ACS 200 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Bodh Gaya, Dharma, Impermanence

• School: Ryerson University
• Department: Arts and Contemporary Studies
• Course: ACS 200
• Professor: Jean L I

Document Summary

Buddha means the awakened one or the enlightened one . The person we refer to as the buddha was siddhartha gotama. Born a prince in modern day nepal. Born sometime between 623 bce to 479 bce; lived until he was 80. Left his life of luxury after witnessing the suffering that his father had tried to keep him from, at the age of 29 after the birth of his son. Set out seeking enlightenment; studied with different teachers and techniques in clding self mortifying ascetic practices, but was ultimately unsatisfied with them because they did not lead beyond suffering. Found enlightenment seated under a fig tree at bodh gaya. He died calmly, fearlessly, in a state of meditation. Initially the buddha"s teachings (dhammas) were passed on orally, with different groups within the community of buddhist monks (sangha) responsible for remembering different parts of it. This required regular recitation, by the group (so that they might correct each other)