Buddhism- Early History essays

Buddhism- Early History essays Buddhism is probably the most accepting religion in the world, as its teachings can exist with any other religions. Its followers view their life pessimistically. The emphasis of the religion is on compassion, love, and the hope that if they behaved in the world now that the next world will be even better. Buddhism has a very long existence and history, starting around the 6th and 5th century BC with the birth of Siddhartha Gautama. In about 565 BC, Siddhartha Gautama was born heir to King Suddhodana of the Sakya tribe of Kapilavatthu (Encyclopedia Britannica 273). This was a country at the foot of the Himalayas, near the present Indian-Nepal border (Hopfe). Gautama's father was said to have been told by a prophet that if Gautama saw the sick, aged, dead, or poor he would become a religious leader (Snelling, J. 47). If he didnt see these four things he would become an emperor leader (Snelling, J. 47). Because of this prophecy Gautama's father decided to isolate his son from the outside world, where he might "see how the other half lived", for the good of his empire and his citizens (Snelling, J. 48). Trying to shelter Gautama from all the four sights was impossible, and Gautama ventured out and that is when he eventually saw the four sights, which would, if experienced as it had been told to Gautama's father, lead the young prince to a religious leader. These sights or as how Buddhists refer to them "The Four Signs" were, a sick man covered with terrible sores, an old man, a corpse, and a wandering monk leader (Snelling, J. 48). The sightings of these men made Gautama think of the suffering and inevitable death. This brought further questioning such as the meaning of life and the ultimate fate of man. As time passed these thoughts became great burdens to Gautama and he became increasingly dissatisfied with the shallow evil life of the royal court in which he lived. When Siddhartha was about 20, he married Yasodhara, daugh...