Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha

- A Colouring Book
Danuse Murty
Name :

Age :

Year :

School :
Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha
- A Colouring Book
Danuse Murty

Buddhist Council of New South Wales

Strictly for free distribution only

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 PREFACE

The publication of this second edition is made

possible through the Buddhist Council of New South
Wales and its Special Religious Education (SRE)
programme.

The Council is recognised by the Department of

Education and Training for the accreditation and
support of Buddhist SRE teachers in Government
schools throughout New South Wales.

The printing of this book will provide yet another

teaching resource to the SRE teachers as well as to
parents who wish to share the story of the Buddha
with their children.

Brian White
President
Buddhist Council of New South Wales
Australia

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 INTRODUCTION
TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS

This colouring book is based on the original text ‘A

Pictorial Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha’ by
Gunapauta et al. 1998.

Its pictures and captions tell a life story of

Siddhattha Gotama who became a great spiritual
teacher – the fully awakened one, the Buddha. It is a
story of an unfolding human life and potential for love
and understanding - a story from birth and childhood
to married life, to search for the highest truth, and
to service until death and Parinibbana. Colouring the
pictures and reflecting on the captions will help the
children develop ability to concentrate and reflect on
life and its purpose.

I thank the Corporate Body of the Buddha

Educational Foundation for permitting me to adapt
their publication, and to Phil Thompson for converting
my pencil drawings to electronic graphics.

Dr Danuse Murty
2nd Edition, Sydney 2009

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 Siddhattha’s homeland –
Kingdom of Kapilavatthu in India

5
 Siddhattha’s parents –
King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya

6
Siddhattha’s aunt - Mahapajapati

7
Siddhattha showing loving-kindness

8
Protecting a snake

9
Freeing a swan

10
Siddhattha sees nature of life

11
Siddhattha meditating

12
Palace garden

13
Prince Siddhattha and Princess Yasodhara

14
Palace of Prince Siddhattha and of his
wife Princess Yasodhara

15
Siddhattha sees nature of life –
impermanence and suffering

16
Siddhattha sees a peaceful monk

17
Leaving home to find the way out of
suffering

18
Siddhattha becomes a homeless monk

19
Showing compassion for a wounded lamb

20
Teaching not to harm, but rather
be kind to all living beings

21
Studying with meditation teachers

22
Leaving to find the truth about life
by himself

23
Practicing asceticism

24
Fasting

25
A shepherd boy saves Siddhattha from
an early death

26
Accepting a food offering

27
Siddhattha meditating

28
Experiencing the Supreme Enlightenment

29
The Buddha answering brahmin’s questions

30
Contemplating on whom to teach

31
Leaving to help others

32
Persuading his 5 old friends

33
Teaching the 4 Noble Truths: the Noble
Truth of Suffering, the Cause of it, the
End of it, and the Way to the end of it

34
Going to Uruvela

35
Sigala doing a ritual

36
The Buddha giving Sigala 5 rules of
conduct – the 5 Precepts

37
Two friends and the Buddha’s students
to be – Upatissa and Kolita

38
The Buddha instructing Arahants
on what to teach

39
Meeting his father

40
The Buddha’s son - Rahula

41
The Buddha’s students – Ananda and
Mahapajapati

42
The Buddha’s cousin Devadatta

43
Devadatta attempting to kill the Buddha

44
The Buddha taming a wild elephant

45
Morning alms round

46
Teaching the Universal truth - Dhamma

47
Getting ready to have a bath

48
Resting

49
Advising a farmer

50
Going to Kusinara

51
The Buddha instructing his personal
attendant - Ananda

52
Meditating

53
Instructing the Sangha

54
Last look at Vesali

55
Last resting place – Salavana holiday
resort, near Kusinara

56
Ananda grieving

57
The Buddha consoling Ananda

58
Instructing his new and last student -
Subhadda

59
Giving his last advice

60
Passing away

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 REFERENCES

Gunapauta, Hai J, Lu Z.A. and Lee Y.-F.,

1998. A Pictorial Biography of Sakyamuni
Buddha. The Corporate Body of the Buddha
Educational Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan.

BodhiTree website:
www.buddhistcouncil.org/bodhitree

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My own drawings
My own drawings
 Buddhist Council of NSW Inc.

P.O. Box 593, Crows Nest, NSW 1585

Tel: 02-9966 8893
Fax: 02-9966 8897
Email: office@buddhistcouncil.org
Website: www.buddhistcouncil.org