101MahatmaGandhiQuotestoInspireYourself

WhyInternationalYogaDayisSoImportant

52BuddhaQuotesOnLife,MeditationandPeace
March14,2015(20150314T20:13:02+00:00)bySunilDaman<http://www.patheos.com/blogs/hindu2/author/sdaman/>

CCBYEdwardDalmuderFlickr:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/edwarddalmulder/4793748511/

GautamatheBuddha,theenlightenedbeingwhoisknownasthefounderof
Buddhismhasbeenaguidinglightforspiritualseekersforover2500years.Hereare
52memorableGautamaBuddhaquotesonavarietyoftopics.

BuddhaQuotesApp
YoumayalsobeinterestedintheSpiritualQuoteoftheDayAndroid
App<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.patheos.hindu2>,
whichincludesquotesfromGautamaBuddha,MahatmaGandhi,
SwamiVivekanandaandmanymoregreatbeings.

BuddhaQuotesontheMind
Allwrongdoingarisesbecauseofmind.Ifmindistransformedcanwrongdoing
remain?

Whatwethink,webecome.
Itisamansownmind,nothisenemyorfoe,thatlureshimtoevilways.
Thereisnothingsodisobedientasanundisciplinedmind,andthereisnothingso
obedientasadisciplinedmind.
Nothingcanharmyouasmuchasyourownthoughtsunguarded.

BuddhaQuotesonTruthandSpirituality
Toconqueroneselfisagreatertaskthanconqueringothers.
Youcannottravelthepathuntilyouhavebecomethepathitself.
Theonlyrealfailureinlifeisnottobetruetothebestoneknows.
Noonesavesusbutourselves.Noonecanandnoonemay.Weourselvesmustwalk
thepath.
Purityorimpuritydependsononeself.Noonecanpurifyanother.
Howevermanyholywordsyouread,howevermanyyouspeak,whatgoodwilltheydo
youifyoudonotactonuponthem?
Peacecomesfromwithin.Donotseekitwithout.
Threethingscannothideforlong:theMoon,theSunandtheTruth.
Ifwecouldseethemiracleofasingleflowerclearly,ourwholelifewouldchange.
Thosewhohavefailedtoworktowardthetruthhavemissedthepurposeofliving.
Thereareonlytwomistakesonecanmakealongtheroadtotruthnotgoingallthe
way,andnotstarting.
Inseparatenessliestheworldsgreatestmiseryincompassionliestheworldstrue
strength.
Whenyourealizehowperfecteverythingisyouwilltiltyourheadbackandlaughat
thesky.
Ifyoulightalampforsomebody,itwillalsobrightenyourpath.
Ifyoufindnoonetosupportyouonthespiritualpath,walkalone.Thereisno
companionshipwiththeimmature.
Learnthisfromwater:loudsplashesthebrookbuttheoceansdeptharecalm.
IneverseewhathasbeendoneIonlyseewhatremainstobedone.
IfyouknewwhatIknowaboutthepowerofgivingyouwouldnotletasinglemealpass
withoutsharingitinsomeway.
Itisbettertoconqueryourselfthantowinathousandbattles.Thenthevictoryis
yours.Itcannotbetakenfromyou.

Lookwithin,thouarttheBuddha.

CCBYND(http://www.flickr.com/photos/16230215@N08/8116798003)

BuddhaQuotesonLife,PeaceandLove
Thewholesecretofexistenceistohavenofear.
Youwillnotbepunishedforyouranger,youwillbepunishedbyyouranger.
Iftheproblemcanbesolvedwhyworry?Iftheproblemcannotbesolvedworryingwill
doyounogood.
Thereisnopathtohappiness:happinessisthepath.
Thousandsofcandlescanbelitfromasinglecandle,andthelifeofthecandlewillnot
beshortened.Happinessneverdecreasesbybeingshared.

BuddhaQuotesonWisdom
Evendeathisnottobefearedbyonewhohaslivedwisely.
Amanisnotcalledwisebecausehetalksandtalksagainbutifheispeaceful,loving
andfearless.
Youonlylosewhatyouclingto.
Painiscertain,sufferingisoptional.
Asyouwalkandeatandtravel,bewhereyouare.Otherwiseyouwillmissmostofyour
life.
Thepastisalreadygone,thefutureisnotyethere.Theresonlyonemomentforyouto
live.
Evenasasolidrockisunshakenbythewind,soarethewiseunshakenbypraiseor

blame.
Wearyouregolikealoosefittinggarment.
Thetroubleis,youthinkyouhavetime.
Adogisnotconsideredagooddogbecauseheisagoodbarker.Amanisnot
consideredagoodmanbecauseheisagoodtalker.
Peoplewithopinionsjustgoaroundbotheringoneanother.
Rememberingawrongislikecarryingaburdenonthemind.
Thereisntenoughdarknessinalltheworldtosnuffoutthelightofonelittlecandle.
Onemomentcanchangeaday,onedaycanchangealifeandonelifecanchangethe
world.
?Imaginethateverypersonintheworldisenlightenedbutyou.Theyareallyour
teachers,eachdoingjusttherightthingstohelpyou.
Whateverwordsweuttershouldbechosenwithcareforpeoplewillhearthemandbe
influencedbythemforgoodorill.
Trueloveisbornfromunderstanding.
Hatreddoesnotceasethroughhatredatanytime.Hatredceasesthroughlove.Thisis
anunalterablelaw.

MoreBuddhaQuotes
Everymorningwearebornagain.Whatwedotodayiswhatmattersmost.
Nothingeverexistsentirelyaloneeverythingisinrelationtoeverythingelse.
Everyhumanbeingistheauthorofhisownhealthordisease.
Ifyouarefacingintherightdirection,allyouneedtodoiskeeponwalking.
BuddhaQuotesApp
Dontforget:MoreBuddhaquotesareavailableintheSpiritualQuoteof
theDayAndroidApp<https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?
id=com.patheos.hindu2>.

BuddhaQuotes|AboutGautamaBuddha
GautamaBuddhatherenownedfounderofBuddhism,wasborninaprincely
KshatriyafamilyofKapilavastuintheNepaleseTaraitothenorthoftheBastidistrict
inUttarPradesh.HisfathersnamewasSuddhodhanaandhismotherwasMaya.She
diedinchildbirthandhersonwhowasgiventhenameofSiddharthawasbroughtup
byhisauntandstepmother,PrajapatiGautami.HisfamilynamewasGautama.After
thenameoftheSakyatribetowhichhisfatherbelongedhewasalsocalledSakya
Sinha,orlionamongsttheSakyas,andlateron,SakyaMuniorsageamongstthe
Sakyas.AttheageofsixteenhewasmarriedtoaladynamedYasodhara(alsocalled
BhaddaKachchami,Subhadraka,BimbaorGopa).

ForthenextthirteenyearsSiddharthalivedaluxuriouslifeinhisfatherspalacetillat
lastthevisionofoldage,diseaseanddeathmadehimrealisethehollownessofworldly
pleasuresanditsattractionssointenselythattheverynightonwhichasonwasborn
tohimhefeltthefettersofearthlylifegrowingstrongerthanbeforeandlefthis
fatherscomfortablehome,hisbelovedyoungandbeautifulwifeaswellashisnewborn
sonandassumedthelifeofawanderingmonkdeterminedtofindoutawayofescape
fiomthesufferingsofdisease,oldageanddeathtowhichallpersonswereprey.Atthe
timeofthisGreatRenunciationGautamawasonlytwentynineyearsofage.Forone
yearhestudiedIndianphilosophy,butitgavehimnosolution.
Thenforthenextfiveyearshepractisedsevereausteritieshopingtherebytofindthe
waytosalvation.Hisyogicpracticesmayhaveincludedhatha
yoga<http://www.patheos.com/blogs/hindu2/2015/01/afewhathayogaarticles/>,yogasanas,
kriyayogaandotherprocessestoraisethekundalini.Heisknowntohavespenttime
withmanyyogicteachers.Thesamanatraditionisanancientyogictraditionthatalso
includedMahavirJain,thefounderofJainism.Butallprovedfutile.Thenonedayas
hesatimmersedindeepmeditationunderthefamousBodhitreeofmodernBodh
GayaonthebankoftheNiranjana,enlightenmentcametohimandherealisedthe
truth.HenceforthhecametobeknownastheBuddhaortheEnlightenedanddecided
tospendtherestofhislifeinpreachingthetruthashesawit.Hedeliveredhisfirst
sermonattheDeerParkatSarnathnearBenaraswherefivedisciplesjoinedhim.
FromthattimeforthenextfortyfiveyearsBuddhamovedabouttheGangeticvalleyin
UttarPradeshandBiharpreachingandteaching,visitingandconvertingprincesas
wellaspeasants,irrespectiveofcaste,organisinghisdisciplesinthegreatBuddhist
SanghaorOrder,endowingitwithrulesanddisciplineandconvertinghundredsand
thousandstohisdeathwhichcametobeknownasBuddhism(q.v.).Hediedattheage
ofeightyatKusinagarawhichhasbeenidentifiedbymanyarchaeologistswithKasiain
theGorakhpurdistrict.ThedateofhisParinirvanaordecease,likethedateofhis
birth,hasnotyetbeendecidedwithaccuracy,thoughitisadmittedbyallthathewas
contemporarywithkingsBimbisaraandAjatasatruofMagadhaanddiedinthereign
ofthelatter.AccordingtoaCantonesetraditionBuddhapassedawayin486B.C.He
was,then,borneightyyearsearlier,in566B.c.
GautamaBuddhaisauniquefigureamongstthefoundersofreligions.First,heis
definitelyahistoricalperson.Secondly,heclaimednodivinityforhimselfand
discouragedanyideaofbeingworshiped.Heonlyclaimedthathehadattained
knowledgewhichagainheheldcouldbeattainedbyanyotherpersonprovidedhe
madethenecessaryeffort.Thirdly,hewasthefirstfounderofareligionwhoorganised
abrotherhoodofmonksandstartedevangelizationinanorganisedmannerby
peacefulmeansalonecarryingthemessageofequality,peace,mercy.Lastly,heput
reasonaboveeverythingandexhortedhisfollowerstoacceptnothingastrueunlessit
stoodthetestofreasoning.Henotonlypreachedthebrotherhoodofmanbutalso
practiseditallthroughhislifeasareligiousteacheracceptingashisdisciplesallwho
caredtolistentohimwithoutanyconsiderationofcasteandraceandthusfoundinga
religionwhicheventuallypassedbeyondthelimitsofIndiaandbecameoneofthe
worldsgreatestreligions.

BuddhaQuotesAboutBuddhism
Buddhismiscommonlymistakenwithtantrayogaandkundalini
yoga<http://www.patheos.com/blogs/hindu2/2015/02/thetruthabouttantrayoga/>,thanks
totheTibetanBuddhismversions.Thesearetheversionsthatareassociatedwiththe
DalaiLama,mandalasandothersuchtypes.Butthesemisunderstandings(tantrayoga
itselfhasnothingtodowithsexuality)areonlyrecent.Buddhismthereligionfounded
byGautamaBuddhainthelatterhalfofthesixthcenturyBC.Itstartedwiththebasic

principlesofrebirthandkarmawhichwerethenacceptedbyIndianphilosophersas
truthswhichrequirednoproof.Thekarmadoctrinemeansthatthemeritsand
demeritsofabeinginhispastexistencesdeterminehisconditioninthepresentlife.
Thedoctrineofrebirthimpliesthatatdeaththebodyperishes,butthesoulwhichis
immortal,takesnewbirthsuntilitattainssalvation.ButaccordingtotheBuddhist
viewtheconnectinglinkbetweenafirmerexistenceandalateroneisnottobefound
inthesoul,theexistenceandimmortalityofwhichareassumedbyHinduphilosophers
butdeniedbyBuddhism.Onthedeathofapersontheonlythingthatsurvivesisnot
thesoul,astheHindushold,buttheresultofhisaction,speechandthought,thatisto
say,hiskarma(doings)whichdocsnotdiewiththebody.
BuddhismthuscametobebasedonwhatwasclaimedtobethefourNobleTruths:(I)
Thereissufferinginlite.(2)Thissufferinghasacause.(3)Sufferingmustbecausedto
cease.(4)Sufferingcanceaseifoneknowstherightway.Buddhismholdsthatthe
sufferinginseparablyconnectedwithexistenceismainlyduetodesire,toacraving
thirstforsatisfyingthesenses.Thereforetheextinctionofdesirewillleadtothe
cessationofexistencebyrebirthandofconsequentsuffering.Desirecanbe
extinguishedifonefollowedtheNobleEightfoldPathwhichconsistsofthefollowing:(
l)rightviewsorbeliefsmeaningsimplyaknowledgeoftheFourNobleTruthsandof
thedoctrineofrebirthandkarmaimpliedinthem.(2)Rightaimsimplyingthe
determinationtorenouncepleasures,tobearnomaliceanddonoharm.(3)Right
speechimplyingabstentionfromfalsehood,slandering,harshwordsandfoolishtalk.
(4)Rightconductoractioninvolvingabstentionfromtakinglife,fromstealingand
fromimmorality.(5)Rightmeansoflivelihoodimplyingoccupationswhichdonot
hurtorendangeranylivingbeing.(6)Rightendeavourinvolvingactivebenevolence
andlovetowardsallbeingsaswellaseffortstopreventthegrowthofevilthoughtsin
themind.(7)Rightmindfulnessmeaningcompleteselfmasterybymeansofself
knowledge.(8)Rightmeditationwhichistobepractisedinaquietplacesittingwith
bodyerectandintelligencealertandthoughtconcentratedontheFourNobleTruths.
ThisNobleEightfoldPathisalsocalledtheMiddlePath,foritavoidedextremesof
luxuryaswellasofausterity.BythepursuitofitpersonswillattainNirvanawhichis
thehighestgoalofaBuddhist.BuddhismrepudiatestheauthorityoftheVedas,denies
thespiritualefficacyofVedicritesandsacrifices,deniestheefficacyofprayersand
practicallyignorestheexistenceofaSupremeBeingorGod.Itholdsthatthe
acceptanceoftheFourNobleTruthsandthepursuitoftheNobleEightfoldPathwhich
isopentoall,irrespectiveofcasteandsex,laymenaswellasmonksandnuns,willlead
totheextinctionofdesireandthiswillleadtoNirvanawhichitispossibletoattain
eveninthislifeandwillfreeapersonfromthecurseofrebirth.Itholdsthatitis
easierforamonklivingasecludedlifetoattainNirvanabutitisalsoopentolay
Buddhiststoattainthesame.TheBuddhistmonksarenotpriestsandtheycanpray
neitherforthemselvesnorforotherswhomaywishtoemploythem.Theyarcan
intellectualaristocracyliketheBrahmansandaretobemaintainedbypious
Buddhists.Buddhismrequiresnochurchortemple,butitrecognisescongregational
discourseswheretheteachingsofGautamaBuddhaarerecitedandexplained.The
founderofBuddhism,GautamaBuddha,himselfistoberecognisedasasupremely
wisepersonwhohasknownthetruth,butnotasGodtowhomprayerscanbe
addressed.
ItwasspreadbyGautamaBuddhaduringhislifetimeintheGangeticvalleyofUttar
PradeshandofBihar.About250yearsafterthedeceaseofGautamaBuddhaEmperor
Asokaembracedthereligion,sentBuddhistmissionariesthroughoutIndiaaswellas
tomanycountriesoutsideIndiaandthusstartedBuddhismonitsvictoriouscareer
whichgraduallyturneditintoaworldreligion.Butiteventuallydisappearedfromthe
landofitsbirthforavarietyofcauses.Thewealthofthemonasteriesandtheeasylife
therewhichsoonattractedmanyundesirableandunworthyinmates,the

preponderanceofthemonksoverthelaity,thegradualreplacementoftheearlier
ethicalidealismofBuddhismbytheritualismoftheMahayana,thesupportthatlater
BuddhismgavetoTantricismwhichwasmarkedbyvariousviciousandimmoral
practices,thereorganisationandrevitalizationofHinduismbySankaraandKumarila
andfinallytheMuhammadaninvasionsofIndiaallcombinedtobringaboutthe
declineandfallofBuddhisminIndia,thoughitstillcountsonethirdoftheworlds
populationasitsfollowers.
BuddhistCouncilswereheldfourtimes.TheFirstCouncilmetatRajagriha(modern
Rajgir)inBiharsoonafterthedeathofGautamaBuddha.Itwasattendedbythe
Buddhistelders(Theras)andwaspresidedoverbyoneofBuddhasprominent
Brahmandisciples,namedMahakassapa.AsBuddhahadleftnoneofhisteachingsin
writingsoatthisCouncilthreeofhisdisciples,Kasyapa,themostlearned,Upali,the
oldestandAnanda,themostfavouredofBuddhasdisciples,recitedhisteachings
whichwereatfirstlearntorallyandtransmittedbyteacherstodisciplesandwere
muchlateronputdowninwriting.AcenturylateraSecondCounciloftheBuddhist
eldersmetatVaisalitosettleadisputethathadarisenbythattimeamongstthe
Buddhistmonksoncertainquestionsofdiscipline.TheCouncildecidedinfavourof
rigiddisciplineandrevisedtheBuddhistscriptureswhichwerestillunwritten.AThird
Councilmet,accordingtotradition,236yearsafterthedeathofBuddha,underthe
patronageofKingAsokaMaurya.ItwaspresidedoverbymonkTissaMoggaliputta,
theauthoroftheKathavattu,asacredBuddhisttext.ThisCouncilisbelievedtohave
drawnuptheBuddhistcanoninthefinalformoftheTripitakaortheThreeBaskets,
andgaveitsdecisionsonalldisputedpoints.IftheSarnathPillarEdictofAsokais
correctlybelievedtohavebeenissuedafterthesessionofthisThirdCouncilitcanbe
rightlyheldthatitsdecisionswerenotacceptedbysomanyBuddhistmonksandnuns
thatKingAsokafounditnecessarytothreatentheschismaticswithdirepunishment.
TheFourthandlastCounciloftheBuddhisteldersmetduringthereignofKanishka,
theKushanaking(c.A.D.120144).Itdrewupauthenticcommentariesonthecanon
andthesewereengravedoncopperplateswhichwereencasedinastonecofferand
keptforsafetyintheKundalavanamonastery.Thesehavenotyetbeenfound.
BuddhistscriptureshaveallgrownafterthedeathofGautamaBuddhawholeft
nothinginwriting.ThescripturesknownastheTripitakaarebelievedtohavebeen
firstrecitedbyAnanda,UpaliandKasyapa,threeclosedisciplesofGautamaBuddha,
atthesessionoftheFirstCounciloftheBuddhistelderswhichmetatRajagrihasoon
afterBuddhasdeath.Formanycenturiesthesewerelearntorally,beingtransmitted
byteacherstotheirdisciplesanditwasnottill80B.C.thatthesewereputdownin
writinginCeyloninthereignofkingVattagamani.TheTripitakaconsistsoftheSutta,
theVinayaandtheAbkidhamma.TheSuttacontainsstoriesandparablesrelatedby
BuddhaduringhispreachingtourstheVitzayalaysdownthelawsandrulesof
disciplineandtheAbkidhammacontainsthedoctrinesandmetaphysicalviewsof
Buddhism.TheSuttaissubdividedintofiveNikayasofvaryinglength,oneofwhich
containstheDhammapada,TheraandTkerigathasandthe]atakastheVinayahas
threesubdivisions,whiletheAbhidhammahassevensubdivisionsofwhichthe
celebratedDhammasanginiisthefirst.TherearenowfourversionsoftheTripitaka,
namelythePaliversionwhichisfollowedinCeylon,BurmaandSiamtheSanskrit
versionwhichiscurrentinNepalandamongtheBuddhistsinCentralAsiathe
ChineseversionwhichisarenderinginChineseoftheSanskritversionandthe
Tibetanversionwhichisatranslationmadebetweentheninthandtheeleventh
centuriesoftheChristianera.Thewholeformsamassivebodyofliterature.The
japaneseversionofitrunsintoonehundredboundvolumesofonethousandpages
each.BesidestheTripitaka,theMilindapankabyNagasena(c.140B.c.)andthe
VisuddkimaggabyBuddhaghoshaarealsoimportantasreligiousliteratureofthe
Buddhists.

Buddhistsectsaroseasaresultofthecircumstancethatnoneoftheteachingsof
GautamaBuddhawaswrittendownduringhislifetime.Differencesonquestionsof

disciplineforthemonksandnunsaswellasonthesignificanceofwhathehadtaught
aroseamongsthisfollowerssoonafterhisdeathandwithinacenturyofthe
ParinirvanatheBuddhistsbecamesplitupintoseveralsectsofwhichthetwomost
importantcameeventuallytobeknownastheHinayanists(i.e.,followersoftheLower
Vehicle)andtheMahayanists(i.e.,thefollowersoftheHigherVehicle).Thescriptures
oftheHinayanaarewritteninPaliwhilethoseoftheMahayanainSanskrit.
ConsequentlytheHinayanaisoftenknownasthePalischoolandtheMahayanaasthe
SanskritschoolofBuddhism.Again,theHinayanaprevailsmainlyinSriLankaand
BurmaandisconsequentlyoftencalledtheSouthernBuddhismwhiletheMahayana
whichmainlyprevailsinNepal,China,Tibet,Mongolia,KoreaandJapaniscalledthe
NorthernBuddhism.AsallBuddhistcanonicalliteraturewhereveritmighthave
extended,aroseinnorthernIndiaandthetwoschoolspossesstracesofmutual
influencesothedivisionoftheBuddhistChurchintoNorthernandSouthernSchools
ismoreorlessunjustified.Asthetwoschoolsrepresentonlydifferentaspectsofthe
samereligioussystemsotheuseoftermslowerandhigherisnotalsojustifiable.
IndeedmanyprefertocalltheHinayanaasTheravada,thatistosay,theopinionofthe
Therasoroldermonks.WhenexactlythisdivisionoftheBuddhistChurchtookplace,
isnotdefinitelyknown.Mahayanismwasnotasuddendevelopmentitdeveloped
slowlyandgraduallyinthecourseofsomecenturies.TheoriginoftheMahayana
thoughthasbeentracedbysometotheMahasamghikaandSarvastivadinsectsof
Buddhismwhichexistedasfarhackas350B.c.
TheinscriptionsofAsoka(c.273231B.c.)practicallyshownosignofMahayanism
whichalsodidnothavethecontrollingvoiceevenatthefourthandlastBuddhist
CouncilwhichmetinthereignofKanishka(ace.c.A.D.120),thoughNagarjunawho
wasacontemporaryandprotegeofKanishkaexposedinhisKarikathehollownessof
theHinayanathought.When,however,FaHiencametoIndiainthefourthcentury
A.D.hefoundMahayanistmonasteriesexistingsidebysidewiththoseofthe
HinayanistsinalltheplacesthathevisitedinIndia.Itwas,therefore,betweenthe
secondandthefourthcenturiesoftheChristianerathatMahayanismfullydeveloped
inIndia.ItwasalsoduringthisperiodthatmanynonIndianswereconvertedto
Buddhism.
ThiscircumstancehasledtothetheorythatMahayanismwasdevelopedinorderto
meettheirrequirements.Thereare,however,reasonsforholdingthatMahayanism
grewupinordertomeetthereligiousandphilosophicalneedsoftheIndianBuddhists
themselvesthoughinlatertimesitgrewmorepopularoutsideIndia.Thedifferences
betweenthetwoschoolsarewide.AccordingtotheHinayanaGautamaistheBuddha,
thesoleBuddha,whonowreposesinNirvana,theabsenceofdesireandstriving,
havinglefttomankindasimplerulebywhichthe?alsomayattainalikebliss,eitherin
thisexistenceoratalater.Thiscreedknowsnoprayers,invocationsorofferingsand
worshipsnoimages,forBuddhaisnotGod,butamanwhohasattainedperfectionand
thrownoffthekarmawhichdoomsmankindtosuccessiveexistencesintheworldof
painandsorrow.EachistoworkforhimselfandattainNirvanabyovercomingall
thirstorattachmentbylivingagoodlifeasindicatedbytheNobleEightfoldPath.
AccordingtotheMahayana,Gautamaismerelyonereincarnationinavastseriesof
Buddhasstretchingfromanillimitablepastintoanequallyinfinitefuture.Notonlyin
thisworldbutinotherworldsnumerousasthesandsoftheGanges,Buddhashave
livedandpreachedatintervalsseparatedbymyriadsofyearsfromatimepasthuman
calculation.Thisworldisbutaspeckinspaceandaninstantintimeilwillpassaway
andMaitreyawillbetheBuddhaofthenextperiod.
PastBuddhasandBuddhastocomearegodsoftranscendantpower,hearkeningtothe

prayersofmankind,respondingtoinvocationsanddelightinginofferingsandincense.
UltimatelyinChinaAmidaorAmitabhaBuddha,apersonageunknowntoearly
Buddhistscriptures,becametheobjectofalmostexclusivedevotionandhispure
paradise,calledtheWesternHeaven,thegoaltowhichthepiousshouldaspire.
NirvanaandGautamaBuddhawerealmostforgotten.TheMahayanaholdsthatthe
ultimateaimofthelifeofaBuddhistisnottheattainmentofindividualliberation.A
personwhoacquiresenlightenmentshouldnotremainsatisfiedwithhisownNirvana,
butshouldworkforthegoodofhisfellowmen.SuchapersoniscalledBodhisattva
(wisdombeing).ThusBuddhasandBodhisattvascametobeworshipedandtheir
imagesweremadeandinstalledintempleswherethesewereworshipedwithvarious
ritualsandincantations.EveryincidentofBuddhaslifeaswellasofhisprevious
birthsfamiliarisedbytheJatakastoriesandbylaterbiographicalsketcheslikethe
LalitavistaracametobedepictedinBuddhistsculptures.UsingSanskritinitsrituals
andscripturesandworshipingimagesofBuddhasandBodhisattvasMahayanism
tendedtoshortenthebreachthatseparatedBuddhismfromHinduismwithinthewide
foldsofwhichitwasultimatelyassimilated.Inspiteofthedifferencesthatexist
betweentheHinayanaandtheMahayanatherearenottwoBuddhisms.Theyarereally
oneandthespiritofthefounderofBuddhismprevailsinboth.Eachhasdevelopedin
itsownway,accordingtothedifferencesinenvironmentsinwhicheachhasblossomed
andgrown.
Stayintouch!LikePatheosHinduonFacebook:

PatheosHindu
183likes

LikePage

Share

Bethefirstofyourfriendstolikethis

14

797

290

Like

16

734

RelatedpostsfromHindu2.0:

(SadhgurusMessagefor
InternationalDayofYoga)

Sadhgurus
Messagefor
InternationalDayof
Yoga (SadhgurusMessage

(101FamousNelson
MandelaQuotestoInspire
&Motivate)

(RudrakshaTypes)

Rudraksha
Types(RudrakshaTypes)

101FamousNelson
MandelaQuotesto
Inspire&
Motivate (101Famous

(JalaluddinRumiQuotes
&PoemsonLife,Love&
Death)

JalaluddinRumi
Quotes&Poemson
Life,Love&
Death (JalaluddinRumi

101MahatmaGandhiQuotestoInspireYourself
WhyInternationalYogaDayisSoImportant

OffersandArticlesFromtheWeb

Recommendedby

(outbrain.com)