdom,
ago, a sunshade was a status symbol for society ladies. In Oriental thought, the
which cuts off ignorance and ends
fact that it protected the bearer from the scorching heat of the sun was
suffering.
transferred into the religious sphere as a "protection against the heat of
c). The rim denotes
defilements." Thus the coolness of its shade symbolizes protection from the
concentration, which holds the
heat of suffering, desire, and other spiritually harmful forces.
entire meditative practice
The dome of the umbrella is held aloft by a vertical handle (just like the
together, just as the wheel of life
mountain upholds the sky), which is identified with the 'axis mundi,' or the
is held together by its rim.
central axis upholding the world. The umbrella is carried above an important The endless knot is a closed, graphic ornament composed of right-
dignitary or the image of a deity, to indicate that the person or symbol below angled, intertwined lines. It is conjectured that it may have evolved from an
the umbrella is in fact the center of the universe, and also its spiritual support. ancient naga symbol with two stylized snakes.
Umbrellas seem to be especially important in processional rites, being like This latter image signifies the dramatic
mobile temples. Thus, depictions of the Buddha often display an elaborate and interplay and interaction of the opposing forces in
large umbrella above his head. the dualistic world of manifestation, leading to their
 As it is held above the head it naturally symbolizes honor and respect. union, and ultimately to harmony in the universe.
In Vajrayana Buddhism, this large umbrella (atapatra) was even deified into the This fact is amply reflected in the symmetrical and
thousand-armed, -footed goddess Sitapatra, whose name literally means 'the regular form of the endless knot.
white umbrella.' The intertwining of lines reminds us how all
In Tibet, depending on their status, various dignitaries were entitled to phenomena are conjoined and yoked together as a
different parasols, with religious heads being entitled to a silk one and secular closed cycle of cause and effect. Thus the whole
rulers to a parasol with embroidered peacock feathers. Exalted personalities composition is a pattern that is closed on in it with
such as the Dalai Lama are entitled to both, and in processions, first a peacock no gaps, leading to a representational form of great
parasol and then a silk one is carried after him. simplicity and fully balanced harmony.
  The Tibetan version of the parasol was adopted Since all phenomena are interrelated, the placing of the endless knot on a gift
from its royal Indian and Chinese prototypes, and or greeting card is understood to establish an auspicious connection between
fashioned from a wooden, spiked frame with a domed the giver and the recipient. At the same time, the recipient is goaded to
silk cover and hanging silk pendants making up an righteous karma, being reminded that future positive effects have their roots in
overhanging skirt. the causes of the present. This is because the knot represents a connection, a
The dome symbolizes wisdom, and the hanging link with our fates, binding us to our karmic destiny. Not surprisingly, this is one
skirt, compassion. Thus the composite form of the of the most favorite symbols in Tibetan Buddhism, and often occurs
parasol signifies the union of independently on its own.
these dual elements. Since the knot has no beginning or end it also symbolizes the infinite wisdom
Octagonal and square parasols of the Buddha.
are also common,  The Golden Fishes:
representing the Noble This symbol consists of two fishes, which usually appear standing
Eightfold Path and the four vertically with heads turned inwards towards each other.
directional quarters
The pair of fishes originated as an ancient pre-Buddhist symbol of the
respectively.
two sacred rivers of India, Ganga and Yamuna. Symbolically, these two rivers
 The Endless Knot: represent the lunar and solar channels, which originate in the nostrils and carry
the alternating rhythms of breath or prana. In Buddhism, the golden fishes It was only after conquering these four negative traits that Buddha could
symbolize happiness, as they have complete freedom in water. They represent proclaim victory over ignorance, and achieve nirvana.
fertility and abundance as they multiply very rapidly. Fish often swim in pairs, Cylindrical victory banners made of beaten copper are traditionally
and in China they represented conjugal unity and fidelity, where a pair of fishes placed at the four corners of monastery and temple roofs. These signify the
would often be given as a wedding present. Buddha's victorious dharma radiating to the four directions and also his
Both Jesus Christ and Buddha are known as 'fisher of men,' because triumph over the four Maras mentioned above.
they save mortals from the ocean of suffering.   The Treasure Vase:
The Victory Banner: The vase is a fat-bellied vessel with a
In Sanskrit, the banner or sign of victory is short, slim neck. On top, at the opening,
known as the dhvaja, meaning standard, flag or ensign. there is a large jewel indicating that it is a
Originally, the victory banner was a military standard treasure vase.
carried in ancient Indian warfare, and bore the specific Its symbolic meaning was almost
insignia of its champion. For example in the always associated with the ideas of
Mahabharata, Krishna's chariot was adorned with a storage and the satisfaction of material
banner showing the image of the monkey-god desires. In the sagas and fairytales of many
Hanuman. different cultures, for example, there is the
The victory banner was adopted by early recurring idea of an inexhaustible vessel.
The Vase of Inexhaustible
Buddhism as an emblem of the Buddha's Physically, the 'vase of
Treasures
enlightenment, heralding the triumph of knowledge inexhaustible treasures' is modeled on the
over ignorance. It is said to have been placed on the summit of Mt. Meru by traditional Indian clay water pot or
Buddha himself, symbolizing his victory over the entire universe. Again, Mount kumbha with a flat base, round body,
Meru here is believed to be the central axis supporting the world. narrow neck and fluted upper rim.
The flag of victory also denotes Buddha's triumph over Mara, who However much is removed from it, this vase remains perpetually full. Wealth
personifies hindrances on the path to spiritual realization. Specifically, there vases, sealed with precious and sacred substances, are commonly placed upon
are said to be four types of Maras, each one representing an individual hurdle altars and on mountain passes, or buried at water springs, where their
on the path to spiritual progress. These are: presence is believed to attract wealth and bring harmony to the environment.
1. The Mara of Emotional Defilement In relation to Buddhism it specifically means the spiritual abundance of the
2. Mara of Passion Buddha, a treasure that did not diminish however much of it he gave away.
3. Mara of the Fear of Death The question still remains of the association of these eight symbols with
4. Mara of Pride and Lust the Buddha's actual physical body. An ancient text called the Heap of Good
 
Fortune Sutra (Aryamangalakutanama-mahayanasutra), while addressing the
Buddha, has this to say on the issue:
∞ Veneration to you with your head like a protecting parasol,
∞ With eyes like the precious golden fishes (even today a woman with
beautiful eyes is known as 'minakshi,' meaning one with fish-like eyes)
∞ With neck like a precious, adorned vase of good fortune,
∞ With speech like a right-turning Dharma shell,
∞ With a mind infinite with wisdom like the never ending knot,
∞ With a tongue open like the auspicious pink lotus,
∞ With a body proclaiming triumph over the attacking armies of Mara
∞ With feet that tread the path of dharma like the auspicious wheel.
Artistically, these motifs may be depicted individually, in pairs, in fours, or
as a composite group of eight. Designs of these eight symbols adorn all
manner of sacred and secular Buddhist objects, such as carved wooden
furniture, metalwork, wall panels, carpets and silk brocades.
They are also frequently drawn on the ground in sprinkled flour or colored
powders to welcome visiting religious dignitaries. Indeed, no Tibetan
ceremony, be it religious or secular (for e.g. a marriage), is complete without
some depiction of the eight auspicious symbols of Buddhism, which are
believed to propitiate the environment and grant protection to the activity
being undertaken.
"Behold, O monks, this is my last advice to you. All component things in the
world are changeable. They are not lasting. Work hard to gain your own
salvation. Do your best."

- Siddharta Gautama “The Buddha”

∞ A dog is not considered a good dog because he is a good barker. A man is not

QUOTES FROM “THE BUDDHA” considered a good man because he is a good talker. 
∞ All that we are is the result of what we have thought. If a man speaks or acts ∞ Hatred does not cease by hatred, but only by love; this is the eternal rule. 
with an evil thought, pain follows him. If a man speaks or acts with a pure ∞ He is able who thinks he is able. 
thought, happiness follows him, like a shadow that never leaves him.  ∞ He who experiences the unity of life sees his own Self in all beings, and all
∞ All things appear and disappear because of the concurrence of causes and beings in his own Self, and looks on everything with an impartial eye.
conditions. Nothing ever exists entirely alone; everything is in relation to ∞ He who loves 50 people has 50 woes; he who loves no one has no woes. 
everything else.  ∞ Health is the greatest gift, contentment the greatest wealth, faithfulness the
∞ All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong- best relationship. 
doing remain?  ∞ Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it
∞ Ambition is like love, impatient both of delays and rivals.  at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. 
∞ An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea ∞ However many holy words you read,However many you speak,What good
that exists only as an idea.  will they do youIf you do not act on upon them? 
∞ An insincere and evil friend is more to be feared than a wild beast; a wild ∞ I do not believe in a fate that falls on men however they act; but I do believe
beast may wound your body, but an evil friend will wound your mind.  in a fate that falls on them unless they act. 
∞ Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I ∞ I never see what has been done; I only see what remains to be done. 
have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common ∞ In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for
sense.  the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves. 
∞ Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace.  ∞ In the sky, there is no distinction of east and west; people create distinctions
∞ Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.  out of their own minds and then beleive them to be true. 
∞ Do not dwell in the past; do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind ∞ It is a man's own mind, not his enemy or foe, that lures him to evil ways. 
on the present moment.  ∞ It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the
∞ Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons,
others does not obtain peace of mind.  heaven or hell. 
∞ Ennui has made more gamblers than avarice, more drunkards than thirst, and ∞ It is better to travel well than to arrive. 
perhaps as many suicides as despair.  ∞ Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual
∞ Every human being is the author of his own health or disease.  life. 
∞ Just as treasures are uncovered from the earth, so virtue appears from good ∞ The world, indeed, is like a dream and the treasures of the world are an
deeds, and wisdom appears from a pure and peaceful mind. To walk safely alluring mirage! Like the apparent distances in a picture, things have no
through the maze of human life, one needs the light of wisdom and the reality in themselves, but they are like heat haze. 
guidance of virtue.  ∞ There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going
∞ Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn't learn a lot today, at least we all the way, and not starting. 
learned a little, and if we didn't learn a little, at least we didn't get sick, and if ∞ There is nothing more dreadful than the habit of doubt. Doubt separates
we got sick, at least we didn't die; so, let us all be thankful.  people. It is a poison that disintegrates friendships and breaks up pleasant
∞ On life's journey faith is nourishment, virtuous deeds are a shelter, wisdom is relations. It is a thorn that irritates and hurts; it is a sword that kills.
the light by day and right mindfulness is the protection by night. If a man ∞ Those who are free of resentful thoughts surely find peace. 
lives a pure life, nothing can destroy him.  ∞ Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the
∞ Peace comes from within. Do not seek it without.  candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. 
∞ Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of ∞ Three things cannot be long hidden: the sun, the moon, and the truth. 
service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.  ∞ To be idle is a short road to death and to be diligent is a way of life; foolish
∞ The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.  people are idle, wise people are diligent. 
∞ The only real failure in life is not to be true to the best one knows.  ∞ To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace
∞ The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, nor to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can
to worry about the future, but to live the present moment wisely and control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and
earnestly.  virtue will naturally come to him. 
∞ The tongue like a sharp knife... Kills without drawing blood.  ∞ To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst
∞ The virtues, like the Muses, are always seen in groups. A good principle was of abundance. 
never found solitary in any breast.  ∞ Unity can only be manifested by the Binary. Unity itself and the idea of Unity
∞ The wise ones fashioned speech with their thought, sifting it as grain is sifted are already two. 
through a sieve.  ∞ Virtue is persecuted more by the wicked than it is loved by the good. 
∞ We are formed and molded by our thoughts. Those whose minds are shaped
by selfless thoughts give joy when they speak or act. Joy follows them like a
shadow that never leaves them. 
∞ We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our
thoughts, we make the world. 
∞ What is the appropriate behavior for a man or a woman in the midst of this
world, where each person is clinging to his piece of debris? What's the proper
salutation between people as they pass each other in this flood? 
∞ What we think, we become. 
∞ Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for people will hear
them and be influenced by them for good or ill. 
∞ When one has the feeling of dislike for evil, when one feels tranquil, one finds
pleasure in listening to good teachings; when one has these feelings and
appreciates them, one is free of fear. 
∞ Without health life is not life; it is only a state of langour and suffering - an
image of death. 
∞ Work out your own salvation. Do not depend on others. 
∞ You can search throughout the entire universe for someone who is more
deserving of your love and affection than you are yourself, and that person is
not to be found anywhere. You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire
universe deserve your love and affection. 
∞ You, yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love
and affection. 
∞ Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself
to it.