DHAMMACAKKA DAY | IAS GYAN

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On 13th July 2022, the President of India addressed the Dhammacakka Day 2022 celebrations at Sarnath, Uttar Pradesh.
According to the Buddhist tradition, the Dhammacakka Sutta was the first teaching given by the Buddha in modern Sarnath after he attained enlightenment.

Key Points of the President's Speech

Buddhism has been one of the greatest spiritual traditions of India, as many holy sites linked with the life and teachings of Lord Buddha are located in India.
4 main places related to Buddha:
- Bodh Gaya, where he attained enlightenment.
- Sarnath, where he gave his first sermon.
- Shravasti, where he spent most Chaturmases and gave most of the sermons.
- Kushinagar, where he attained the Mahaparinirvana.
All these places linked with Buddha are part of the Buddha circuit which attracts pilgrims and religious tourists from across India and abroad.
Our democracy has been extremely influenced by Buddhist ideas and symbols.
Lord Buddha's teaching emphasises inner peace.

Buddhism in India

Origin:

Siddhartha Gautam was born in 563 BC into the royal family of the Sakya clan who ruled from Kapilvastu, in Lumbini. At age of 29, Gautama left home and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism.
After 49 days of meditation, Gautama attained enlightenment under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya in Bihar.
Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city of Benares in UP. This event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
Died at the age of 80 at Kushinagara a town in UP. The event is known as Mahaparinibban.

Tenets of Buddhism:

Avoid the two extremes of indulgence in worldly pleasure and the practice of strict abstinence.
Buddha ascribed instead the 'Madhyam Marg' or the middle path which was to be followed.
Four noble truths: Suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world, Every suffering has a cause – Samudya, Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha, It can be achieved by following the Atthanga Magga
Eight Fold Paths: Right view, Right intention, Right speech, Right action, Right livelihood, Right mindfulness, Right effort, Right concentration
Buddha established a code of conduct which is also known as the Five Precepts or Pancasil - Violence, stealing, sexual misconduct, lying or gossip, taking intoxicating substances

Major Buddhist Texts:

Three Pitakas: Vinaya Pitaka (rules of conduct), Sutta Pitaka ( Dhamma of Buddha): divided into five Nikayas: Digha, Majjhima, Samyutta, Anguttara, Khuddaka, Abhidhamma Pitaka (philosophical analysis)
Other important Buddhist texts include Divyavadana, Dipavamsa, Mahavamsa, Milind Panha etc.

Buddhist Councils:

First: It was held in the Sattapani cave at Rajgriha soon after the Mahaparinirvan of the Buddha, around 483 BC under the patronage of King Ajatshatru and was presided by Mahakasyapa, a monk.
Second: held in Vaishali under the patronage of the king Kalasoka in 383 BC. It was presided by Sabakami.
Third: 250 BC in Patliputra under the patronage of Ashoka and was presided by Moggaliputta Tissa.
Forth: held in 72 AD at Kundalvana, Kashmir. It was presided by Vasumitra, while Asvaghosa was his deputy under the patronage of King Kanishka of the Kushan Empire. Buddhism is divided into Mahayana and Hinayana.

Schools of Buddhism:

Mahayana: literally means "Great Vehicle". It believes in the heavenliness of Buddha and Idol worship of Buddha and Bodhisattvas embodying Buddha Nature.
Hinayana: Literally Lesser vehicle. It believes in the original teaching of Buddha or the Doctrine of elders. It does not believe in Idol worship and tries to attain individual salvation through self-discipline and meditation.
Theravada: is a Hinayana sect, developed in Sri Lanka and subsequently spread to the rest of Southeast Asia.
Vajrayana: means “The Vehicle of the Thunderbolt”, also known as tantric Buddhism.
Zen: It is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China.