01 Buddhism for Beginners
Вставка
- Опубліковано 1 лис 2023
- Buddhism for Beginners: Questions and Answers
Live an Awakened Life
Be Kind to Yourself
Attain Full Enlightenment
Benefit All Living Beings
Chapter 1
Understanding Buddhism
1. Buddhism and the Buddha
Q 1: Buddhism is known as one of the three major religions in the world, together with Christianity and Islam. Is that correct?
A: Generally speaking, yes. Specifically, Buddhism is the teachings given by Shakyamuni Buddha, based on his realistic understanding of life and the universe. The sutras were spoken by the Buddha himself, which differ from scriptures of other religions recorded by disciples according to instructions from God or other deities.
Q 2: Is the Buddha a deity?
A: The Buddha is not a deity. The Buddha is the Awakened One, who has attained full enlightenment regarding the truth about life and the universe.
Q 3: Who is greater, Buddha or God?
A: According to the Dharma (teachings of Buddhism), all living beings have Buddha-nature equal to that of the Buddha. God is one of those living beings. So the question of who is greater does not exist.
Q 4: Are Shakyamuni Buddha and Tathagata Buddha (Rulaifo) in the classic Chinese novel, Journey to the West, the same person?
A: “Tathagata” and “Buddha” have the same meaning. For example, Shakyamuni Buddha can be called Shakyamuni Tathagata, and Amitabha Buddha can be called Amitabha Tathagata. “Tathagata Buddha,” however, is not correct. There is no such Buddha called “Rulai.”
Q 5: I see. I thought Rulaifo, Shakyamuni Buddha and Amitabha Buddha were the same.
A: Shakyamuni Buddha is the founder of Buddhism in our world. Amitabha Buddha presides over the Western Land of Bliss. In numerous sutras, Shakyamuni Buddha urges us to recite the name of Amitabha Buddha.
Q 6: Was Shakyamuni Buddha a real person in history?
A: Yes. He is mentioned in history textbooks. “Shakya” means “competence and benevolence,” and “muni” means “serenity.” “Shakyamuni” refers to a sage of the Sakya clan. Shakyamuni Buddha lived around the 6th century B.C.E., concurrent with the Spring and Autumn period in China, and was a contemporary of Confucius. He was crown prince of the Kapilavastu kingdom in ancient India. His name was Gautama Siddhartha. His father was called Suddhodana; his mother, Maya. Queen Maya gave birth to Prince Siddhartha while taking a rest under a tree in Lumbini Grove. She died soon after giving birth. Prince Siddhartha was raised by his aunt Princess Prajapati.
Q 7: Did he succeed to the throne?
A: No, he didn’t. Since Prince Siddhartha was extremely wise and handsome, King Suddhodana expected him to be a chakravartin, or ideal universal ruler, who would subdue all nations. But Prince Siddhartha was strongly touched by the phenomena he observed: birth, aging, sickness and death, as well as the law of the jungle prevalent among living creatures. He meditated frequently and thought about taking monastic vows. Having discovered his son’s intention, King Suddhodana tried his best to stop him. He arranged for his son to marry Princess Yasodhara from a neighboring state. Yasodhara bore him a son named Rahula. But all this was in vain. Finally Siddhartha slipped out of the royal palace in the still of the night and became a wandering mendicant seeking the truth.
Namo Amitabha Buddha
Compiled by Householder Fo’en
English translation : Householders Foqing and Folu
Edited by Householder Jingtu
Narrator: Fosu
Pure Land Buddhism Australia
______________
🙏【淨土宗宗旨】
信受彌陀救度，專稱彌陀佛名；
願生彌陀淨土，廣度十方眾生。
🙏【淨土宗特色】
本願稱名，凡夫入報，
平生業成，現生不退。
净土宗官方網站
The official website of the Pure Land Buddhism：
净土宗官網：www.plb.tw
净本法师：www.plb-sea.org
Pure Land Buddhism：www.purelandbuddhism.org
🔸淨土宗全球網站 bit.ly/2BuZPUi
🔸淨土宗全球道場 bit.ly/2EHEmJj
______________
淨土宗澳洲 Pure Land Buddhism Australia
Facebook👇
/ plb18.au
📿南无阿弥陀佛🌸🙏🙏🙏
📿南无阿弥陀佛🌸🙏🙏🙏
📿南无阿弥陀佛🌸🙏🙏🙏
南無阿彌陀佛🙏🏼
🙏 Namo Amitabha Buddha 🙏
Namo Amituofo 🙏🏼
Namo Amituofo 🙏🙏🙏
Namo Amituofo 🙏🏼
Namo Amituofo
Namo Amituofo 🙏🏼
Namo Amitābha 🙏
Namo Amituofo 🙏🏼