Dharma

Adapted from "The Teaching of Buddha" written by Bukkyo Dendo Kyokai.

On April 8th 473 BCE, Gautama Siddhartha was born as a prince to King Shuddhodana and Queen Maya of the Shakya clans.

Their castle was along the Rohini River which flows among the southern foothills of the Himalayas.

Queen Maya died several days after his birth, so Maya's younger sister, Mahaprajapati, raised him.

He married the Princess Yashodhara, who is a daughter of Maya's older brother, when he was 19.

His child Rahula was born when he was 29. Then he decided to leave the castle to became a mendicant.

He found 2 teachers from whom he learned and practiced the methods of attaining Enlightenment through meditation.

But he didn't think that it was right path for his Enlightenment, he left the teachers and he started practicing asceticism.

6 years later, still he couldn't find Enlightenment so then he stopped asceticism.

He sat under a tree and started meditating.

7 days later, he had finally found the path to Enlightenment and became a Buddha.

It was the early morning of December 8th when he was 35.

He spoke of this path to Enlightenment to people for the next 45 years.

Many of followers attained their Enlightenment as he did.

When he was 80, he felt that he was going to die soon. So he headed to his home town.

On the way, he lay down under the sala trees.

He died surrounded by some his disciples and entered into perfect tranquility.

(Adapted from "Service Book Higashi Honganji" written by Shinshu Center of America)

1. Life is full of suffering.

2. There are causes to that suffering.

3. Such suffering can be overcome.

4. The Eightfold Path is the way to end suffering.

(Adapted from "Service Book Higashi Honganji" written by Shinshu Center of America)

1. Right View

2. Right Thought

3. Right Speech

4. Right Conduct

5. Right livelihood

6. Right Effort

7. Right Mindfulness

8. Right Meditation