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Chapter Summaries of Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha

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The Biography of SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA Graphic Chapter Summaries as told by the Buddha’s Birthday Education Project Welcome Welcome to the Graphic Chapter Summaries of Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s The Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha. This compilation provides a distilled summary of each chapter of the book from the perspective of the members of the BBEP (Buddha’s Birthday Education Project) Book Club and has been revised by Venerable Dr. Juewei of the Nan Tien Institute (NTI) Humanistic Buddhism Centre (HBC). In 2014, the Humanistic Buddhism Centre was established in Australia. The Centre focuses on using research, education and innovation to bring the Buddha’s message to life. As one of the teams under the HBC, BBEP is proud to continue the story. We are passionate about utilising art, technology and media to convey the extraordinary wisdom of the Dharma. Do visit our other projects including our Humanistic Buddhism podcast series on Soundcloud, and the Turning Points: Stories of Humanistic Buddhism page on Facebook. Humanistic Buddhism Centre Turning Points: Stories of Humanistic Buddhism We hope you enjoy this commentary of the Buddha’s life in graphic form, and are inspired to engage in the practice of Humanistic Buddhism. Chapter 1 Introduction Venerable Master Hsing Yun explains the necessity of evidence in choosing a religious path - that we take into account the promises and demeanour of the path and leader to assess its appropriateness for us as followers. As an introduction, Venerable Master gives a short historical overview of the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni Buddha, and describes his qualities in matching the criteria for an appropriate religious leader. The leader must have existed, as proven by historical records. The leader must have taken the path they have promised to bring happiness. Their nature must be pure and their character perfected. Most importantly for us, can we trust them and their promises? Chapter 2 Ancient Indian Society The caste system: Brahmans Hindu priests, ruled the hierarchy through assertion of the Manusmrti. Ksatriyas Noblemen and kings who divided and ruled land among themselves. Vaisyas Farmers and traders who were denied basic education by higher classes. Sudras An underclass of slave-like labourers “born to work for the upper classes.” Chapter 3 Ancient Indian Thought While the Brahmans asserted brutal authority, philosophers began to develop theories to explain the phenomena of the universe both physical and metaphysical. This resulted in an over-abundance of belief systems, ranging from pure materialism to pure austerity, leading society into confusion as to what to follow. Chapter 4 The Buddha’s Family History City of Kapilavastu City of Devadaha King Simhahanu & Kaccana King Anjana Yashodhara King Suddhodana Queen Maya Siddhartha Chapter 5 King Suddhodana and Queen Maya “My lord, we are slowly growing older and yet we have no children to call our own. You are the king of this land. How can a king be without an heir? All of the kings of the past had concubines in their royal families...You should invite more women to the palace, so that they may bear you a son.” “No, if it is my fate to have no heir, then even if all the women in the world came to the palace, it would not make a difference.” Chapter 6 Birth at Lumbini Grove “This is my last birth into this world. It is for the sake of realizing Buddhahood that I have come into this world. I am the greatest enlightened being, and am here to liberate all beings.” Chapter 7 Prophecy of the Seer “An heir of great wisdom and ability has been born, and he shall become the savior of the world...If he would succeed the throne,...he would unite the countries in the four directions and rule as a sagely monarch...However, if the prince chooses to renounce the distractions of the world,...he shall realize the path of liberation and become a fully enlightened Buddha.” “...just as you imagine. The prince will renounce the householder’s life and fulfill the spiritual path. He will attain supreme enlightenment.” The prince possessed the complete thirty-two marks of excellence and eighty notable characteristics of a Buddha Chapter 8 Education of the Young Prince Within the shortest span of time, the prince had mastered each and every skill presented to him. The Five Sciences: The Four Vedas: Language Rigveda (health) Art and Mathematics Samaveda (ritual) Medicine Yajurveda (military) Logic Atharvaveda (spells) Philosophy Chapter 9 The Beautiful Yasodhara Even though he had all the riches and prestige one could dream of, Siddhartha remained in existential depression. King Suddhodhana then desperately arranged Siddhartha’s marriage to Princess Yasodhara, which brought them a son, Rahula (meaning Fetter). Chapter 10 The Prince Ventures Outside Siddhartha convinced King Suddhodana to let him venture outside of the palace walls. The King conceded, but (unsuccessfully) staged each of the ventures so that Siddhartha would remain oblivious to the realities of life: Old-age Sickness Death Chapter 11 The Greatest Temptation “Beloved Prince, you are still young...Why do you reject these women?...there is nothing in this world that brings more happiness than love... The love of women is a prize countless men chase after..Prince, do not cast away this rare opportunity.” “This world is a great sea of aging, illness, and death. It is the focal point of all suffering. After realizing this, who would still have the heart to chase after momentary pleasures?” Chapter 12 Renunciation “If you leave to pursue spiritual practice, you will not find what you are looking for.” “If you are able to grant me four requests, then I can reconsider my wish to renounce:” Eliminate old-age Eliminate sickness Eliminate death Create equality “I have left home to become a renunciant...My only wish is to reach the exalted state of equality in all things...If I do not work to liberate beings from the great sea of birth and death, who will?” Chapter 13 Chandaka and Kanthaka Siddhartha traveled to the forest where ascetic Bhargava lived. He gave his horse, crown and jewelries to his servant Chandaka and commanded him to return back to the palace. “Look at these birds chirping in the woods. Every day at dusk...they gather together in the forest. But when the dawn comes, they disperse. Is this not like life?” Chapter 14 Forest of Ascetics Siddhartha met many ascetics in the forest who practiced many different austerities in order to seek rebirth in heavenly realms. Ascetic practices will not lead to liberation from birth and death. To find the true path Siddhartha left the forest and went to the Vindhya mountains looking for the sage Arada. Chapter 15 Grief of the Kingdom Chandaka returned to the city and told everyone that the prince had become a renunciant. The people panicked, the Queen Mahapajapati was devastated. His wife Yasodhara was heartbroken. The king Suddhodana was suffering too. He sent his ministers and many soldiers to find the prince and bring him home. Chapter 16 The Troops Give Chase After some time the grand procession caught the prince in the middle of the road. The king asked the prince to return to the palace and succeed the throne. Siddhartha explained that his resolve would not change. He was determined to find the truth for himself. One cannot hope to reach the truth by following old traditions. “A wise man does not trust the directions given to him by a blind man on dark night.” Chapter 17 King Bimbisara Tempts the Prince When the prince was passing Magadha, the King Bimbisara tempted him by offering half of his kingdom. The king was convinced that a man must attain the pleasures of the five desires when young, power in middle age and truth as an elder. But Siddhartha declined; over time, the five desires become overwhelming, the seeking for power and wealth causes war and anxiety, the elderly lack the power, energy and determination of youth. Chapter 18 Visiting the Sage Arada The sage Arada was master of scriptures. He taught Siddhartha all he knew. But the prince had doubts about this teaching. He still had some questions unanswered. After much fruitless searching, he decided to practice in solitude and look for the truth for himself. Chapter 19 Practicing on Mount Gaya Siddhartha pursued his ascetic practices far more strictly than most, but realised liberation could not be achieved by torturing the body. When he collapsed, a shepherd girl was passing by. Seeing the emaciated prince, she offered him some milk. “I vow never to rise from this seat until I am liberated from birth and death and realise enlightenment.” Chapter 20 Defeating Mara’s Army Many heavenly beings rejoiced, they hoped he would soon open the gates to enlightenment. But Mara was upset and sent his army to attack with arrows and various temptations. Siddhartha sat, remaining unmoved and after some time Mara had no choice but to retreat. Chapter 21 Supreme Enlightenment Siddhartha entered deep meditation, where he could perceive the experience of all his past lives, millions of births and deaths as different beings. Seeing all phenomena clearly, he became the Buddha, the Awakened One. Understanding the Universal Dharma, he came to know the Six Realms of existence and the Causes and Conditions of the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination. He saw how all beings were suffering. After having attained enlightenment, the Buddha continued to meditate for 21 days under the bodhi tree. He saw that liberation is only possible through the practice of what would come to be called the Noble Eightfold Path. Chapter 22 Turning the Dharma Wheel The Buddha left for Deer Park to teach the Dharma and was met by Upaka on the way: “Who are you? Why do you possess such auspicious characteristics?” “Upaka, I have become the Buddha of this world.” On meeting his former ascetics: “If you wish to be free of suffering, you must practice the ‘path’..
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