Gautama Buddha
One of the Great Teachers of
mankind was Siddhartha Gautama, known also as
Shakyamuni or Gautama Buddha.
Siddhartha Gautama was born into
a royal family in ancient India about five centuries
B.C.
During the celebration of His
birth, a sage prophesied that the boy will become
either a great king or a great holy man. His father
desiring to make Siddhartha a king, shielded Him
from religious education and from the knowledge
about human suffering.
For a long time, prince
Siddhartha lived a luxury life in the royal palace,
until one day, during a trip outside the palace, He
learned about the poverty and suffering of people.
After this discovery, He decided
to leave the royal palace and dedicate Himself to
seeking the cause of human suffering and the way to
liberation from it.
After many years of spiritual
search and meditation, He achieved the state of
Nirvana (full
Self-realization). Since that time He began to
preach His Teachings to people.
As all other Great Teachers,
Gautama Buddha preached first of all LOVE, which one
can achieve in calm and lowliness of mind by
developing oneself as a
spiritual heart.
He taught also the true
simplicity in life (including abandonment of
material attachments), loving and compassionate
attitude toward other living beings, and attainment
of the highest Self-realization in Mergence with the
Primordial Consciousness.
See also:
•
God
• Avatar
External links:
•
Thus Spoke Buddha (selection of quotations)
|
