Importance of Buddhism and Its Councils

Buddhism is the most important topic in Ancient Indian history. This topic is very important for competitive exams like UPSC, State PSC, SSC, Railways, etc. In this article, we are going to discuss the Importance of Buddhism and Its councils. Aspirants need to read this article and practice accordingly.

Early Life of Buddha: An Introduction

• Buddha is also called Shakyamuni or Tathagata. He is the founder of Buddhism. He was born in the 6th century BC. Born in Vaisakha his Purnima in the Lumbini Gardens near Kapilvastu as Siddhartha of Suddhodana, ruler of the Sakya Republic, and his wife Maya.
  
• Siddhartha’s wife’s name was Yashodhara and he had a son named Rahula. His extravagant life left him unsatisfied, and he was plagued by the signs of illness, old age, and death that he observed in his worldly life. At the age of 29, he decided to leave the palace in search of peace and an understanding of the world’s ailments. At the age of 35, he again attained enlightenment at Vaisakha Purnima, in what is now known as Bodhgaya. 
  
• He preached his first sermon to his first disciple at the deer park in Sarnath.
  
• He achieved his nirvana in Kushinagar.
  

Important teachings about Buddhism

• To Avoid the extremes of life, whether it be an addiction to worldly pleasures or a life of painful asceticism and self-torture.
  
• Buddhism does not deal with metaphysical controversies
  
• Buddha emphasized moral progress independent of any creator of the universe
  
• The essence of Buddhism lies in the recognition that life is impermanent.
  
• Buddha seems to have embraced the idea of ​​reincarnation
  
• 4 Noble truths of Buddhism are the truth of suffering, the truth of the cause of suffering, the truth of the end of suffering, and the truth of the path leading to the end of suffering.  
  
• The path to Nirvana or the cessation of suffering is the Eightfold Divine Path: Right Understanding (Samma ditthi), Right Thinking (Samma sankappa), Right Speech (Samma vaca), Right Action (Samma kammanta), Right Life (Samma ajiva), Right Effort (Samma Vayama), Right Mindfulness (Sama sati), Right concentration (Samma samadhi).

Buddhist Councils:

Buddhist Council	Period	Place	Patronized	Presided by	Significance
1st council	483BC	Rajagriha	Ajatashatru	Mahakassappa	Compilation of Tripitaka
2nd council	383 BC	Vaishali	Kalashoka	Sabbakami	Schism into  Sthavira-vadins and Mahasanghikas
3rd council	250 BC	Pataliputra	Ashoka	Moggaliputta Tissa	Buddhist missionaries were sent to various regions of the world
4th council	98 AD	Kashmir	Kanishka	Vasumitra	Division of Buddhists into Mahayana and Hinayana

Buddhist Schools of Thoughts

1. Hinayana

• The literal meaning is “a lesser path”.
  
• They are faithful to the Buddha’s teachings
  
• His writings are in Pali.
  
• They don’t believe in idolatry
  
• They believe in salvation through self-discipline and meditation
  
• Emperor Ashoka supported it
  

2. Mahayana

• Its literal meaning is “Greater Path”.
  
• Mahayana Buddhism has two primary schools of philosophy, Madhyamika and Yogachara.
  
• The writings are in Sanskrit.
  
• They regard Buddha as a god and worship idols of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
  
• They believe that salvation can be achieved through trust and devotion to Buddha’s mindfulness. It believes in mantras.
  

3. Vajrayana

• It means “thunderbolt vehicle”.
  
• It was founded in Tibet in the 11th century
  
• They believe that salvation can be obtained by obtaining the magical power called Vajra.
  
• Great emphasis is placed on the role of gurus, called lamas, who have mastered philosophical and ritual traditions. There is a long line of llamas. The Dalai Lama is a famous Tibetan lama.

Tripitaka of Buddhism:

• Sutta Pitaka (Buddha’s sermons and sermons, some religious poems)
  
• Vinaya Pitaka (dealing with the rules or disciplines of the Sangha)
  
• Abhidhamma Pitaka (also known as the Basket of “Systematic Philosophy”, which elaborates on Buddhist teachings specifically about the mind).