Buddhism
In the Iddhipada-vibhanga Sutta, the Buddha states: “When the four bases of spiritual power have been developed and cultivated in this way, a bhikkhu (monk) wields the various kinds of spiritual power: having been one, he becomes many; having been many, he becomes one; he appears and vanishes; he goes
The demon Mara sent his three daughters Tanha, Arati, and Raga to tempt the Buddha. Tanha = “thirst, desire, longing, greed”, either physical or mental. It is typically translated as craving, and is of three types: kāma-taṇhā (craving for sensual pleasures), bhava-taṇhā (craving for existence), and vibhava-taṇhā (craving for non-existence).
THE Blessed One entered the great city of Benares. He wandered through the streets, asking for alms; he ate the food that was given him, then he went to the Deer Park where he knew he would find Rudraka’s former disciples. The five disciples saw him in the distance. They
At 29 years old Siddhartha left his wife and child for 7 weeks to attain enlightenment through fasting and meditation. During the first week after enlightenment, the Buddha sat under the bodhi tree experiencing the happiness of freedom and peace. He was free from disturbing thoughts, calm and blissful. During
Summary: Gopa (also known as Yasodhara) of the Sakya, daughter of Dandapani was found to be beautiful, wise, and full of grace. Believing her perfections to be exaggerated by his servant, the king went to meet her himself. Gopa’s father would not consent to their marriage without the prince first
The time came to take Siddhartha to the temple of the Gods. By the king’s command, the streets of the city and the public squares were superbly decorated; drums were sounded and bells joyously rung. While Mahaprajapati was dressing him in his richest apparel, the child asked: “Mother, where are
She was very beautiful. It was as if the Goddess Lakshmi herself had strayed into the world. When she spoke, it was like the song of birds in the spring, and her words were sweet and pleasant. Her hair was the color of the black bee; her forehead was as
Everyone now delighted in bringing him precious gifts. They gave him toys that would amuse a child of his age: tiny animals, deer and elephants, horses, cows, birds and fish, and little chariots; and they were toys made not of wood or of clay but of gold and of precious
THE great hermit Asita, whose austerities were pleasing to the Gods, heard of the birth of him who was to save mankind from the torment of rebirth. In his thirst for the true law, he came to the palace of King Suddhodana and gravely approached the women’s quarters. His years
“Is there a deed, Rahula, thou dost wish to do? Then bethink thee thus: Is this deed conducive to my own harm, or to others harm, or to that of both? Then is this a bad deed entailing suffering. Such a deed must thou surely not do.”-Majjhima Nikaya 1.415 “The
THE same hour that spring was born, a dream came to Maya as she slept. She saw a young elephant descending from the sky. It had six great tusks; it was as white as the snow on mountain-tops. Maya saw it enter her womb, and thousands of Gods suddenly appeared
According to the Buddha Carita, or the Life of Buddha, Siddhartha was conceived by the virgin wife of King Suddhodana through an immaculate conception where his mother Maya dreamt of a young elephant carrying a lotus flower. It was said that he would bring light into the world. As a
