Light of Asia

Speech given by Adit:

Birth of Buddha:

Siddartha / Gautama was born around 566 B.C. in Himalayan Foothills to Queen Maya and KingSuddodhana.

Rising:

King wanted him to be an emperor of this world. He decided to protect him from possibilities of spiritual path. He provided all luxuries to his son, inside the 4 walls.

The Four Signs that changed Siddartha:

1. Old man with white hair, withered skin, staff to lean.

2. Maimed man (distorted).

3. Funeral procession & corpse.

4. A monk in yellow robes, shaven head, empty bowl.

His chariot explained the meaning of each sign. His chariot’s name was Channa.

4 Noble Truths:

1. The truth of suffering

2. The truth of cause of suffering

3. The truth of cessation of suffering (suffering can end)

4. The truth of path that leads to nirvana

8 Eightfold Path:

· Right understanding

· Right thought

· Right speech

· Right action

· Right livelihood

· Right effort

· Right mindfulness

· Right concentration

If anyone sees ‘NIRVANA’ in his life time, he won’t reborn.

Five Hindrances:

· Doubt

· Lust

· Hatred

· Worry

· Languor

Definition of Karma: Karma à means action. Every time a person acts there is some quality of intention at the base of the mind and it is that quality rather than the outward appearance of the action.

Buddha’s Ethics:

What makes a person a Buddhist?

· Do not destroy life

· Do not steal

· Do not commit sexual misconduct

· Do not lie

· Do not take intoxicating drinks

There are some similarities between Buddha’s Ethics and Ten Commandments

Ten Commandments:

· Do not have any other Gods before me

· Do not make unto thee any carved image

· Do not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

· Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

· Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lordyour God is giving you.

· Do not kill

· Do not commit adultery

· Do not steal

· Do not bear false witness against a neighbor

· Do not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.

Holy Book:

Holy Book of Buddhism is ‘TRIPITAKA’. It was written by Buddha Ghosa in Pali

Famous Mantra:

OM MANI PADME HUM – Jewel in the Lotus

If you take refuge in 3 Jewels:

· The Buddha

· The Dharma

· The Sangha

The chant: http://youtu.be/3T-7Ug7x2uE

Buddham saranam Gachami

Dharmam saranam Gachami

Sangham saranam Gachami

Meaning is:

I go to Buddha for refuge.

I go to Dharma for refuge.

I go to Sangha for refuge.

Dalai Lama, the Spiritual Leader of Buddhism:

Dalai Lama is said to be incarnation of Avalokiteshvara or Chenrezig

Dalai Lama is spiritual leader of Tibetan people. Dalai means Ocean (Spirituality as deep as ocean); Lama means Guru (Teacher)

Three Vehicles: There are 3 ways in following Buddhism.

Theravada (conservative)

Mahayana (liberal)

Vajrayana (subset of Mahayana)

Spread of Buddhism:

Many Eastern countries in Asia are following Buddhism. China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Tibet, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Bhutan, Vietnam etc.

Conclusion:

World should follow some of His great sayings.

Written by: Adit
July 2010, Minneapolis MN