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Christian Storrs Phil 1000-020 Professor Alexander Izrailevsky November 25, 2013 Siddhartha Gautama (The Buddha) www.christianstorrs.weebly.com

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Christian Storrs 11-22-13 Intro

Siddhartha Gautama, later known as the Buddha was born into the world as a wealthy prince in the southern Terai plains of southern Nepal in a sacred area called Lumbini in 623 BC. Lumbini is known to be one of the most sacred and holy places of the worlds great religions. The archeological site of the Buddhas birthplace is being developed to become the Buddhist pilgrimage center for Buddhists around the world. An inscription on the Asoka pillar, which was originally erected by the Mauryan Emperor Asoka in 249 BC, has testified the birthplace.

The Buddha came to a realization or a sense of Enlightenment. He realized the crucial unreality of the world, and in finding absolute bliss in nirvana he spent the remaining days of his life teaching and spiritually leading others how to escape the endless cycle of birth and death

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The Buddha himself was the original founder of the known religion of Buddhism. Siddhartha was born into a life of luxury with all the possible comforts of living life as a noble young prince. It is said that with growing up in the palace his father tried his hardest to shield and shelter the young prince from the suffering and pain of the world. And with that, Siddhartha had a growing desire to experience life outside of the palace walls. His curiosity for finding a greater meaning to life eventually took over. Siddhartha would disguise himself and sneak out of the palace, he wandered around the outskirts of the Kingdom. And upon his exploring he discovered, illness, suffering, old age, and death. He then understood that there was more to the nature of life then he had ever known. And so, from there on, he devoted his existence to seeking out the meaning of life.

Siddhartha decided it would be best and most rewarding to give up all of his worldly comforts, and search for enlightenment in nature, especially the forest. He abandoned the Palace and left behind his child and wife (who was a cousin in an arranged marriage by his father, at the age of 16) and set off to travel into the forest to meditate with other ascetics.

In his journey to find enlightenment, Siddhartha fasted excessively for 40 days and nights. His body had wasted away to the point of near death. A woman

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passing by his gaunt, sickly body, stopped and placed a few drops of milk on his lips, and to her surprise, he woke. She continued to feed the malnourished

Siddhartha. When he became conscious, he realized that torturing the body to gain enlightenment was a mistake and so he regained his strength and continued on a middle path meaning he avoided excessive feasting and fasting.

Furthermore, one day while Siddhartha was sitting under the Mahabodhi tree to meditate he was able to find the blissful consciousness of nirvana and had a revelation or Enlightenment and named himself the Buddha, or the Enlightened one. Then after, he continued to travel and decided to spend his life teaching others how to escape the inherent suffering of life. He traveled around India, Ganges plains and Nepal teaching his philosophy of liberation. With that, the Buddha taught orally, his teachings were written down from others, many years after his death.

Finally, I will start examining the Buddhas teachings in philosophy with his ideals on the five moral rules. These moral rules consisted of five basic ideas, the first being; do not kill others, including animal life. The next was; do not steal from one another; one must be able to have full trust in humanity to achieve a sense of happiness. The third was the idea of loyalty to a devoted lover. Or in

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other words, do not commit adultery. Furthermore, the fourth moral was the idea of remaining sober in the mind and finding peace without the need of an outside stimulant. He taught to not use drugs for any reason. He taught that drugs only numb and cloud the mind and create an addiction to the pleasure of the feeling that is created from use. And lastly, the fifth moral stemmed from the idea of a big mouth. The Buddha taught that gossip had no place in society and that it was only a tool to benefit ones own ego in a sad and negative way. And so, he created the moral rule to not use gossip.

Next, the Buddha created a brilliant array of four simple yet profound noble truths. These truths began with the idea that human life consists of getting old and leading to; disease, pain, and inevitably death. Humans also in a course of a lifetime, experience such things like frustration, fear, total humiliation, anger, disappointment etc. he called this dukk ha or (suffering). He then teaches that these facts are absolutely irrefutable and no one can deny them. In a sense, this attitude of knowing such things and accepting them will lead to a much more realistic lifestyle. Rather than looking at these facts in a pessimistic light, we can grow from them. This truth promotes and teaches different ways to live your life, through the avoidance of suffering and being able to find true happiness inside you.

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And so, we move on to the second truth. He asked the question of why we inflict additional suffering upon ourselves. He responded to this question with the idea of Tanha, or ones own egotism. This truth means that the root of suffering stems from a desire or craving and aversion to something. To put this in other words the Buddha teaches that getting what you desire doesnt guarantee happiness. In fact it does the contrary. He teaches that we should try to change our wanting habits. He believes that in wanting something it will eventually deprive us of our happiness and contentment. We essentially become slaves to our desires.

Next, the third noble truth was asking the question of what do we as people do to help ourselves escape suffering. His response was the idea of Annata or being able to resist pleasure. He teaches that suffering can be overcome and happiness can be obtained. This truth shows that contentment and the ability to find true happiness is possible. And so, if we are able to give up our pointless desires and cravings, we can learn how to live our lives one day at a time. And as the Buddha says, The past is already gone, the future is not yet here. There's only one moment for you to live, and that is the present moment only then can we reach inner liberation and true happiness.

The last noble truth is the ultimate goal in ones life. This goal is the idea of being able to liberate yourself of any and all pleasure. The Buddha calls this Annica or true liberation to pleasure. Although, this liberation doesnt just happen

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overnight, It takes time, and being able to understand the 8-Fold Path, and knowing how to follow it effectively. The 8-Fold Path is the idea of being and staying moral and we do this through what we do in our lives, and the things we say. Being able to fully focus our minds on awareness of our actions and thoughts. Buddha teaches that, by understanding the four noble truths and developing wisdom from them, we can develop a real sense of passionate compassion for others.

Moreover, examining the 8-Fold Path begins with the idea of Panna or SammaDitthi meaning the idea of achieving wisdom and attaining perfect vision. Meaning we as people must have a sense of vision and understanding of the nature of reality and the road of transformation. The second step in the path is the idea of Samma-Sankappa or the purpose and motivation in ones life. This also translates to having the right attitude or thought. The Buddha teaches that we must act solely from compassion and love. Being able to liberate the knowledge of emotions in your life. And so, this can lead to an understanding heart, and loving mind. The third movement of the path is known as SammaSankappa or Sila this is the speech portion of the path. This means to communicate in an uplifting, clear, truthful, and non-harmful way. It is also translated as having the right speech. The fourth consists of Samma Kammanta Known for the behavioral side of the path,

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Or the right action one takes in their life. Meaning, the simple principal of nonexploitation, should be the ethical foundation for life. Next, the fifth area of the path is known as the lifestyle portion, or the, right livelihood. This means that our lifestyle should be based on the idea of taking correct actions and using the ethical idea of non-exploitation. The Buddha believes that this should be the basis of an ideal society.

Moreover, the sixth piece of the path is known as the effort or total emotional self-control of oneself. The Buddha stresses that people should put fourth their full effort and vitality, in steering their lives towards the direction of wholeness and creativity. He stresses the importance this step has in achieving conscious evolution. And furthermore, the 7th step in the 8-fold path is structured from the idea of mindfulness, or the ability to have complete and thorough awareness or right mindedness in oneself, thought, people, reality, things and feelings. The 8th and final step in the journey of Buddhas epistemology in the 8-fold path is the idea of Dhayna or Samma-Samadhi meaning deep meditation and absolute self-control of ones self and mind. Finally achieving total liberation of worldly needs, mentally and physically, consequently achieving enlightenment.

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And so, the next portion of the Buddhas epistemology starts with the idea of Karma. Karma is a Buddhist law that means every cause has an effect associated to it. Or like the common phrase we all know, whatever goes around, comes around.

Continuing on, this law explains many things, including why some people are born disabled and some talented and gifted, inequality in the world, and why some individuals only live short lives. The Buddha stresses the overwhelming importance of every person holding responsibility for their future, past, and present actions. Karma consists of three sections, first being Sabija Karma or the beginning birth Karma. The second is Agami Karma or social life Karma (living). The third is the inescapable and consequential Karma of Parabdhra, meaning the last phase or death.

Furthermore, the Buddha teaches the principal of Reincarnation which is not just a simple transfer from one body to another, but you can look at it as more of an immortal soul from a being which transforms to the form of another being, such as an animal or human after death. It shows the idea of the physics notion, the fact that no energy is ever lost and that it only changes form. Its not based on karma or preplanned fate from an external or higher being. It is totally raw and natural; this is the idea of reincarnation.

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As a result, the last portion of the Buddhas philosophy is the idea of Nirvana or the state in which one finds a sense of spiritual bliss when they do not reincarnate any further. Many Buddhists translate this as finding the ultimate happiness. When one is able to destroy psychological and emotional contaminations with wisdom, they become eternally free. Being in a state of radiance, joy, and freedom from the subject of rebirth.

As a conclusion, I have a very hard time relating the Buddha to another individual that I know of because of how unique the Buddha was in the originality of his philosophy and the extraordinary life he lived. Although the closest comparison to another person I could think of was an old teacher I had in San Diego my senior year of high school. This woman demonstrated what it was like to love and treat everyone equally and respectfully no matter his or her background. You could see the effects of true happiness shine through the positive energy she gave off daily. She lived wholesomely and was the contrary of materialistic minded. She taught because she loved people and especially benefiting them in every way she humanly could. Her son attended my school and never had one bad thing to say about her. She was a real, wholehearted human.

Over more and lastly, I chose the Buddha because of the selfless way he lived his life, and taught society. He was purely focused on living the most realistic, loving,

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and peaceful life one could live. I have a great amount of respect for this man and truly enjoyed learning more about what Buddhism and its philosophies stand for. As a final point, growing up and living in Utah County makes me really wish the LDS society could read and embrace this quote. However many holy words you read, however many you speak, what good will they do you if you do not act upon them? -The Buddha

Work Cited

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Siderits, Mark, Siderits,. "Buddha." Stanford University. Stanford University, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/buddha/

"Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha." - UNESCO World Heritage Centre. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/666>.

"Biography of Lord Buddha." Biography Lord Buddha. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.biographyonline.net/spiritual/buddha.html>.

"Gautama Siddhattha Buddha." Gautama Siddhattha Buddha. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2013. <http://www.crystalinks.com/buddha.html>