When we talk about the most enlightened minds in history, many people will immediately think of the Buddha, so this seemed like a great starting point for this series, Enlightened Minds. We’ll be covering important figures from various religious and cultural backgrounds, but some will inevitably have a Buddhist background, so this article on the Buddha himself will serve as an important foundation moving forward.
The story of Siddhartha Gautama, who became known as the Buddha, is one of the most well-known inspirational tales in human history. Born into luxury, he abandoned his royal life to seek the truth about human suffering and how to overcome it. Through practice, meditation and insight, he attained enlightenment and spent the rest of his life teaching others. He stands as a towering figure in the landscape of spiritual and philosophical thought, and the roadmap he provided continues to guide millions.
As Buddhism spread across Asia and beyond, it developed into various branches and schools, each with its unique interpretations and practices. These diverse traditions offer different perspectives on the Buddha’s teachings. Additionally, translations and interpretations of Buddhist texts can vary, leading to different understandings even within the same branch. Our purpose here is not to compare these branches or judge which is better than others, but to treat them all with equal respect. Each tradition holds valuable insights and practices that contribute to the rich tapestry of Buddhism.
Who was the Buddha?
According to the stories and texts that were passed down, Siddhartha Gautama was born in the 6th or 5th century BCE in what is now Lumbini, Nepal. He was born to royal parents of the Shakya clan, and lived a life of privilege and power. This was a time and place filled with various spiritual and philosophical traditions that influenced the area.
Siddhartha’s father, King Suddhodana, wanted to protect his son from the harsh realities of life. So, he built a luxurious palace and kept Siddhartha inside, away from any suffering or distress. The palace had beautiful gardens, entertainment, and every luxury you could think of, all to keep Siddhartha happy and content so he would eventually become a ruler like his father.
But even with all this comfort, Siddhartha felt increasingly restless as he grew older. When he turned 29, he finally left the palace and saw the outside world. This journey changed his life forever. He saw what are known as the four sights, which set him on his spiritual path:
- The old man: Siddhartha saw an elderly person who was frail and burdened by age. This was a shocking contrast to the youth and energy he was used to in the palace. It made him face the reality of aging and how fragile human life can be.
- The sick person: Then, he came across someone who was very ill. This encounter showed Siddhartha how vulnerable people are and how much suffering illness can cause. It challenged the idea that he was somehow safe from such pain.
- The corpse: Next, Siddhartha saw a dead body. This sight hit him hard because it reminded him of the inevitable reality of death. It made him face the fact that everyone, including himself, is going to die.
- The ascetic: Finally, Siddhartha met a wandering ascetic who had given up all worldly pleasures to seek spiritual enlightenment. This was a big contrast to the other sights and opened Siddhartha’s eyes to the possibility of finding a deeper meaning beyond material things. It sparked his interest in exploring a path to spiritual freedom.
His secure and comfortable life was turned upside down after these encounters, making him think deeply about suffering and the purpose of life. Realizing that aging, illness, and death are unavoidable made him question what his own life was all about and why people suffer.
Determined to find answers, Siddhartha made a radical decision: he left behind his royal life, including his family and all material comforts, to go on a quest for understanding. This departure was both a physical and symbolic break from his old life, marking the start of a profound spiritual journey.
Siddhartha tried various spiritual practices and studied under famous teachers. He even took on extreme ascetic practices like fasting and self-denial. Despite his efforts, these harsh practices didn’t bring him the enlightenment he was seeking. His body became weak, and he felt burdened by the severity of his methods.
This period of intense asceticism led Siddhartha to a key realization: neither indulging in pleasures nor denying himself completely would lead to true enlightenment. He understood that a more balanced approach was needed. He decided to meditate under the Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India, with the firm resolve not to get up until he found enlightenment. This was a major turning point in his journey.
While meditating, Siddhartha faced many challenges and temptations. Mara, the demon of illusion, tried to distract him with visions of pleasure and fear. But Siddhartha stayed focused and determined. His meditation culminated in a deep realization about the nature of existence and the path to overcoming suffering. By dawn, Siddhartha had attained enlightenment and became the Buddha, “the Awakened One”.
The Buddha’s teachings
After achieving enlightenment beneath the Bodhi tree, the Buddha began sharing his insights with his first disciples. He taught them about the nature of suffering and the path to overcome it.
Throughout his life, the Buddha delivered a wide range of teachings, which would eventually form what we now know as Buddhism. These teachings are collectively referred to as the dharma or buddhadharma. As his message spread, it absorbed elements from local traditions and cultures, adapting to various contexts.
Let’s explore the core aspects of the Buddha’s teachings and how they apply to our lives.
The Three Marks of Existence
Before we can understand the Buddha’s core teachings, it’s important to first learn about the three marks of existence, which are three concepts that explain the characteristics of all existence and beings.
- Anicca (impermanence)
The principle of anicca or impermanence is a fundamental aspect of Buddhist thought. It explains that all phenomena are in a constant state of flux. Nothing is permanent. Everything in life is transient and subject to change. The nature of all things is to arise and cease. Therefore, nothing can be grasped or held onto. In the case of human beings, they age, grow old, and die. The insight into impermanence challenges the illusion of permanence and stability that people often cling to. Nothing lasts, and everything decays. - Dukkha (suffering or unsatisfactoriness)
Dukkha is often translated as “suffering” or “unsatisfactoriness”. It refers to dissatisfaction and discomfort due to changing conditions and impermanence. Human beings experience dissatisfaction from getting what they wish to avoid, or from not getting what they desire. Even when they have what they desire, they fear losing it, because things are impermanent and subject to change. - Anatta (non-self)
The concept of anatta or non-self is another central teaching. It explains that there is no permanent essence in any thing or phenomena, including living beings. Nothing has a permanent, unchanging “self”. According to the Buddha, this is the case with human beings as well. Understanding non-self involves recognizing that what we call the self is not a static entity but a dynamic process:
The body is not my self. If the body were my self, it would be possible to command: “Let my body be thus, and let my body not be thus.” But because the body is not my self, it is subject to aging, sickness and death.
Thoughts are not my self. If thoughts were my self, it would be possible to command: “Let my thoughts be thus, and let my thoughts not be thus.” But because thoughts are not my self, they change and are influenced by external events.
Feelings are not my self. If feelings were my self, it would be possible to command: “Let my feelings be thus, and let my feelings not be thus.” But because feelings are not my self, they are sometimes pleasant and sometimes painful.
The relationship between the three characteristics is explained as follows: What is anicca is dukkha. What is dukkha is anatta. That brings us to the foundation of the Buddha’s teachings, the Four Noble Truths.
The Four Noble Truths
The Four Noble Truths form the basis of Buddhist teachings. They provide a clear framework for understanding the nature of suffering and the path to its cessation:
- Dukkha: We’ve already touched upon this concept, often translated as “suffering” or “unsatisfactoriness”. The translations can sometimes cause misunderstandings or disagreements. The word itself refers to a wheel that is out of kilter and not running as it should. This concept explains that something is off because we cling to things that are ultimately impermanent and thus unsatisfactory. We want what we don’t have, and even when we have what we want, we fear losing it. We get sick, grow old and eventually die.
- Samudaya: The cause of this dukkha is tanha, which is often translated as “craving” or “thirst”. We attach to things and crave for them, keeping the cycle of suffering going. Our cravings for sensory pleasure, material possessions, and even the desire for permanence create a cycle of dissatisfaction and pain. These desires bind us to a state of continuous yearning and disappointment.
- Noridha: The cessation of suffering is attainable. This cessation is achieved by extinguishing craving, leading to Nirvana, the liberation from dukkha. By letting go of our attachments to impermanent things, we can free ourselves from this cycle of suffering.
- Marga: The path that leads to overcoming this craving and suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path. It provides practical steps that lead to liberation. It includes the principles of right understanding, right intention, right speech, right action, right livelihood, right effort, right mindfulness, and right concentration.
The Noble Eightfold Path
The Noble Eightfold Path is a practical guide for living a life that leads to liberation. It is divided into three categories: ethical conduct, mental discipline, and wisdom. The eight components are:
- Right understanding: This means understanding the nature of reality and the Four Noble Truths. It’s about understanding where suffering comes from and how to end it. It’s the foundation for making wise choices and gaining insight.
- Right intention: This is about cultivating intentions of renunciation, goodwill, and harmlessness. This practice focuses on developing a mindset that supports ethical behavior and mental clarity. Right intention involves setting a clear and positive direction for one’s actions and thoughts.
- Right speech: This involves speaking truthfully, abstaining from lying, divisive speech, abusive speech, and idle chatter. It’s about speaking what is true and beneficial, and only when the circumstances are right.
- Right action: This means acting in ways that are ethical and non-harmful, abstaining from killing, stealing and sexual misconduct. Right action is about aligning actions with one’s values.
- Right livelihood: This involves choosing a profession that doesn’t harm others. What one does for a living shouldn’t cause suffering to sentient beings by cheating them, or harming or killing them in any way.
- Right effort: This is about cultivating positive states of mind and overcoming negative ones. It requires a consistent effort to build wholesome thoughts, emotions and intentions, and eliminate unwholesome ones. The unwholesome ones include sensual desires, doubts about the path, restlessness, drowsiness and ill will.
- Right mindfulness: This means paying attention and being conscious of what one is doing. Never be absent minded. This includes being aware of one’s thoughts, feelings, and actions in the present moment.
- Right concentration: This focuses on practicing meditation to gain insight and mental clarity. It includes practices like concentration meditation (samatha) and insight meditation (vipassana) to reach deeper levels of understanding.
Different branches of Buddhism
Now that we’ve covered the basic teachings, let’s also examine the different Buddhist traditions. As Buddhism spread across Asia, it evolved into various branches, each with its unique interpretations and practices. Today, the major branches of Buddhism are Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana. Here’s a brief overview to understand the core differences:
Theravada Buddhism
Theravada, often called the “teaching of the elders,” is considered the oldest form of Buddhism. It focuses on the earliest teachings of the Buddha, preserved in texts known as the Pali Canon. Theravada emphasizes personal liberation through one’s own efforts, primarily meditation, and adherence to a strict monastic code. This branch believes in a more individual path to Nirvana, often seeing the Buddha as a great teacher rather than a divine figure. Theravada is predominant in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Myanmar.
Mahayana Buddhism
Mahayana, meaning “great vehicle,” includes a wide variety of schools and practices such as Zen, Pure Land, and Nichiren Buddhism. This branch is practiced mainly in East Asia, including China, Japan, Korea, and Vietnam. Mahayana accepts the texts and teachings of early Buddhism, but also recognizes other texts that are not accepted by Theravada Buddhism as original. These include the Mahayana sutras and their emphasis on the bodhisattva path. A bodhisattva is someone who vows to attain enlightenment for the benefit of all sentient beings, instead of working only towards one’s own liberation. The Bodhisattva’s compassion and willingness to delay their own Nirvana in order to help others is a central theme in Mahayana.
Vajrayana Buddhism
Vajrayana, also known as the “diamond vehicle” or “thunderbolt vehicle,” is an esoteric form of Buddhism that incorporates tantric practices, rituals, and a belief in the possibility of achieving enlightenment in a single lifetime. Vajrayana considers itself to be a faster but more complex path to enlightenment, that requires guidance from a qualified teacher. Mantras, mudras, mandalas and the visualization of deities are an important part of this tradition. It is most commonly associated with Tibetan Buddhism and is practiced in Tibet, Bhutan, Mongolia, and parts of Nepal and India.
An example of a key difference: the Lotus Sutra
We could dedicate an entire series to the differences between the different branches of Buddhism, but for this article we’ll cover one example to illustrate one of the key differences. The example we’ll look at is the Lotus Sutra. This is a highly influential text in Mahayana Buddhism and presents a universal path to liberation, emphasizing that all beings have the potential to become Buddhas.
The Lotus Sutra is not universally accepted by all branches of Buddhism. For example, Theravada Buddhism does not include the Lotus Sutra in its canon, focusing instead on what it considers the earliest and most authentic teachings of the Buddha. This means that not all Buddhists will agree about whether or not this text is based on an authentic teaching from the Buddha himself. However, some of the ideas presented in the Lotus Sutra are fundamental in understanding some of the world’s major Buddhist traditions, so it’s worth examining them:
Upaya: skilful means
A central concept in the Lotus Sutra is upaya, or “skilful means”. This idea suggests that the Buddha’s teachings are not absolute truths but rather practical methods designed to lead people to liberation. The Buddha tailored his teachings to suit the capacities and circumstances of different individuals, much like a doctor prescribes different treatments for different ailments. This means that what might seem like contradictory teachings are actually different methods for guiding people toward the same ultimate goal.
Parable of the burning house
One of the most famous parts of the Lotus Sutra is the “parable of the burning house”. In this story, a wealthy man discovers his house is on fire with his children trapped inside. He knows his children are too engrossed in their play to realize the danger, and tells them that he has various types of carts outside for them to play with: goat carts, deer carts, and ox carts. He knew that his children wouldn’t be able to resist the promise of these new toys. The children rush out of the house, but outside they find that the father didn’t have the carts he promised. Instead, he gave them a single cart that was much better than any of the others.
This illustrates how the Buddha used different teachings (the carts) to help people out of their suffering (the burning house) towards the ultimate truth (the single, better cart), which is greater than what they anticipated.
Ekayana: one vehicle
The Lotus Sutra introduces the idea of ekayana, or “one vehicle,” which means that all the diverse paths and teachings of Buddhism ultimately lead to the same goal of Buddhahood. This unifying vision suggests that no matter which practice or teaching one follows, they are all skilful means leading to the same liberation.
The Buddha’s legacy
Siddhartha Gautama’s journey from a life of privilege to profound spiritual insight is a timeless story of transformation and enlightenment. The Buddha’s wisdom is not confined to ancient texts or historical contexts; it remains relevant and applicable to contemporary life, continues to provide guidance for navigating the complexities of human experience.
Even though different branches, interpretations and translations exist, each branch of Buddhism offers unique perspectives and practices, catering to different cultures, personalities, and spiritual needs. It’s important to remember that Buddhism, at its core, is like a raft that helps you cross a river. Once you reach the other side, you leave the raft behind. The teachings are tools to help you reach enlightenment, not the end goal themselves.
The specific words, concepts, and differences between the branches are less important than the personal experience of practice and insight. So, if you’re interested in learning more about Buddhism, consider exploring what the different branches offer, and find the one that resonates with you.
