Introduction
Buddha, meaning the enlightened one, started Buddhism as a religion. He was born Prince Siddhartha Gautama around the fifth century BCE and died at the age of 80 around 400 BCE after a long time of traveling and preaching (Kleiner 447). After his death, his followers collected, organized, and presented the teachings in an orderly manner indicating his ideas about following a definite path to put an end to suffering and details of the cycle in life. Buddha is represented in the human form as a robed monk and as a hand gesture or repertoire of mudras. This essay will analyze the reasons behind Buddha’s teachings, the reforms he caused, events and ideas which shaped the views during his time, and the relevance of Buddhism presently.
Buddha’s Arguments for Buddhism
In his teachings, Buddha explained that happiness can be achieved through living in ethical ways by avoiding stealing, killing, lying, intoxication, and sexual misconduct. Moreover, he proposed practical solutions for the difficulties human beings face in everyday living. He set moral precepts guiding people on how to stay with the family and in convents (Kleiner 447). For people with busy lives and minds to live well, Buddha taught meditation practices, which help develop an understanding concerning the importance of ethics. Through sitting quietly and reflecting, the mind is becoming calm, and individuals can comprehend what Buddha meant in his teachings. Furthermore, he explained that attachment to others, notions, and objects can cause anguish and individuals need to overcome them to end the cycle of life.
Changes and Reforms Made by Buddha
Throughout his lifetime, Buddha is believed to have given thousands of teachings, which cover broadly every aspect of life as they are the answers to real-life situations. In the Wheel of Law, he detailed the four truths, which consist of suffering as part of life, desire as causing pain, the ability to overcome, and quenching longing. Moreover, desire can be overwhelmed through following the Eightfold ways he provided (Kleiner 447). As a result, the path of Buddha leads to nirvana, which gives a way for the endless agony in the cycle of life to stop.
Events that Shaped Buddha’s Views
During Buddha’s time, many changes happened, such as in trade and administrative borders with persons migrating from rural areas to towns. He made assumptions and sought to understand the world and the people living in it. Thus, his teachings center on the idea that everyone experiences the life cycle of birth, death, and rebirth, and nothing is permanent. Additionally, Buddha left the palace and his family at the age of 29 in search of knowledge and understanding about everything and tried different religious methods to do that (Kleiner 447). Besides, he encountered death, sickness, and old age, which caused him pain. In response, he abandoned his opulent life and dedicated himself to meditation. After six years of reflection under a tree in his quest for truth, he attained full knowledge of Buddhahood at Bodh Gaya in India.
The Relevance of the Teachings Today
The teachings of Buddha remain influential and are applicable in many ways in the modern era. Buddhism is practiced today as a religion by many who adhere to its practices and rituals, while others refer to it as philosophy. Meditation is used as a therapy for treating stress-related illnesses and for recreational purposes, as well as in other religions. Buddhist leaders and followers have been involved in unlawful and unethical activities, including wars. It can be attributed to the tensions which arise from varying understandings of Buddha’s path. Thus, the teachings are relevant in different circumstances and inspire people of all ages worldwide.
Conclusion
Buddha, as a founder of Buddhism, played a significant role in establishing the laws which govern the religion through his numerous teachings. The four truths and Eightfold ways enable people to gain knowledge and understanding of suffering in life, overcome pain, and achieve happiness. Moreover, desire and attachment to people and objects elevate the sorrows individuals face. These lessons are still relevant today and can be applied in everyday life.
Work Cited
Kleiner, Fred S. Gardner’s Art through the Ages: The Western Perspective. Vol. 1, Cengage Learning, 2020.