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Buddhism: Buddhist Beliefs

The life of the Buddha

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Overview

The Buddha's birth name and title, his ancestry, Buddhavamsa XXVI, the birth and the prophecy, his marriage and son, the Four Sights, the years of searching, enlightenment, and the founding of the Sangha.

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Key term

What was the Buddha's name at birth, and what does the title "Buddha" mean?

Key term

Describe the Buddha's ancestry.

Key term

What does Buddhavamsa XXVI record about the Buddha's early life?

Questions from this subtopic

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  1. 1

    What was the Buddha's name at birth, and what does the title "Buddha" mean?

    Model answer

    The Buddha was born Siddhattha Gotama, or Siddhartha Gautama in Sanskrit. The title Buddha means "the awakened one" or "the enlightened one".

  2. 2

    Describe the Buddha's ancestry.

    Model answer

    Siddhattha belonged to the Sakya clan, a family of the warrior class in northern India. Siddhattha's father, King Suddhodana, ruled the Sakyas from the city of Kapilavatthu.

  3. 3

    What does Buddhavamsa XXVI record about the Buddha's early life?

    Model answer

    Buddhavamsa XXVI is the Buddha's own account of his life as Gotama. The chapter names Kapilavatthu as his city, Suddhodana as his father and Maya as his mother.

  4. 4

    According to Buddhavamsa XXVI, how long did Siddhattha live as a householder?

    Model answer

    Buddhavamsa XXVI says Siddhattha lived in the household for 29 years. Siddhattha then saw the four signs and left home to seek the truth.

  5. 5

    Describe the traditional account of Siddhattha's birth.

    Model answer

    Queen Maya dreamed that a white elephant entered her side when she conceived. Siddhattha was born in the Lumbini grove, in present-day Nepal, and is said to have walked seven steps at once.

  6. 6

    What prophecy was made about Siddhattha as a baby?

    Model answer

    Court brahmins foretold that Siddhattha would become either a great ruler or a great holy man. The sage Asita saw signs that the child would become a Buddha.

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