Who was the Buddha?
When we enter a Thai temple, we first come face to face with a Buddha statue. We see a man who radiates inner peace and who looks at everyday problems with a mild smile. Maybe it was. But there is another side to his life that I want to write about here.
He was a reformer, he rebelled against deeply held beliefs of his time and went his own way. Those changes were so fundamental that the word "revolutionary" might be appropriate. A 'revolution' of the mind in this case, because that's a real revolution.
If you try to imagine the life of the Buddha, forget most of the statues and images. I see the Buddha more as a wandering monk for 40 years, charismatic and wise, but also with all other human qualities. The Buddha also spoke of the beauty of nature and the taste of a good meal. And he had great patience with people's weaknesses.
It is very difficult, after so many centuries and so many different schools of thought, to determine exactly what the original content of the Buddha's views was. I choose an explanation that is accepted by almost everyone.
A life of luxury and pleasure within the palace walls
The Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama in Lumpini Park (just across the border from India in Nepal) when his mother was on her way to her family home to give birth, most likely around 485 BC. (note 1) (illustration at right). His father was an elected leader of the republic (an oligarchy) whose capital is Kapilavastu, in the foothills of the Himalayas.
Siddhartha was born in the Kshatriya caste, the caste of warriors and rulers (2). At the age of sixteen he married a cousin of the same age who gave birth to their son Rahula a few years later.
Sitthartha led a life of luxury and pleasure within the palace walls, but once he ventured outside the palace, he was faced with old age, illness, death and later a recluse. He decided to leave everything behind to find out where the suffering comes from and how to get rid of it (3 and 4).
He joined a number of hermits and ascetics who tried to understand the world through yoga, meditation and extreme asceticism. When Siddhartha, after many years and, as he himself described it: 'was so thin that his belly skin stuck to his spine', he found that he could not get to the ultimate truth in this way.
He accepted a bowl of rice and milk from a girl and decided to walk the 'Middle Way'. After a time of intense meditation under a bodhi tree, he discovered the truth of suffering and the way of release from suffering (5).
For the rest of his life, the Buddha ("He who is awakened") wandered North India, sharing his message in conversation with everyone from high to low. He died at the age of eighty. His last words are said to have been: 'Everything is impermanent. Strive diligently for your salvation.”
People started thinking: who are we?
The Buddha lived at the same time as the ancient Greek philosophers and Confucius. It was a time of an emerging middle class, urbanization and the invention of money. People started thinking about who they were and how they related to each other and the cosmos.
Siddhartha grew up in an early Hindu environment. Most of the features of that Hinduism have not changed substantially in the past twenty-five centuries. I mention the following aspects: polytheism; rituals and offerings; a strict caste system based on birth and belief in an unchanging 'Self', Atman of Atta called. It is these beliefs that the Buddha essentially rejected.
In addition, there are a number of aspects of Hinduism that have been adopted by Buddhism almost unchanged. That is the concept of 'karma' ('comb' in Thai), which literally means 'to do, action', and which also includes the consequences of that action. 'Dharma' ('tham' or 'thamma' in Thai) is the Natural Law, the Reality but also the Teaching. Yoga and meditation (sammathi and visapanna in Thai) are important in both religions. And last I mention the belief in reincarnation.
Let me mention the differences again below and show the contrast with Buddhist ideas.
polytheism
Buddhism is not interested in the existence of a god or gods. It just doesn't matter. It is not forbidden for a Buddhist to believe in it. The Buddha used to dodge questions about that with a kind of answer like "There are more important things to talk about."
Rituals and offerings
These are foreign to Buddhism. The Buddha kept talking about it in a slightly mocking way.
The caste system
This was expressly rejected by the Buddha. It made absolutely no difference to him whether you were a born Brahmin or an 'untouchable' peasant. He treated them in (almost) the same way. He talked to everyone from kings to courtesans (prostitutes). A Brahmin who prided himself on his birth was often somewhat ridiculed: 'You think you are a Brahmin now, but….'
Atman or the indivisible, unchanging and highly individual 'Self' or 'I'
This is called 'atta' in Thai, related to our word 'car'. Buddhism adheres to the view that such an "I" does not exist. They believe that the 'self', the 'I' is subject to constant change, as is the world around us. They call it 'an-atta' or 'on-self', 'non-self'.
Some other, less absolute, differences from Hinduism
Although belief in reincarnation en karma is an important part of Buddhism, it turns out that the Buddha was not so concerned about it in practice. Rather, the message is to live a good and righteous life in the here and now, and then your karma will work itself out.
Rituals alone cannot improve your karma. A good deed must be committed, the intention being the most important element. A politician who donates XNUMX baht to a temple and flaunts it to raise his prestige only harms his karma.
The Buddha has also taken a small step towards what I would call a modern and improper word women's emancipation name. After some hesitation, he agreed to initiate women as full-fledged monks.
At Doi Suthep in Chiang Mai this is captured in a beautiful wall painting. His mother, who had insisted on this all the time, was one of the first female monks. Unfortunately, this tradition has been lost in Thailand, but it still exists in Sri Lanka, China and Japan.
The Buddha was also convinced that one just society can make an important contribution towards individual enlightenment or redemption. He compared that to fish (people) in a pond (society). If the water is polluted, it is difficult for the fish to thrive.
Last not least, I would like to point out the Buddha's call to independent thinking. In the Kalama Sutta he says the following: 'It is well, Kalamas, that you are uncertain and doubtful. I tell you that you should not rely on what you often hear, nor on tradition, nor on hearsay, nor on scriptures.
“Beware of presumptions or axioms, nice-sounding arguments or prejudice. Do not rely solely on expertise or rely solely on the notion “The monk is our teacher”. If you yourself know that certain things are bad or culpable, let them go.'
Thai Buddhism: Mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and Animistic elements
Christianity is a mixture of Christian, Jewish, ancient and Germanic elements. Thai Buddhism is a mixture of Buddhist, Hindu and animistic elements.
I often get the impression that many Thais worship the Buddha as a god, while he himself has explicitly said that it is not himself, but his teaching that is most important.
To what extent the Buddha was a revolutionary, I will gladly leave to your imagination. In any case, he was an important reformer with ideas that are still, or perhaps especially now, very appropriate.
Precisely by standing in the middle of the world for forty years, the Buddha has shed his light on human action, and pointed the right way to deliverance from suffering (6).
Tino Kuis
Nuts:
- According to the Thai Buddhist calendar, the Buddha died in the year 543 BC. That is the difference with the Christian era.
- The Kshatriya caste were the warriors and rulers. The Thai word for king is also derived from this, viz. kasàt or dignified phrámahǎakasàt.
- A Buddhist formula that you often hear says 'kèud kàe cheb taal' or 'birth, old age, illness, death'.
- You can see that farewell on almost all murals in temples, which depict the life of the Buddha. Siddhartha lays up a curtain and strikes a last token at his sleeping wife with their child in her arms.
- You can see the Bhodi tree (Ficus religiosa, in Thai tôn phoo) in or next to all temples.
- The pervasiveness and ultimate inevitability of suffering, the causes of suffering, and the path to deliverance from suffering is the central theme of Buddhism. In Pali suffering is 'dukkha', in Thai 'thoék'. Perhaps, instead of "suffering," it would be more appropriate to speak of the "essential imperfection and imperfection of all that exists."
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About this blogger
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Born in 1944 in Delfzijl as the son of a simple shopkeeper. Studied in Groningen and Curacao. Worked as a doctor in Tanzania for three years, then as a general practitioner in Vlaardingen. A few years before my retirement I married a Thai lady, we had a son who speaks three languages well.
Lived in Thailand for almost 20 years, first in Chiang Kham (Phayao province) then in Chiang Mai where I liked to bother all kinds of Thai with all kinds of questions. Followed Thai extracurricular education after which a diploma of primary school and three years of secondary school. Did a lot of volunteer work. Interested in the Thai language, history and culture. Have been living in the Netherlands for 5 years now together with my son and often with his Thai girlfriend.
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Thanks Tino,
Unfortunately, Buddha is ascribed "all" good here.
He was above all a "tree-sitter" like many of the prophets known to us.
Many of these "qualities" of thinking and acting come from Conficius which is more pragmatic and
(contemporary) and less spiritual (floating) than the Buddha.
Mrsgr.
Darius
uuuh, floaty???
Much that we cannot comprehend with our thinking is easily labeled this way.
Too bad, because by trying to loosen up somewhat, for example through meditation, the ego, thinking, there is the possibility to relax, gain new insights, etc. ..
A well written article.
What is called Buddhism in Thailand has nothing to do with Buddhism, even from far or near, even 99,99% of all temples and monks do not follow the Buddha's recommendations.
Only the Santi sect follows them for 100%, but they are politically active, which is not very Buddhist either.
Dear Tina,
Despite the fact that it has become very late, I still read your beautiful article before going to sleep.
It is a good contribution to understand things better.
I had already read a lot about Buddhism , but it is nice to read it in your words .
A good greeting from Danny .
For those who are more visually inclined and want to see documentaries or films about the Buddha, the following links:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsEksMEE2Eg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJWPFYygGPc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u0BwtusG08g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIfXlfsbYOw
with greeting
chris
These links to YouTube no longer work.
Dear Tina,
Thank you for beautifully describing the Buddha's life.
Too bad you didn't go into more detail about Siddharta himself.
You will now wonder what I mean by that.
I would like to go into more detail.
As you know Hinduism consists of 3 Gods. They are Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
These 3 gods have their own MAIN TASKS.
Brahma's task is to create the Universe with all lives.
The duty of Vishnu is to sustain all life created by Brahma.
Shiva's job is to end life (death and rebirth). His task is to destroy the universe and then create a new universe.
Such a cycle lasts thousands of years and is accompanied by 4 phases.
Unfortunately, we are now in the final phase. That is called Kalyug(a).
What does Buddha have to do with this? A lot.
Vishnu is the sustainer of life in the universe, including on earth.
Already at creation (so in the beginning of life on earth) it was already described in the holy scriptures (the Vedas) how Vishnu would fulfill his task.
Within these 4 eras, he is going to reincarnate (rebirth) on our earth to protect sanctuaries on earth and destroy EVIL.
Then it was already decided when, how and under what name Vishnu would be born on earth.
In total he must be born on earth 10 times.
He has already been to earth nine times. The tenth and final is yet to come.
Now in chronological order:
1. Like a very large Fish to protect the Vedas (Divine Sages).
2. As a very large Turtle to help balance a piece of mountain (an interesting story).
3. Like a very powerful Bear to destroy a demon.
4. As a very strong half-man half-lion to destroy another powerful demon.
5. As a dwarf (little man) to teach an arrogant king (Bali) a lesson.
6. As a strong human being (Parasurama) to destroy the evil demons.
7. As King Rama to destroy the very powerful demon Ravana.
8. Like Krishna to teach his arrogant uncle a lesson.
9. As Buddha to end the caste system of the Brahmins.
10 Like Kalki, yet to be born. His means of transportation will be a white divine horse.
So Buddha is the Ninth incarnation of Vishnu, but his mission has partially failed. The very influential Brahmins in India bullied him out of India, because Siddhartha strongly criticized the caste system.
In order to show that he was the God himself, he started wandering through Asia outside India. As a result, the world has more respect for Buddha than the Brahmins in India.
For this reason, the Hindu God Siddhartha has never been seen as Hindu in the world, but got his own new identity.
Chander
Dear Tino, Many thanks for your very readable article. A note: when Buddha 543 BC. died, he cannot have been born in 485 BC; that must be about 623 BC. have been.
The traditional year of the Buddha's death is 543 BC. Historical research gives very different dates and places the year of the Buddha's death 50 to 100 years later, with that 100 years being the most frequently mentioned. The Buddha would then have died around the year 450 BC. died. All confusing.
In the absence of a proper image or drawing of Sidahrta, somewhere in the area of contact between Indian and Greek influences, the image of the head of Alexander the Great was used to represent Buddha. This performance gained more and more popularity and became more widespread. The features of Alexander the Great are still the basis of Buddha's face.
René,
I knew that the first images of the Buddha originated in the Greek kingdoms founded after Alexander the Great in the 4th-2nd century BC. in what is now Afghanistan, northern Pakistan and northwestern India. I started reading more about it (see link below) and discovered that the mutual influence of Greek and Buddhist ideas went much further than I ever thought. Very interesting. I'm glad you pointed that out to me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greco-Buddhism
After everything that has been written, I really only want to add 1 thing.
Also a statement by Buddha: It is your mind that creates this world.
Just think about that.
Hans
When I read or hear something about Buddha or Jesus Christ, I always wonder whether those persons really existed. I think they are inventions of some rich people to keep the many poor people stupid by making them believe in something that didn't happen. You know; keep them stupid, we will keep them poor.
Well, everyone has their own opinion, but this is mine.
I think that there was and is little wrong with the original ideas of Buddha and Jesus.
You probably – and I certainly do – have big problems with what happened to their ideas afterwards.
As soon as a religion gains a substantial following, power-hungry people appear who corrupt and disfigure the ideas for the greater honor and glory of themselves and their own interests. Furthermore, those in power apparently feel threatened in their privileged position and therefore try, willingly or unwillingly, to gain control over (the most important representatives of) that religious movement with the same goal, so that they will not lose their power.
Unfortunately, this is what happened with Buddhism and Christianity. And I think with all the "greater" religions.
Buddha and Buddhism. I as a Falang can only respect the real monk, and there are not so many of them. In so many temples live (scornfully) so many of those orange dresses who have no respect whatsoever for the thoughts and teachings of Buddha, these fake monks have expensive watches, gold chains, the latest telephones, very expensive sunglasses to expensive cars and even a plane and engage in all kinds of prostitution or evade the government, police, etc. by dressing as a monk.
I was also married in Hua Hin before Buddha, by monks who do their "rounds" early in the morning, eat together and then retire all day into the hills in their humble huts, meditating and immersing themselves in the teachings of Buddha , living in austerity. I have a deep respect for that, how many monks are involved with these values I don't know, but if I can make a guess I don't think I will exceed 20 percent.
You are absolutely right Yuundai. I also generally have little respect for the Thai monks. For example, I think that they should not always lock themselves up in a temple, but should walk around in public life just like the Buddha, also and especially in places like the nightlife in Pattaya. They just need to talk to people more. Eating together. That's what the Buddha did. See my 2012 article: 'Is the Sangha (monasticism) doomed? '
https://www.thailandblog.nl/boeddhisme/sangha/
Dear Yuundai,
What you say about the monks doesn't apply to the cleric (whatever name you give them) in the west? Child abuse etc. I think very few live according to the teachings of Jesus.
if you're reading all this now I wonder if you wouldn't be better off reading a good novel. And the good thing is that what you read here should not be believed , it is fiction . There are hundreds of religions with hundreds of different gods. The pity is that there is no evidence of all that rubbish. So if you are a little smart you will do what you think is right and life will be much more pleasant. Because life is short and done is done. Has anyone ever come back in all those thousands of years? I really have compassion for people who spare everything to believe in that fairy tale.
Child, I agree with you completely. I also do what I think is right and when you're dead it's over. Done is done. So don't believe in all that nonsense.
No one has to take a story from a religion literally for the truth. It is almost always about the moral message.
When Siddhartha knew that he was enlightened and would not be reborn again, he happily went home to continue his life there happily. The gods saw that were appalled. They approached Sitthartha as he walked through the forest and pointed out that he should not keep his path to enlightenment to himself, but share it with the world, because every human being is also responsible for others. And so it happened.