Prescribed by the National Curriculum and Textbook Board as a Textbook for class IX-X from the academic year 1997 BUDDHIST RELIGIOUS STUDIES [For class IX-X] Translated by Dr. Bhikkhu Sasanarakkhita Dr. Sumangal Barua Edited by D.P. Barua Nargis Begum National Curriculum and Textbook Board, Dhaka Published by National Curriculum and Textbook Board, 69-70, Motijheel Commercial Area, Dhaka [All rights reserved by the Publisher] First Edition : 1997 Reprint : 2007 Reprint :December, 2010 Reprint : , 2011 Computer Compose Perform Color Graphics (Pvt) Ltd Cover Design Md. Abdul Halim Design NCTB, Dhaka For free distribution from academic year 2010 by the Government of Bangladesh Preface Education is the key to development. A progressively improved education system largely determines the pace and the quality or national development. To reflect the hopes and aspirations of the people and the socio-economic and cultural reality in the context of the post independent Bangladesh, new textbooks were introduced in the beginning of the 1980s folIowing the recommendations of the National Curriculum and Textbook Committee. In 1994, in accordance with the need for change and development, the textbooks of lower secondary, secondary and higher secondary were revised and modified. The textbooks from classes -VI to IX were written in 1995. In 2000, almost all the textbooks were rationally evaluated and necessary revision were made. In 2008 the Ministry of Education formed a Task Force for Education. According to the advice and guidance of the Task Force, the cover, spelling and information in the textbooks were updated and corrected. To make assessment more meaningful and in accordance with the need of the curriculum, Creative Questions and Multiple Choice Questions are given at the end of each chapter. It is hoped that this will reduce the dependency of students on rote memorisation. The students will be able to apply the knowledge they have gained to judge, analyse and evaluate real life situation. The textbook of Buddhist Religion has been written according to the principles given in the curriculum. The divine teachings of Buddha, sueh as brotherhood, good behaviors, kindness to all living creatures, patience and restrain disceipline, etc are taught threough this textbook so that students lead moral and ethical life. This book of Buddhist Religion for class IX-X is the English Version of the original textbook entifled 'Bouddha Dharma Shiksha' written in Bangla. We know that curriculum development is a continuous process on which textbooks are written. Any logical and formative suggestions for improvement will be considered with care. On the event of the golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh in 2021, we want to be a part of the ceaseless effort to build a prosperous Bangladesh. In spite of sincere efforts in translation, Editing and printing some inadvertent errors and omissions may be found in the book. However our efforts to make it more refined and impeccable will continue. Any constructive suggestion towards its further improvement will he gratefully considered. I thank those who have assisted us with their intellect and efforts in the writing, editing and rational evaluation of this book. We hope that the book will be useful for the students for whom it is written. Professor Mostafa Kamaluddin Chairman National Curriculum and Textbook Board Dhaka. Contents Chapter Subject P age One The Compassionate Buddha 1 Two Buddha And Bodhisattva 13 Three T ripitaka 19 Four Precepts (Sila) 26 Five Charity 35 Six Suttas And The Ethical Stanza 42 Seven Theory Of Kamma 53 Eight Nibbana 60 Nine Buddhist Ethical Code 65 Ten Jataka 81 Eleven Biographies 91 Twelve Attakatha 105 Thirteen Sacred And Historical Places 120 Fourteen Buddhist Councils 136 Fifteen History Of Buddhism 144 Buddhist Religious Studies 1 CHAPTER ONE THE COMPASSIONATE BUDDHA The Buddha is possessed of infinite virtues. If a man sings His glory for thousand years, then the years will be finished but the virtues will never come to end. Gautama Buddha was such a great man with unlimited virtues. Many years ago Prince Gautama was born in 623 B.C. Another name of Prince Gautama was Siddhartha. Besides this He was also known as Sakyasinha, as He was born in Sakya clan. His father's name was king Suddhodana and Mother's name was queen Mahamaya. His father was the king of Kapilavastu. While Mahamaya was on her way to tier father's house, Prince Gautama was born in the Lumbini Garden. It is located at a few miles away from Kapilavastu. Introduction of clan The original clan of Sakya was reigning in Kapilavastu. In Pali literature there is mention of some Sakiyan cities such as Catuma, Samgama, Ulumpa, Silavati etc. Among them, Devadaha was particularly well-known in history. It is said that there was a natural lake. It was not man-made. So it was called Devadaha or the lake created by gods. In other tradition, the Sakiyan Kings used it to arrange different kinds of games during the festivals. So, it was called Devadaha or the lake used by the kings (Deva). Sakiyan king, Jayasena was then ruling Kapilavastu. At that time, king Devadaha was on the throne of Devadaha. On the other hand, Devadaha-Sakiya's son Anjana married Yasodhara, the daughter of Jayasena, the Sakiyan king. Sinhahanu was the son of king Jaysena. He married Kacchani, the daughter of king Devadaha. He had four sons and two daughters. They are respectively Suddhodhana, Dhoutodana, Suklodana, Amitodana, Amita and Pramita. On the other hand, Anjana had two sons namely Dandapani, Suprabuddha ad two daughters namely Mahamaya and Mahaprajapati. King Suddhodana married both of them. Suprobuddha married Amita. His son and daughter respectively were Devadatta and Gopa. Life-history of Gautama Mahamaya was the chief queen of king Suddhodhana. At that time there was a festival in connection with Asarhi full-moon day in Kapilavastu. The citizens attended the festival. After celebration of the festival queen Mahamaya slept. At the end of the night, she saw a dream. It appeared in her mind that four guardian gods coming from four directions took her away with bed. The gods kept her palanquin in a beautiful 2 Buddhist Religious Studies place of the Himalayas and stood aside. Their queens bathed her in the Manasasrovar Lake. She was adorned with celestial scented dress. Not in a distance i.e. nearby there was a silver mountain on stood a golden palace. They laid her in the golden palace with her head towards the direction of the east. Then, a white elephant came down from the golden mountain situated nearby. A white lotus hangs on trunk of that elephant. That white elephant entered the golden palace and went round the queen's bed thrice. Then the elephant penetrated the white lotus to the right side of the queen's womb. The queen felt wonderful thrill in mind and body. Next morning, after she got up from bed, she informed the story of the dream to king Suddhodhana. The king immediately called the astrologers and enquired about the interpretation of the dream. They said to the king, 'Rejoice, Mayadevi will have a male child. In future this son will be an illustrious Lord. Sun in the dream, the prince will be very powerful. The appearance of the White elephant in the dream means that the son to be born will be profoundly calm, deep in heart, grave in nature, rare personality in the world, destroyer of human sorrows and omniscient. The great personality will be born in Sakiyan chan and Oh King, thus rejoice'. Days go on. The sacred Vesakha full-moon day had come. At that time the queen desired to go to her father's house. The king made all arrangements. From Kapilavastu to Devadaha, the road was nicely decorated. The queen together with attendants started for her father's house being seated in the golden palanquin. The palanquin stopped in a beautiful place amidst Sal-trees of Lumbini Garden situated between two countries. The Saltrees were in full blossoms. The birds were chirping. The queen stood up and caught holds a branch of a Sa1-tree to have rest for a while. At no time there started pains at child-birth. The attendants encircled the surrounding with clothes. At the time of auspicious Vesakha full-moon day, the future Buddha of the world, Gautuma Buddha was born in that Lumbini Garden. Then, four higher gods (Mahabrahmas) along with four guardian gods nursed Him. It is said that the Bo-tree of Bodhgaya; Gopa, the mother of Rahula; the four treasurers; the four auspicious elephants; Kanthaka, the king of the horse; Chandaka, the Charioteer and Udayi, the son of a minister were born in the same day. They were all closely connected with the events of the life of Gautama. The birth news reached king Suddhodhana. Festivities started in Katpilavastu. But amidst rejoicing, sadness descended. Seven days after the birth of Siddharttha, queen Mahamaya died. Then His step-mother, Mahapajapati took responsibility of bringing Him up. Queen Gautami took care of Him with the affection bestowed to her-own child. So His home name became Gautama. Gautama hears many names, viz. Siddhartha, Sakyasinha, Suddhodani, Mahamayasuta. The Compassionate Buddha 3 His another name was Akkabandhu because of his having born in Sun dynasty or Suriya clan. Again He was mentioned in Mahapadan Sutta as having been born in Gautama's clan. From birth to Buddhahood He was known as Bodhisattva. Again, before the last birth, during all the previous births are called Bodhisattva-life. Bodhisattva Himself became Buddha after having supreme knowledge. Before this birth He took 549 births in different planes of existence. 'Bodhi' means wisdom by act of which a man is emancipated from all kinds of sufferings.