☸️ Buddhism – Complete Notes for Government Exams
🔸 Origin & Founder
- Founded by Gautama Buddha in the 6th century BCE.
- Born: 563 BCE, Lumbini (present-day Nepal)
- Father: Suddhodana (Shakya Clan)
- Mother: Mahamaya (Koliyan clan)
- Wife: Yashodhara, Son: Rahul
🧘 Four Major Events of Buddha's Life
- Birth – Lumbini
- Enlightenment – Bodh Gaya (under Bodhi Tree)
- First Sermon – Sarnath (Dharmachakra Pravartan)
- Mahaparinirvana – Kushinagar
📜 Buddha's Teachings
Four Noble Truths:
- There is suffering (Dukkha)
- There is a cause of suffering
- Suffering can be ended
- There is a path to end suffering (Eightfold Path)
Eightfold Path:
- Right View
- Right Intention
- Right Speech
- Right Action
- Right Livelihood
- Right Effort
- Right Mindfulness
- Right Concentration
☸️ Key Features of Buddhism
- Non-theistic – No belief in creator God
- Preaches non-violence, compassion & equality
- Doctrine of 'Anatta' – No soul
- Belief in Karma & Rebirth
🧑🤝🧑 Sects of Buddhism
| Hinayana | Mahayana |
|---|---|
| Path of renunciation Pali language Buddha as a teacher |
Path of devotion Sanskrit language Buddha as God |
📚 Buddhist Scriptures
- Tripitaka (in Pali language)
- Vinaya Pitaka – Monastic discipline
- Sutta Pitaka – Teachings of Buddha
- Abhidhamma Pitaka – Philosophy & metaphysics
🏯 Buddhist Councils
- 1st: Rajgriha – Ajatashatru – Mahakashyapa
- 2nd: Vaishali – Kalashoka
- 3rd: Pataliputra – Ashoka – Moggaliputta Tissa
- 4th: Kundalvana, Kashmir – Kanishka – Vasumitra, Ashvaghosha
🌍 Spread of Buddhism
- Ashoka spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Nepal, China etc.
- Fa-Hien – visited during Gupta period
- Hiuen Tsang – visited during Harshavardhan period
🖼️ Buddhism Infographic
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