lV. THÁI TỬ THÀNH ĐẠO

the history of

shakyamauni Buddha

from monkhood to nirvana

I. Prince's Departure:

On the fullmoon day of February, the Prince and Channa(Xa Nặc) rode the Kanthaka horse (Kiền Trắc) across the Anoma River. After crossing the river, the prince got off the horse, and cut off his hair with a sword. He cast off his royal garments and ornaments all of which he gave to Channa. He then told him to return to the palace. Alone, the prince was on his way to seek for a true religion. He was 19 years old.

II. Searching for a true path:

The Prince joined several scholars in practicing their beliefs in hopes of finding a way to liberate the sentient beings.

1. The Prince's first encounter in searching for a religion: On his way to Rajagaha (Vương Xá) city, he encountered the saints in Bạt Già forest. After practicing with the saints and scholars, he realized that the ultimate goal of this group was to become a mara or angels. To him this was not an absolute noble path.

2. The Prince's second encounter in searching for a religion: He went to Tỳ Xá lệ city and encountered minister Alara Kalama (A La La). In practicing with the minister, The Prince realized that the study of destination and deep meditation would not liberate oneself. He then left the group.

3. The Prince's third encounter in searching for a religion: He encountered minister Uddaka Ramaputta (Uất dậu Lam Phất). In practicing with the minister, the Prince learned the purpose of this group was to disregard existence and non-existence, and only to trust in spirit.

III. The Prince practiced asceticism:

In the end, the Prince decided to seek for a noble path through the act of self-practicing. He went to Uruvela (Ðu Lâu Tàn Loa) forest near Ni Liên River and practiced extreme asceticism. His five companions were Kondanna (Kiều Trần Như), Assaji (Ác Bệ), Bhaddiya (Thập Lịch Ca Diếp), Mahanam (Ma Ha Nam Câu Ly), and Vapa (Bạc Đề). After some time the five gave up their practices and went home. The prince continued to practice all forms of severe austerity. His body was reduced to almost a skeleton. He realize the more he tormented his body, the further his goal receded from him. He was fully convinced, through personal experience that self-mortification was ineffective. He began to avoid the two extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification and found a way between the two.

IV. The Prince became Enlightened:

Regardless of the disturbances around him, the prince kept on meditating. On December 8th (Lunar calendar), he achieved three supernatural powers. First, he achieved a Full Understanding of Life (Knowledge, Túc Mạng Minh), which allowed him to relieve all the successive series of birth anddeath for himself and others. Next, he achieved the Divine Eyes (Thiên Nhãn Minh),which allowed him to see things the way it should be seen. Third, he achieved an Eradication of Sufferings (Lậu Tận Minh), which allowed him to eliminate all misconceptions and ignorances. In the early morning hours, he attained enlightenment and became a Buddha with the title Gautama (Thích Ca Mâu Ni).

V. The Ministry of Buddha:

The Buddha visited Isipatana (Vườn Lộc Uyển) and taught the Four Noble Truths (TÙ Diệu Đế) to the brothers of Kondana (Kiều Trần Như) who were with him in the beginning of his meditation and were disappointed when he detached from penance. This was the start of the Three Jewels (Phật, Pháp, and Tăng). He also taught a youngster named Yasa (Da-Xã). The following were a few distinguished disciples among his followers:

1. Ca Diếp, The Master of the Flames.

2. King Bimbirara (Tàn Bà Ta La) of Ma Kiệt Đà.

3. Mogallana (Mục Kiền Liên), The Master of Supernatural Powers.

4. Sariputta (Xá Lợi Phất), The Master of Wisdom.

5. Chief Nan-Đà, Chief A Nan, Chief Ðu Bà Ly, Chief A Na Luật Đà.

6. Maha Pajapati (Ma Ha Ba Xà Ba ñŠ), The First Woman in Buddhism

7. SubhaÇa (Tu Bạt Đà La ) (80 years old), The last person among his disciples. In the 49 years of his teaching, the number of his followers increased tremendously. The Buddha spent 9 months out of a year teaching in the remote areas, and he spent three months in retreat with his chief followers.

VI. The Buddha's last moment:

On the Full Moon in February of India's Calendar, Buddha summoned his disciples for his last words before he passed away. Ca Diếp, the Master of the Flames became responsible to carry on the Buddha's teachings.

VII. Conclusion:

Buddha's main commitment was to save sentient beings from sufferings. He cared less about his royalties and self-happiness. He lived in a austere condition and meditated himself to attain enlightenment. He taught sentient beings for 45 years about how his practices had merited him to be an awakened one. He had devoted his entire life to seek for a perfect and practical solution for thehappiness of all beings.