Gautama, Siddhartha, and Shakyamuni are all names associated with the sage known as Buddha. He lived hundreds of years before the birth of Christ and founded a religion that millions of people around the world follow. Many of today's Buddhists have a little brass Buddha figurine at home.
Gautama is said to have taught somewhere in the northeastern region of India and his name translates to "awakened one". His teachings were became the basis of the religion known as Buddhism and were a somewhat middle ground between two extremes being taught at the time. Gautama's teachings, stories, and life accounts are said to have been recorded after his death. Many of this beliefs were passed down by oral tradition before they could be written down.
Born into royalty and groomed to become a great king and leader of people, Siddhartha was actually very sheltered during his time as a prince. His father believed in keeping the knowledge of pain and suffering away from his son and it was only after Siddhartha stepped outside his palace walls did he acknowledge the concept of human suffering. This realization started a movement that would become the foundation of a religion that has survived to this day.
Although he was born a man and history suggests he existed and died, Buddhists have never traditionally regarded this sage as being mortal. Buddhist scriptures speak of the miracles, omniscience, and superhuman abilities of Gautama. In fact scriptures detail the man as having been a demi-god with all the abilities of a superman.
It is unknown to the true location and time of Siddhartha's birth. Nepal claims itself as his purported birthplace and his followers celebrate his day of birth on April 8th of every year. For the first twenty-nine years of his life Siddhartha was a prince until he began his quest as a pauper and then later a teacher. He gained many followers and pupils in his lifetime.
After gaining many disciples along his journey, Gautama and his followers set themselves to the task of attaining enlightenment. Often they would try to find a pathway to an awakening through self-deprivation. By denying themselves the necessities of food, water, and shelter, the earliest Buddhists only harmed themselves, until Gautama found a new path through divine meditation.
Twenty-five hundred years after his death, Buddhism has become one of the major religions of the world. It is said to be the fourth largest after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. It is also said to have followers in the hundreds of millions if not close to a billion. There is no correct system to measure their numbers but most reside in China.
It is tradition for Buddhists to have a statue of their sage at home. Having a statue of Gautama is considered good luck. Most often it is a little brass Buddha statue somewhere in plain view. There are several different types of statue which vary from a happy, laughing figure, to a calm, meditative one. Each form of statue serves a different purpose. The custom isn't exclusive to adherents of the religion, many spiritualists simply like having the statue for decoration.
Gautama is said to have taught somewhere in the northeastern region of India and his name translates to "awakened one". His teachings were became the basis of the religion known as Buddhism and were a somewhat middle ground between two extremes being taught at the time. Gautama's teachings, stories, and life accounts are said to have been recorded after his death. Many of this beliefs were passed down by oral tradition before they could be written down.
Born into royalty and groomed to become a great king and leader of people, Siddhartha was actually very sheltered during his time as a prince. His father believed in keeping the knowledge of pain and suffering away from his son and it was only after Siddhartha stepped outside his palace walls did he acknowledge the concept of human suffering. This realization started a movement that would become the foundation of a religion that has survived to this day.
Although he was born a man and history suggests he existed and died, Buddhists have never traditionally regarded this sage as being mortal. Buddhist scriptures speak of the miracles, omniscience, and superhuman abilities of Gautama. In fact scriptures detail the man as having been a demi-god with all the abilities of a superman.
It is unknown to the true location and time of Siddhartha's birth. Nepal claims itself as his purported birthplace and his followers celebrate his day of birth on April 8th of every year. For the first twenty-nine years of his life Siddhartha was a prince until he began his quest as a pauper and then later a teacher. He gained many followers and pupils in his lifetime.
After gaining many disciples along his journey, Gautama and his followers set themselves to the task of attaining enlightenment. Often they would try to find a pathway to an awakening through self-deprivation. By denying themselves the necessities of food, water, and shelter, the earliest Buddhists only harmed themselves, until Gautama found a new path through divine meditation.
Twenty-five hundred years after his death, Buddhism has become one of the major religions of the world. It is said to be the fourth largest after Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism. It is also said to have followers in the hundreds of millions if not close to a billion. There is no correct system to measure their numbers but most reside in China.
It is tradition for Buddhists to have a statue of their sage at home. Having a statue of Gautama is considered good luck. Most often it is a little brass Buddha statue somewhere in plain view. There are several different types of statue which vary from a happy, laughing figure, to a calm, meditative one. Each form of statue serves a different purpose. The custom isn't exclusive to adherents of the religion, many spiritualists simply like having the statue for decoration.
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