FIVE Forms Of "Buddhism"

   Currently, there are at least  five forms of Buddhism. The first is traditional Buddhism, I have just discussed. It is the educational of the Buddha  teaching . This is original form is rarely seen today. The other forms are deviation of this one.

    The second form is religious Buddhism. Although originally not a religion. It has become one in past few hundred years. Today, it is difficult to deny this. Why? The external form of Buddhism today is indeed that religion. It is no longer the educational found in traditional way place where the cultivators had up to sixteen hours day for both lesson and cultivation.

    The third form is philosophical or academic Buddhism  often found as a course in college. This is appropriate. Why? Buddhist education is complete university in itself, including all branches of learning.

   The forth and most recent deviation is Buddhism as a show. It consist of a few hours of music. Singing and dancing with a short talk in between. However, the fifth form is a deviation that has gone too far, that of the distortion of Buddhism into a cult. This deviated form has appeared in the last thirty to forty years.

BUDDHISATTVA SUTRA

   After understanding the goals and principles of the buddha’s teachings. We need to deepan our understanding of the dharma. What is dharma? It is the true reality of life and the universe, all the teaching of the buddhas, which are included in sutras. These ancient documented all the buddhas teaching and were recorded by his students. The most basic one of Mahayana budddism  is the Original of Earth Treasure Bodhisattva sutra. It can be regarded as for first grade students, within which, the truth was clearly explained, the sutra, as told by Buddha shakyamuni, begins with his emitting infinite bright lights called

1.  Great perfection Brightness cloud.

2. Great wisdom

Brightness cloud.

3. Great prajna Brightness cloud

4. Great Compassion Brightness cloud.

5. Great Samadhi Brightness cloud

6. Great Auspicious Brightness cloud

7. Great Good fortune Brightness cloud.

8. Great merit Brightness cloud.

9. Great Refuge Brightness cloud.

10. Great Praise Brightness cloud.

    Although the kings are given, it does not means that these are only ten. The number ten is regarded as a symbol of perfection, a complete cycle symbolizing infinity.

WHAT IS BUDDHISM

   This question is arises in all those who wish to better understand it. Buddhism is most virtuous and perfect educational directed by Buddha towards all sentient being in the universe. This educational cover’s a boundless  range of phenomena and principles that is much broader than what is currently studied in the modern universities. In regard to time, it encompasses the past, present  and Future. In regards to space, it encompasses everything from our daily lives to the infinite universe.

    How can we tell that Buddhism is an educational?

Today, the terms teachers and students are only used in school. However, we call Buddha shakyamuni, original teacher. We call ourselves students, as did our predecessors in ancient china. This is unlike religious in which the god and his or her discipline do not have a teacher-student relationship. In Buddhism, however, it is clearly stated that the Buddha is the teacher and we are the students. Buddhisattvas and we are classmates; they were the buddhas former students while we are its current ones.

Buddha's Childhood

The Buddha was born in 544 BC, over two thousand five hundred years ago. His father, King Suddhidana, was one of the best-known ruler of the Sakya dynasty. He, liked Lord Rama, was a Suryavanshi who traced his legendary descent from the sun.

On the full moon day of Vaisakh, the Buddha's mother, Queen Mahamaya, happened to be on her way from the capital Kapilavastu to her parent's home in Devdaha. During the journey she stopped under the shade of two Sal trees at Lumbini, where she gave birth to the Buddha. When she returned to Kapilavastu, an old sanyasi named Asit, who was also the court astrologer, came to the palace and predicted that the child would redeem the world.

The child was named Siddharth. But it was his clan name, Gautama, by which he came to be known, and he attained fame as Gautama the Buddha, Gautama the wise. The rejoicing at the birth of the prince was abruptly cut short because a week later his mother Queen Mahamaya suddenly died. Gautama was brought up by his mother's sister who was also her step mother.

Gautama was a serious-minded child who instead of playing with other children would sit alone, lost in his own thoughts. His father did his best to get him interested in various pursuits, but to no avail. When Prince Gautama came of age, King Suddhodana arranged his marriage to the beautiful Princess Yashodhara and saw to it the prince was kept occupied with diverse amusements and pleasures of life. None of these, however, succeeded in diverting Gautama's mind from its quest for truth.

Prince Gautama was a Kshatriya, who, like others of the warrior caste, was also expected to hunt animals and birds. But Gautama was different from other Kshatriyas; instead of killing animals and birds he wanted to protect them. Once his cousin Dev Datta shot a flying swan which fell near Gautama. He picked up the bird, took the arrow out of its body and dressed its wound. When Dev Datta came on the scene and demanded the bird he had shot, Prince Gautama replied, "He who saves life has a stronger claim to it than he who seeks to destroy it."

The dispute was referred to King Suddhodana. The king had the swan brought to court and put on a platform in the center. He then told the two princes that the swan would be awarded to the one to whose call it responded. First Dev Datta called the bird. It began to squawk and tremble. Then Gautama called it too. The bird waddled up to the prince and sat down in his lap. "The swan has chosen its protector and belongs to him, "pronounced King Suddhodana.

BUDDHA

                                           Lord Buddha the God of Love & happiness