The main rtikel: Gautama Buddha
According to Buddhist tradition, a historical figure born Buddha Siddhartha Gautama of the Sakya clan at the beginning of Magadha (546-324 BC), in a town, south of the Himalayas called Lumbini. Now the city is located in south Nepal. He is also known as Sakyamuni (literally: the sage of the Sakya ").
After his early life full of luxury under the protection of his father, the king of Kapilavastu (later incorporated into the kingdom of Magadha), Siddharta see the reality of everyday life and draw the conclusion that real life is essentially unavoidable misery. Siddhartha then left the life of luxury that means nothing and became a hermit. Then he argues that there was also no means ascetic, and then find the middle way (majhima patipada). The middle way is a compromise between a life of debauchery is too satisfying desires and ascetic life is too torture yourself.
Under a Bodhi tree, he vowed would never leave his position until he found Truth. At age 35, he attained Enlightenment. At that time he was known as Gautama Buddha, or simply "The Buddha" only, a Sanskrit word that means "he who is aware" (from the word Budh + ta).
For the next 45 years, he traces the Gangetic plains in central India (the flow of the river Ganga and its tributaries), as he spread his message to a number of different people.
Buddha's reluctance to appoint a successor or formalize his doctrine resulted in many streams within the next 400 years: first of all streams Nikaya Buddhist sects, which now only remaining Theravada, Mahayana sect and later formation, a pan-Buddhist movement that is based on acceptance of new books.
[Edit] The early stages of Buddhism
Before distributed under the protection of the emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC, Buddhism seems only a minor phenomenon, and historical events that form of religion is not much recorded. Two council (general assembly) formation is said to have occurred, although our knowledge is based on the records of a later date. Councils (also called grand pasamuhan) is trying to discuss the formalization of Buddhist doctrines, and some divisions within Buddhist movement.
[Edit] First Buddhist Council (the 5th century BC)
The first Buddhist Council was held shortly after the Buddha died under royal protection Ajatasattu of Magadha Empire, and headed by a monk named Mahakassapa, at Rajagaha (now called Rajgir). The purpose of this council is to establish quotations Buddha (Sutta (Buddha)) and codify monastic law (vinaya): Ananda, one of the main disciples of Buddha and his cousin, was invited to meresitasikan Buddhist teachings, and Upali, a student other laws meresitasikan vinaya. This then became the basis of the Pali Canon, which has become a basic reference text in the whole period of the history of Buddhism.
[Edit] Council of the Second Buddha (383 BC)
The second Buddhist Council was held by the king Kalasoka in Vaisali, following conflicts between traditionalist sects and movements are more liberal, and call themselves the Mahasanghika.
Traditional schools of Buddhism was considered an ordinary man who achieved enlightenment, which can also be achieved by the monks who follow the rules of monastic and practice Buddhism in order to overcome samsara and achieve Arhat. But the Mahasanghika who want to separate themselves, consider this too individualistic and selfish. They assume that the aim of becoming an arhat is not enough, and declared that the true goal is to achieve the status of the Buddha are, in a sense paved the way Mahayana understand that later emerged. They are a supporter of the monastic rule is more lax and more appealing to the majority of the clergy and the laity (that's why their name means a collection of "big" or "majority").
Council ended with the rejection of the teachings of the Mahasanghika. They left the courtroom and lasted for several centuries in the northwestern Indian and Central Asia according to inscriptions found near the Oxus Kharoshti and bertarikh first century.
See also: the early schools of Buddhism
[Edit] Propagation Asoka (+ / - 260 BC)
Kapital (shoots pillar) a pillar that was founded by emperor Asoka at Sarnath + / - 250 BC.
Maharaja Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire (273-232 BCE) converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga conquered territory (now Orissa) in eastern India is bloody. Because regretted his actions were despicable, the emperor was then decided to abandon violence and spread the teachings of Buddha by building stupas and pillars in which he called for respect for all living things and getting people to adhere to Dharma. Ashoka also built roads and hospitals-hospitals across the country.
This period marks the spread of Buddhism beyond India. According to the inscriptions and pillars left by Ashoka (Asoka Edicts), messengers sent to different countries to spread Buddhism, as far as Greek kingdoms in the west and especially in the Greco-Bactrian kingdom which is the neighboring area. Most likely they well up in the Mediterranean according to the inscriptions of Asoka.
[Edit] Third Buddhist Council (+ / - 250 BC)
Asoka Maharaja initiated the third Buddhist council around 250 BCE at Pataliputra (now Patna). The Council is led by the monks Moggaliputta. Purpose of the council is a reconciliation of Buddhist schools of different, purify Buddhist movement, particularly from opportunistic factions are interested in the protection of royalty and freight organizations Buddhist missionaries to the known world.
Pali canon (Tipitaka, or Tripitaka in Sanskrit, and literally means "Three Basket"), which contains a reference texts traditionally Buddhist and considered to be derived directly from the Buddha, was launched at that time. Tipitaka consists of doctrine (Sutra Pitaka), the monastic rules (Vinaya Pitaka) and supplemented by the collection of philosophy (Abhidharma Pitaka).
Attempts to purify Buddhism Asoka also lead to the exclusion of other movements emerged. Especially, after the year 250 BC, the Sarvastidin (which had rejected the third council, according to Theravada tradition) and the Dharmaguptaka became influential in northwestern India and Central Asia, until the Kushan Empire in the first centuries AD. The followers Dharmaguptaka characterized by their belief that the Buddha is above and apart from other Buddhist community members. While the Sarvastivadin believe that the past, present and future occur at the same time.
[Edit] Hellenistic World
Some charter Asoka inscriptions written about the efforts that have been implemented by Asoka to promote Buddhism in the Hellenistic world (Greece), which was then continued without interruption from India to Greece. Edicts of Asoka shows deep understanding of the political system in the Hellenistic territories: the place and the location of important Greek kings mentioned, and they are referred to as the recipient of Buddhist preaching: Antiochus II Theos of the Seleucid Empire (261-246 BCE), Ptolemy Filadelfos II of Egypt (285-247 BC), Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia (276-239 BC), Magas of Cyrene (288-258 BC), and Alexander of Epirus (272-255 BC).
Propagation of Buddhism during the reign of emperor Ashoka (260-218 BC).
"The conquest by Dharma has been carried out successfully, the borders, and even six hundred yojanas (6400 kilometers) away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules, there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander reign, and also in the south among the Chola, Pandya, and as far as Tamraparni. " (Asoka Charter, Charter Stone to-13, S. Dhammika)
Then, according to several sources in the Pali language, some delegates monk-monk Ashoka is Greece, which shows the close religious exchanges between the two cultures:
"When the thera (elder) Moggaliputta, lightening the religion of the Conqueror (Ashoka) has completed Council (3rd) [...], he sent thera-thera, who was the other one to it: [...] and to Aparantaka ( western countries usually refers Gujarat and Sindhu), he sent a Greek (Yona) named Dhammarakkhita ". (Mahavamsa XII).
It is not clear to what extent this interaction effect, but some experts say that to some extent there is a syncretism between Greek philosophy and Buddhism in Hellenic lands at that time. They mainly show the presence of Buddhist communities in the Hellenistic world at that time, especially in Alexandria (mentioned by Clement of Alexandria), and the presence of a monastic order pre-Christian named Therapeutae (possibly derived from the Pali word "Theraputta"), which may "take inspiration from the teachings and application-contemplation Buddhist asceticism "(Robert Lissen).
Starting from the year 100 BC, the symbol "star in the crown", also alternatively called "chakras berruji eight" and probably influenced the design Dharmacakra Buddha, began appearing on coins Jewish king, King Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC). Alexander Jannaeus associated with Greek philosophical sect, the Sadducees and the Essenes monastic order, which is the forerunner of Christianity. The depiction of the eight chakras or wheels berruji was continued by his widow, Queen Alexandra, until the Romans invaded Judea in 63 BC.
Buddhist gravestones from the Ptolemaic era were also found in the city of Alexandria, with ornate Dharmacakra (Tarn, "The Greeks in Bactria and India"). In a comment on the presence of Buddhists in Alexandria, some experts stated that "Later on this place a few centers of Christianity's most active established" (Robert Linssen "Zen living").
According to Buddhist tradition, a historical figure born Buddha Siddhartha Gautama of the Sakya clan at the beginning of Magadha (546-324 BC), in a town, south of the Himalayas called Lumbini. Now the city is located in south Nepal. He is also known as Sakyamuni (literally: the sage of the Sakya ").
After his early life full of luxury under the protection of his father, the king of Kapilavastu (later incorporated into the kingdom of Magadha), Siddharta see the reality of everyday life and draw the conclusion that real life is essentially unavoidable misery. Siddhartha then left the life of luxury that means nothing and became a hermit. Then he argues that there was also no means ascetic, and then find the middle way (majhima patipada). The middle way is a compromise between a life of debauchery is too satisfying desires and ascetic life is too torture yourself.
Under a Bodhi tree, he vowed would never leave his position until he found Truth. At age 35, he attained Enlightenment. At that time he was known as Gautama Buddha, or simply "The Buddha" only, a Sanskrit word that means "he who is aware" (from the word Budh + ta).
For the next 45 years, he traces the Gangetic plains in central India (the flow of the river Ganga and its tributaries), as he spread his message to a number of different people.
Buddha's reluctance to appoint a successor or formalize his doctrine resulted in many streams within the next 400 years: first of all streams Nikaya Buddhist sects, which now only remaining Theravada, Mahayana sect and later formation, a pan-Buddhist movement that is based on acceptance of new books.
[Edit] The early stages of Buddhism
Before distributed under the protection of the emperor Asoka in the 3rd century BC, Buddhism seems only a minor phenomenon, and historical events that form of religion is not much recorded. Two council (general assembly) formation is said to have occurred, although our knowledge is based on the records of a later date. Councils (also called grand pasamuhan) is trying to discuss the formalization of Buddhist doctrines, and some divisions within Buddhist movement.
[Edit] First Buddhist Council (the 5th century BC)
The first Buddhist Council was held shortly after the Buddha died under royal protection Ajatasattu of Magadha Empire, and headed by a monk named Mahakassapa, at Rajagaha (now called Rajgir). The purpose of this council is to establish quotations Buddha (Sutta (Buddha)) and codify monastic law (vinaya): Ananda, one of the main disciples of Buddha and his cousin, was invited to meresitasikan Buddhist teachings, and Upali, a student other laws meresitasikan vinaya. This then became the basis of the Pali Canon, which has become a basic reference text in the whole period of the history of Buddhism.
[Edit] Council of the Second Buddha (383 BC)
The second Buddhist Council was held by the king Kalasoka in Vaisali, following conflicts between traditionalist sects and movements are more liberal, and call themselves the Mahasanghika.
Traditional schools of Buddhism was considered an ordinary man who achieved enlightenment, which can also be achieved by the monks who follow the rules of monastic and practice Buddhism in order to overcome samsara and achieve Arhat. But the Mahasanghika who want to separate themselves, consider this too individualistic and selfish. They assume that the aim of becoming an arhat is not enough, and declared that the true goal is to achieve the status of the Buddha are, in a sense paved the way Mahayana understand that later emerged. They are a supporter of the monastic rule is more lax and more appealing to the majority of the clergy and the laity (that's why their name means a collection of "big" or "majority").
Council ended with the rejection of the teachings of the Mahasanghika. They left the courtroom and lasted for several centuries in the northwestern Indian and Central Asia according to inscriptions found near the Oxus Kharoshti and bertarikh first century.
See also: the early schools of Buddhism
[Edit] Propagation Asoka (+ / - 260 BC)
Kapital (shoots pillar) a pillar that was founded by emperor Asoka at Sarnath + / - 250 BC.
Maharaja Ashoka of the Mauryan Empire (273-232 BCE) converted to Buddhism after the Kalinga conquered territory (now Orissa) in eastern India is bloody. Because regretted his actions were despicable, the emperor was then decided to abandon violence and spread the teachings of Buddha by building stupas and pillars in which he called for respect for all living things and getting people to adhere to Dharma. Ashoka also built roads and hospitals-hospitals across the country.
This period marks the spread of Buddhism beyond India. According to the inscriptions and pillars left by Ashoka (Asoka Edicts), messengers sent to different countries to spread Buddhism, as far as Greek kingdoms in the west and especially in the Greco-Bactrian kingdom which is the neighboring area. Most likely they well up in the Mediterranean according to the inscriptions of Asoka.
[Edit] Third Buddhist Council (+ / - 250 BC)
Asoka Maharaja initiated the third Buddhist council around 250 BCE at Pataliputra (now Patna). The Council is led by the monks Moggaliputta. Purpose of the council is a reconciliation of Buddhist schools of different, purify Buddhist movement, particularly from opportunistic factions are interested in the protection of royalty and freight organizations Buddhist missionaries to the known world.
Pali canon (Tipitaka, or Tripitaka in Sanskrit, and literally means "Three Basket"), which contains a reference texts traditionally Buddhist and considered to be derived directly from the Buddha, was launched at that time. Tipitaka consists of doctrine (Sutra Pitaka), the monastic rules (Vinaya Pitaka) and supplemented by the collection of philosophy (Abhidharma Pitaka).
Attempts to purify Buddhism Asoka also lead to the exclusion of other movements emerged. Especially, after the year 250 BC, the Sarvastidin (which had rejected the third council, according to Theravada tradition) and the Dharmaguptaka became influential in northwestern India and Central Asia, until the Kushan Empire in the first centuries AD. The followers Dharmaguptaka characterized by their belief that the Buddha is above and apart from other Buddhist community members. While the Sarvastivadin believe that the past, present and future occur at the same time.
[Edit] Hellenistic World
Some charter Asoka inscriptions written about the efforts that have been implemented by Asoka to promote Buddhism in the Hellenistic world (Greece), which was then continued without interruption from India to Greece. Edicts of Asoka shows deep understanding of the political system in the Hellenistic territories: the place and the location of important Greek kings mentioned, and they are referred to as the recipient of Buddhist preaching: Antiochus II Theos of the Seleucid Empire (261-246 BCE), Ptolemy Filadelfos II of Egypt (285-247 BC), Antigonus Gonatas of Macedonia (276-239 BC), Magas of Cyrene (288-258 BC), and Alexander of Epirus (272-255 BC).
Propagation of Buddhism during the reign of emperor Ashoka (260-218 BC).
"The conquest by Dharma has been carried out successfully, the borders, and even six hundred yojanas (6400 kilometers) away, where the Greek king Antiochos rules, there where the four kings named Ptolemy, Antigonos, Magas and Alexander reign, and also in the south among the Chola, Pandya, and as far as Tamraparni. " (Asoka Charter, Charter Stone to-13, S. Dhammika)
Then, according to several sources in the Pali language, some delegates monk-monk Ashoka is Greece, which shows the close religious exchanges between the two cultures:
"When the thera (elder) Moggaliputta, lightening the religion of the Conqueror (Ashoka) has completed Council (3rd) [...], he sent thera-thera, who was the other one to it: [...] and to Aparantaka ( western countries usually refers Gujarat and Sindhu), he sent a Greek (Yona) named Dhammarakkhita ". (Mahavamsa XII).
It is not clear to what extent this interaction effect, but some experts say that to some extent there is a syncretism between Greek philosophy and Buddhism in Hellenic lands at that time. They mainly show the presence of Buddhist communities in the Hellenistic world at that time, especially in Alexandria (mentioned by Clement of Alexandria), and the presence of a monastic order pre-Christian named Therapeutae (possibly derived from the Pali word "Theraputta"), which may "take inspiration from the teachings and application-contemplation Buddhist asceticism "(Robert Lissen).
Starting from the year 100 BC, the symbol "star in the crown", also alternatively called "chakras berruji eight" and probably influenced the design Dharmacakra Buddha, began appearing on coins Jewish king, King Alexander Jannaeus (103-76 BC). Alexander Jannaeus associated with Greek philosophical sect, the Sadducees and the Essenes monastic order, which is the forerunner of Christianity. The depiction of the eight chakras or wheels berruji was continued by his widow, Queen Alexandra, until the Romans invaded Judea in 63 BC.
Buddhist gravestones from the Ptolemaic era were also found in the city of Alexandria, with ornate Dharmacakra (Tarn, "The Greeks in Bactria and India"). In a comment on the presence of Buddhists in Alexandria, some experts stated that "Later on this place a few centers of Christianity's most active established" (Robert Linssen "Zen living").
