Chapter I

563-528 BC
boyhood - The Journey - Awakening

 -OOo-

 BACKGROUND AND POLITICS IN NORTH INDIA sixth century BC

On the University City station in Gorakhpur North India, we can see some visitors outside India, there are tourists from Japan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Burma and Tibet exile crowd and tourists West the more. They are people who worship, on the way visit the birth place of Lord Buddha in Lumbini (-ni Lam-leaning) and passing in Kusinara Him (Psalm verse na). Because this north Indian plains between hills Himalayas (Snow Mountain) and Ganga Basin (Hang Ha) is sacred to Buddhism, where the Buddha declared the Tri Wins His mid-year and 528 year 483 BC, and is also the birthplace of the first Church Sangha. From here, the teachings of the guru began the way many parts of Asia was conquered peacefully smoothly.

The scenery in the Buddha's forested areas, ranging from the Tarai Plateau Snow Mountain Range slopes gradually down to about 300km south of a plateau in all shapes bring scattered fields and some hidden from the village scattered trees in the harsh sun, a few places interrupted by the rivers flowing slowly to the gray wooden boat sailing leisurely wanderings. The main urban area, here is Allahabad, Varanasi (Benares) and Patna.

It is a normal activity between May and June, high climate at 40 ⁰ C, but the scenery and the town changed completely when the monsoon season between June suddenly burst out, before it was rushed to from the south-east by the giant globules dense extrusion. Then, as the rain falls violently rushing down to the ground every time that the ground became a marsh off, the former river overflowed this gentle rolling rapids.

Soon the heat became extraordinarily hot, hot dry skin people found cracked and itchy very uncomfortable. But gradually lowered the temperature to air from October to March (approximately 15 ⁰ C) is mild pleasant. January weather can be very cold about 3 ⁰ C at night and grocery merchants have the opportunity to bring quilts for sale. Gradually mercury column   to rise from April and a hot period begins. Radiance of forest trees burst out from the red blossoms as brilliant ruby blocks. Sun heats gradually, the old crow birds were singing again as shrill, thus making skin more hot air makes people tired could not fall asleep.

Environment and Climate dominant lifestyle of such people, social situations are no less political. In the history of India before the Buddha was a fog of covering ancient past, then in the sixth century, the curtain was lifted to reveal for us to recognize the political context in the sub-continent this place. The key events and characters become clearer with the ability, character, desire nothing more than the character of our time appear. And the Buddhist Sutras convey all these things for us.

However, it was not aimed at the historical record, because the Indians did not see the political events that give us something worth keeping in mind. The object of the Buddhist chronicle of spreading the Dhamma ( Dhamma ) expounded by the Buddha in all his business and announced it is the only way for people to find salvation in the future future.

After centuries of oral tradition, Scripture was recorded shortly BC. From the statement of place, opportunity and circumstances of all Buddhist scriptures, and from them the Interpretation, the era of Buddha becomes alive for us.

If the Vedas, the ancient literature of India at reflecting rural life, then in the Buddhist Scripture we see the picture of urban culture. I also heard about the village farmers, but especially the city created the context for the Buddha preaching France, we are the focus of political life and commercial prosperity. The central character of the society was a local ruler ( Raja ) that this decision depends on the board and have often depending on the allegiance of the great king ( Maharaja ).

According to Buddhist scriptures, the political panorama of the central plain of the Ganges in the 6th century BC by the four kingdoms, some republics collectively and the right to decide tribal groups.

Ganga's northern Kosala (Kieu-slap-la) with mighty capital Savatthi (Xa-defense) in the Buddha's time, it was the University continuously ruled kingdom, which is Mahakosala, Pasenadi and Vidudabha. Also Savatthi, other important cities of Kosala is Saketa (or Ayojjha), capital, and Varanasi (Benares, Balaam complaints), the shrine to worship. Great Kosala kingdom, outside the central, dominant also added two republics and three other tribes.

Southwest of Kosala, in the corner between the Ganges and Yamuna (Diem-conflict-na) states that Vamsa (or Vaccha) with capital Kosambi (Kieu-award-di) and Payaga worship center (now Allahabad ). Vamsa is Udena King, the King Parantapa. 

Avanti states (see Magadha) stretches under state and Kosala Vamsa to the south of the Ganges. King reigns at the Ujjeni Pajjota, but in the south of the country have a second capital is Mahissati. Avanti origin lies outside the area but the Buddha traveled to the disciple he is respected authors Mahakaccana (Dai-Ca-fried-forums) Buddhist teaching.

Finally, the Magadha kingdom (cf. masterpiece-momentum) stretches, Avanti adjacent to the east and north of the Ganges. The prosperity of this country is largely based on the iron ore mining by not far from the capital Rajagaha (Rajgir), medium commercial service exports both domestic arms production. The Great King Bhati (or Bhatiya) and Bimbisara (Frequency-sa-la-she married the sister of King Kosala Pasenadi) constantly dominate at Rajgir, was king Ajatasattu (A-bar-) moved the capital from Rajgir to Palaliputta (now Patna). Prince's successor King Ajatasattu Udayibhadda, his father and his father were killed to seize the throne and then also the same fate at the hands of her son Anuruddhaka.

In addition to this the four countries, the Central Highlands has many republican country, all in the north east of Kosala and Magadha. The origin of this noble personality collective rights, each country were dominated by a king ( Raja ) has presided over the council of state and self-government at the council of regents meeting no. Only the component class khattiya (Sat-base-seat ^_ aristocracy) elected monarch, the king stripped of meaning or the position of the leader boards for all people in this class. However, other classes are also listening to conference board room for only one on the roof pillars only.

The country is named after republican   aristocracy leadership group, this group is only a minority of the overall population, but so far the numbers are not saved at all clear.

Republic of tribal origin Sakiyas (or Sakya, Sakka,-ca) is the capital KAPILAVATTTHU (Ca-Pi-la-defense), and primitive regions today are the boundaries of India ^_ Nepal fragmented, the time adjacent to the northeastern state of Kosala and was a vassal of the empire. Buddha is a person of nobility-ca.

Republicans have two broad Malla kings and Kusinara Pava domination. Kusinara described as a place does not matter, but it is here that Guru died in Ultimatum Nirvana ( Parinibbana ).

Licchavri Republic with its capital Vesali (Pi-health-ly) and the Republic of Videha (Vi-threads-ha) with capital Mitthila (Mi-thi-la) has joined the federal Vajji (Bat-term), there a few more links to other tribes.

In addition to the monarchy and republic, there are tribal. We know very little about their political regime, but the difference between the republic and as the tribes in the tribal ruler is not elected by the people but by the tribal elders in designated , and the tribe's rule as well as the elders do not need the nobility in Police-base-towns. The tribe is important Koliyas (verse-ly) in the southeast Sakiya republic, the boundary of the two countries is small river Rohini (now Rowai). Once there was much inter-marriage between two clans and Koliyas Sakiyas this. Capital of Koliyas is Ramagama (or Koliyanagara).

Furthermore there Moriyas tribe, the capital is Pipphalivana, adjoining lands of tribal lands Koliya, to as far away as the east. Finally it comes to family Kalamas, capital is Kesaputta. Corner of the country lies in the west direction between the Ganges and Ghagra rivers.

Sometimes there are different opinions among the kingdoms, republics, most of the tribe's right to irrigation and pasture, but the general attitude is to live peacefully. Anyone can freely cross the common border between the different regimes that. This is the panoramic geographical, political climate and Siddhattha Gotama the Buddha (Si-reach-us Gotama) Christmas in 563 BCE.

Siddhattha THAI ORIGIN AND HIS birth

KAPILAVATTTHU, Buddha's hometown, where he spent the first twenty-nine years of life, in today's border dividing the Republic of Nepal and India. The King Buddha named Suddhodana (Suddhodana) * Sakiya tribe. Tribal Police Sakiya consisting of the substrate-town's aristocracy at the time of the noble class, caste or more martial spirit is the responsibility and the court ruled in Sakiya republic. From this position, the new king and rule the republic elected representatives of the people when in need. By the mid-sixth century BC, the King held the throne Führer.

King was married to two sisters from Devadaha origin, her chief Maya (Ma-part) later Prince Siddhattha form itself. First off he is Pajapati (or Mahapajapati: Ma-ha-ba-ba-bar problem) had two children: a son, Prince Nanda, born just after Prince Siddhattha, the other his mother a few days, and the princess Nanda or Sundarinanda . Both Maya and her tribe Pajapati belong Sakiya. Marriage within the same clan in accordance with the national laws of marriage prevailing at that time, although it can also be ignored in case of a love story or article charismatic enough dowry.

It is noteworthy, especially in the period of his Brahmin She is married foreign national rule against the ethnic marriages, in which the same people they (ethnic identity) are not allowed to marry. Ethnic identity is the King of Gotama so he is not allowed to marry a woman with them. Surely he has to follow the custom of marrying her and had many foreign nations, but it certainly does because ethnic identity or Anjana Devadahasakka are not recorded in history. But just look at the pedigree is evident by blood relationship between the King and intimate queen and two sisters: His Mothers and father of her two brothers, and father He and my mother, and her two. In other words, two queen is his second cousin.

KAPILAVATTTHU is home to the capital city of Prince Siddhattha, but not where he was born.

As in Nidanakattha (Origination thesis), the series introduced Bon Money Than or Sanh (Jatakas) tells the story of Queen Maya mythology was forty years old, just before the period of forest products on the way back to his parents home in   Devadaha birth and thanks to my mother Yasodhara maintenance. The journey by carriage or wagon swaying poles The click on the hot dirt roads makes forest products occurs early in the Devadaha before. Near the village of Lumbini (Lam-Pi-ni, this is Rumindai) sky homeless shelter, only the Sala tree (scientific name Shorea Robusta ) and did not have any doctors in maternity care, the prince Siddhattha infants born between May, in 563 BCE.

Lumbini was excavated by archaeologists in 1896. The most important sites are found where he was a high pillars 6m5 by emperor Asoka (Ashoka) built in 245 BC with the note:

"Twenty-five years after taking the throne, King Devanampiya Piyadasi (Ai bias, ie A-sexual) worship coming here, because-Buddha Shakyamuni, tribal sages of Thich-Ca, have birth here. The king ordered a statue carved stone pillars and up a. His land in the village of Lumbini exemption and reduction of yields from fourth to the usual 1/8 ".

Moreover, a tablet could appear around the second century AD were found in Lumbini and stored in a small local temple .1 pt '> method. Shows rock queen Maya prince born in standing at the railing Sala tree. Apparently standing birth is a custom of the time.

After the pain of the mother, Queen Maya could not continue the journey to Devadaha so small entourage took her back to her KAPILAVATTTHU, both exhausted. Joy as infant prince of royal birth Gotama back soon overshadowed health anxiety before gradually debilitating form of the post. She became weak because the fever had to stay in bed at all prepared for the holidays named Prince.

A sage is convened to provide to predict the fate of Prince, which is the old rod Asita (A-from-momentum) is a very friendly Gotama royal treasure, the name means "Real White" skin has only said he grew up originated from peasants living in India before the period of the original Aryan people. The sage Asita is the capital of the royal priests Gotama for years. First, under the First United Sihahanu, father of King Suddhodana, then to the King Suddhodana before he retired to seclusion. You look at your new baby was born three days and prediction based on a number of the form that this was an extraordinary prince will become a Buddha and will transfer Gong (Nip S. 693). He shed tears because he will not live long to see the prince Siddhattha Buddha, and he advised his nephew Nalaka must remember that later became a disciple of the Buddha of the future.

Two days later, the Ba-la-eight subjects celebrate Prince named Siddhattha * . The predictions are also more important in the life of the prince, or will the road Enlightened religion, or as a great king in secular life glorious fame. The youngest in the Ba-la-discipline is Konda ñ ñ a (Kieu-ceiling-as), whom we will meet again after thirty years.

As for Maya queens, princes ceremony naming a baby is the end of her life. Seven days after birth, as well as many other women in the tropics, she quietly died not complain.

However, the infant prince Siddhattha not grow up in her absence. She di Pajapati form of Prince, concubines of King Suddhodana, the sample design loving care while the prince she gave birth Nanda prince, the other children's parents Prince Siddhattha. It also said that she delivered her baby for a breast form and the time she spent most devoted care of the late baby queen, her sister.

ISSUES dating

Most European historians to study India in 563 BC that the birth of the Buddha and also the earliest dating is confirmed. Chronology how it is calculated and likely misleading how big?

a) Since ancient Indian history only records the distance between events without chronological record of events, such as the history books that later, so want to date in Indian history should be requested to Greek historians. The Indian relations - Greece's development as a result of the Indian campaigns Alexander the Great (327 BC). In about 303 BC, Emperor of India Candragupta Maurya (or Candagutta Moriya, Peacock dynasty) reached an agreement on the territory and the opening of diplomatic relations with the former generals of Alexander's Seleucid king Nikator current rule in Babylonia. Through reports that the Greek ambassador Megasthenes was appointed to Pataliputta capital (present day Patna), gradually Candragupta Greek historians know from Sandrokottos title in Greek, and by the historian this, we can calculate the age he came to the throne in 321 BCE.

- Chronology also for us to determine the chronology of the continuous sequence of events listed in the book of the chronicles Singhalese language is Dipavamsa (masters) and Mahavamsa (ambassadors) about the fourth century to the sixth AD. According to this book, (Dv5.100; MHV 5:18), Candragupta reigned twenty-four years (up to 297), as his successor son, Bindusara (Frequency-first-sa-la) reigned twenty-eight years ( to 269), followed by about four years before Asoka, son of Bindusara, was crowned by destroying all royal brotherhood and self-empowerment crowned king (6:21 Dv; MHV. 5:22). Such events probably happened in 265 BCE.

We can look back on the day Buddha was born based on the testimony of both the book of the chronicles (Dv 6.1; MHV 5:21) that Asoka was crowned two hundred and eighteen (218) years after the Buddha's passing ( Bat Nirvana). This event is therefore recorded in 483 BCE. And because living masters to eighty years of his birth to the year 563 BCE.

Although the number of two hundred and eighteen years passing between the Buddha and Asoka which are considered reliable, this calculation has many disadvantages. In some ways, the years of the reign of God is often rounded to even numbers, and other aspects, we should not ignore the fact that the book Puranas (Ancient Human Story) said that King Bindusara reigned only about twenty-five years. Thus calculations based on history should be checked from other sources.

b)-A source of information by the edict of Emperor Asoka offers, the imperial edict was Devanampiya Piyadasi (Ai bias, ie A-sexual) transmission in stone and pillars up special transmission all his great empire. Edict XIII of the pillars, inscribed on the water bloody conquest of Kalinga (Orissa) Asoka's eight years after his coronation, and this office could be built twelve years after that event, if the identity of Kings are not Indian emperor Asoka the audience, which is: Antiochus II of Syria, Ptolemy II of Egypt, Antigonus of Macedonia, Magas of Cyrene and Alexander of Epirus. Chronology of the kings are well known, and last year the King is still alive is 258, so it may well be the most recent year of this edict. Up stepped back after twelve years on the throne King Asoka, plus 218 years in the history yet, we reached 488 BCE for the Buddha passed away years and 568 years for the birth of the Buddha.

Another false can see here is the period between the year of the coronation of Emperor Asoka and issuing edicts, about it can be a little less than twelve years.

c) The Chinese historians also supported in part by the "point Chronicles" of Guangzhou, this book clearly presents each point represents one year after the Buddha's passing. Down to the year 489 S, 975 points yet this book, which is set the passing Buddha in 486, and was born in 566 BCE. Oil correctly in the history of Chinese reliable anywhere matter, it is not without mistakes, especially since Buddhism came to China relatively late and Chinese historians have not commenced historiography as soon as the Indian guru passed away.

d) We can also consider Jain tradition. The founder of this religion is the Jina (Win fake) and Mahavira (Dai Hung), who together with the Buddha, lived to be seventy-two years old and Buddhist Sutras mentioned by title Nigantha Nataputta (Ni-Peak- Stone-E-threads).

Europe European scholars often write guru Mahavira died in 476 BC, according to the statement of Hema Chandra, a monk of America-na (12th century AD) that Candragupta event Maurya to the throne (in 321 BC) occurred 155 years after Mahavira passed away patriarchs ( Nirvana ). But the director of America-na scholars to debate the accuracy of this figure, and yet mistakes that have been recognized by Hema Chandra and in the United-na classic figure set 215 years between the conquest Avanti's kingdom Candragupta (312 BC) and the death of Patriarch Mahavira. This calculation will put the facts before Mahavira passed away in 527 AD. This year is considered the beginning of America's leading chronicler-na (use this only after the sun was born).

-Trying to find interpretations of the Buddha passed away in the Mahavira died of increasingly more difficult because we do not have the words verifiable chronicle mentioned about the relationship between the two events. Although there is a verse-na States declared that the Buddha Mahavira outlived seven years, (so if we write the Mahavira died in 476, the certification must kill the Buddha in 483 BC), many disciples United-na director agrees with the Buddhist disciple that Mahavira died before the Buddha. Three times in the Pali Canon (DN 29.2 * , DN 33.1 * * -, MN 104.1 * ** -) scene depicting Buddha Mahavira had heard the president, and the classics that usually proves that Buddha Gotama is youngest teacher in the teacher's time.

Westerners who write historical Buddha assumes guru passed away two years after Mahavira group, but very little evidence of this. If we must accept two years is a valid assumption, we have come to accept, or 474 years (according to Western scholars), or in 525 BC (according to Jain tradition) is in Buddha passed away, and he was born in the previous eighty years in both cases.

-E) Annals commonly accepted throughout Asia today is even less credible than another, which kill the Buddha was born in 544 and in 624 BCE. But the Buddhist calendar (BE) only appeared in the 11th century AD. So the next time or record dating guru has passed away confused with birth dating, or perhaps the monks, 60-year cycle used in the calculation, the error should have a cycle . This set of Buddha dating back to 564-484 BCE. But the assumption of such confusion, of course, there is no proof.

So any numbers in terms of dating methods is considered perhaps the most historically correct? We can eliminate the traditional chronology based on religion or Buddhism States-Canada _ they are calculated only after very long, should not be enough to fend off critics in historical perspective.

On the other hand, the chronology deduced from China or Singhalese chronicles, and Asoka's edicts are basically solid and differ only in the extent minimum, so as we, in the Buddha was born just moved chain from 568 to 544 BCE. Chronology Ceylon chronicles 563 are supported, and valued not only because it stood between the two calculations are   quite complicated further support, based on the list of South Indian monarchs and Singhalese, the chronology of Sri Lanka is a Buddhist reform, but also based on the reference tables scattered about an ancient system dating night were lost leaving only a few parts, this system based on 483 years of Buddha's passing.

Thus we are justified in placing dating Buddha was born in 563 in history, however, to accept on the basis of historical evidence, may stem from confusion in the minus nine years. The probability of an earlier date than the slightly higher because both methods (b) and (c) support, while a later dating is just one method (d)   support only. END=VIETNAMESE TRANSLATE ENGLISH BY THICH CHAN TANH.THE MIND OF ENLIGHTMENT=WORLD VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST ORDER=VIETNAMESE BUDDHIST NUN=GOLDEN LOTUS MONASTERY=AUSTRALIA,SYDNEY.4/11/2013.NAM MO SAKYAMUNI BUDDHA.( 3 TIMES ).