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Article #165: Who Was Buddha Or Siddhartha Gautama?

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Founder of Buddhism, Pāli: Gotama encountered or was a part of a vision,
Buddha or Gautama Buddha was a spiritual said to be pure and special. In this
instructor in ancient India, between an vision, she was standing with a branch of
estimated 563 BCE and 483 BCE (possibly a tree held in her right hand. While this
even a century later). was going on, gods Indra and Brahma
An excellent book on Buddha's life is, lifted the baby effortlessly and without
"Introduction to Buddhism," by Geshe pain from her, and ceremoniously honored
Kelsang Gyatso. He discusses how Buddha him, AKA Buddha Skakyamuni, offering
being the founder of the Buddhist ritual ablutions to him.
religion called Buddha Shakyamuni, after Royal prince Buddha Skakyamuni was born.
Buddha's real last name "Shakya" combined Or more to point, when the King
with "Muni" for Able One. A lesson in Shuddhodana saw his son and felt as
history tells the story of his life: though he had fulfillment of his own
History Lesson wishes, he named his young prince
Long ago around 624 BC, King Shuddhodana "Siddhartha."
and Queen Mayadevi Lumbini reigned in an The king asked for predictions about his
area now belonging to Nepal, then son's future from a Brahmin seer. And the
referred to as northern India. The queen seer conducted a careful investigation.
has a dream one evening that a white He found that the prince could become
elephant came down from the heavens or either a world ruler or chakravatin king,
more specifically Tushita heaven, the or a Buddha, fully enlightened. But the
Pure Land of Buddha Maitreya, and reign of chakravatin kings is over, so he
penetrated her womb. This elephant told would surely become a Buddha. And the
the queen that she was had just conceived prince would influence and help many,
a baby, a powerful and pure being, from many people worldwide just like the sun's
the same place the elephant was from, rays.
Tushita heaven, the Pure Land of Buddha And so it has come to pass and Buddha has
Maitreya. indeed influenced many, many people
When Queen Mayadevi went into labor, she around the globe. His reach seems to be
did not suffer painfully as most women do similar to that of the sun's rays after
with birthing pains. Instead, the queen all.






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