The Life of the Buddha and the Four Noble Truths

41 Pages·2001·0.874 MB·English

by  Thrangu Rinpoche

This biospo akrolttfe h te sone ries
The BTaesaicch iBnugddsh iosfm
ThLei oftfeh e
Buddahnatd h e
FouNr obTlreu ths
By
TheV eneraKbhleen chen
ThrangRui npoche
GeshLeh arampa
NamoB uddhPau blications
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Notes
Thet eachionng t heL ifoef th e Buddhaa ndt heT hree
Vehiclceasm ef romT hrangRui npocheT'hs eD eveloofp ment
BuddhiinIs nmda indat het eachinogn the FouNro bTlruet chasm e
fromT hrangRui npocheb'oso kT heT hrVeeeh iofcl Beusd dhist
Practice.
Technitcearlm hsa veb eeni talictizheefird s tt imteh eayr e
usetdo a letrhter eadtehra tth emya yb ef ounind theG lossary.
Tibetwaonr dsa reg iveans t heayr e pronounnoctes dp,e lline d
Tibetan.
We useth e conventoifoB n. C.E(B.e forCeo mmonE ra)
forB .Ca.n dC .E(.C ommonE raf)o rA .D .
ThBeu ddha
Whetnh Beu ddwhaaas s kheodwh ek nehwew aesn lighhtee ned,
toucthheeead rti hnt hpioss iatnisdoa n'i 'adts he ea rtihmsy wi tne"s s.
A humabne iinspg a rtof thweh oclaell,e du st i?Yh e
Univaep rasrtle i,m iitnte idma ensp da cHee.e xpresses
himsheitlf,sh ouagnfehdet lsi anssg osm estephairanfrtgoe m
three stk-ianof do ptdieclauoflsh iicoson n sciTohuissn ess.
deluissai k oinnof d p risonfo ru sr,e striucstt ooi unrg
persdoensaainlrcifJed ec st foiroafe n w p ernseouansrs.
Ourt asmku sbtet ofr eoeu rsfreolmtv hepisris s i?Yo n
wideonuicrni grof cl ceo ncteoer mnb raacllle i vcrienagt ures
antdh weh oofln ea tfourir tebs e auty.
-A-lbEeirtn stein
{'Althhoausvgheho t whmnee aojnl si beration,
I
yomuu ksnto twh adtep eunpdyoson au l o"n e.
it
-T-hBeu ddha
1
Chapt1e r
ThLei oftfeh B eu ddha
Thes toroyfh owB uddhisdme velopienId n dibae ginso,fc ourse,
with thes toroyf B uddhaS hakyamunwih o ist hegui de fora ll
BuddhisTthseB. u ddhwaa sb orni nI ndiaan dw es houlndo tm ake
the mistaokfeb elievitnhga sti ncteh eB uddhwaa sb orn inI ndia,
hew asa typicaIln diaann dt aughitna typicaIlnldyi asnt ylTeh.e
Buddhwaa sb orn forav ersyp ecipaulr posHee. c amet oth isw orld
ino rdetro h elapn dt eacthh ew holoef m ankinda nda lsaol olt her
sentibeenitn tghse p atthh alte adtsoh appiness.
Examining them ainr eligionso ft hew orldo,n ew illfi ndth at
altlh eg reatte achewrhse,t heCrh ristiMauns,lim , orB uddhists,
werev erys pecipaelo pleT.h eya llh ad an extremepluyr e
motivatainodnt hep uresats pirattioho enl opt hebre ingWsh.e n
theyc amet ot eacoht hebre ingistw, a sn'itnt hew ayo fa military
conquebsuttr atheirn th e formo fa t eachithnagtw asi ntendteod
helbpe ingfisn dh appineSsosm .o sto ft hesger eatte achegrasv e
teachithngastr emaienv etno dawyh ilmilei tareym pirheasv ceo me
andg oneb yt heh undredOsn.em ayw ondewrh yth oset eachings
spreasdowi delayn dw hyt heayr es iltla rountdo daTyh.e r easoins
thatth estee achherasda v erpyu rmeo tivatitoonh elopth erfsr om
the veryb eginningT.h eyw eret ruep,u rep athtsh acto ullde atdo
happiness.
TheB uddhSah akyamunit'esa chihnagvseb eenp ractifcoerd
2,500y earasn,d c onsidertihnehg i stoorfyp eoplweh o practiced
Buddhismw,e wil l findt hatth et eachinggesn eraltietdst ulfef ering
andf ewp robleomrsd ifficulOtine tsh.e c ontraary g,r eantu mber
ofp eoplwee rea blteo fi ndt ruhea ppinesthsr ougthhe practoifc e
the Buddhipsatth andm any foupneda caen dl iberatthiroonu gh
theset eachings.
THE TWELVE DEEDSO FT HE BUDDHA
Theraer ev ermya nyg readte edosf t heB uddhrae cordbeudtt h ese
canb es ummarizedi nttoh et welvmeo sti mportamnots,tf amous
2 ThLeif ea /thBeu ddahnatd h Feo uNrob lTeru ths
dedesT.h efi rsoftt hseet weldveeew dass wheBnu dtdwhhaeas
teacihnti hnpega radiTsues whhioitfica ish n th eg oreda lWhmi.l2e
theB uddhwaas t eachtihnegrt eh,es ounodfh ipsr evious
motivraetmiionnhd ietmd h iawtta nse cserasyt ot akbei ritnoh u r
woralnddt eatchhde h armHae.t hecno nsifidveethir negds t:h e
lanwdh ehreeo ugthotb eb or(I<:na pi,l atc)haeesh tes hlodub e
borinn t(or o,yth aelf )amiilnwy h ichhes houblebd o rn( the
Shakcylaa,w n h)oh imso thwearts o b e(l\1 ayad,ea vnitd)h tei me
thatwa sti ghfto hrim tboeb orn( whent hfiev ed egenerations
weroen itnhecear )sA.eft ehravi ngm adteeh sdee termnishn,ea tio
decitdole eda ve thpea rTauadsnihitdsta eakb eir itnoh u wro rld.
Thipsat ricudleaerdl eoafviT nugs htiobt ea bhoarnad s pieacl
significIatwn acisen .t entdote edau csth h asto mebwohdohy a s
achieenvleidg htiesnn olm oenngatse lra ovfhe i s koawrmnaa n d
hacso ntroaln yotvhheieorn rs g h deo .eS soth eB uddchhaso et o
takbeir tohu wrio nrl bde ucsateh tei mwea tisg hatn hde w anted
tos houws t hastmo eonweh oi se nlightheancseo dn torvoelr
anythheio nrsg h deoe s.
Thesc eonodft htew elgrveead te eodfths e B uddwhaahs i s
biritnhtt ohw eo mbo fh imso thMeary,a dSeovifi .r hsete ntered
thweo mb hoimfso thaenrwd a bs ornfr omh imso thewro'mbs.
Onem ayw ondwehryh et oosku cahb irtIhfh. e h acdo mplete
contorvoeelrv erything,t hewnh y wahsebn o'rtmn i raculously
forma l otfluosw earsw aPsa dmasaomrwb hhyda ovnahe es imply
decsenfdor mt hseky ? But as hpeie archlea adsf oobrne ibnogrn
in ntohrmeaw la yI.fh eh abde neb ornm iracufrloomua ls olty us,
foerx ampiltwe o,u lhda vbee evne riymp revseas nida ttracted
manpyoe plHeo.w evtehrBe,u ddwhaats h iniknit nhge tleornmg
ofh ifust urdei sciwphlowe osu lfde etlh aittw ash ifust ure
discipwloeusbl ediw nhos pbiceraeudts heBe u ddwhhaop racticed
anadc hieenvleidg htsetnamroetunliketted o uerlssvH.ea dh eb een
borni nal ottuhsew yo uhladv e tnhooo urgdinhahtru ym abne ings
courleda ecnhl ightbeenacmuestneht ed yi dhna'vtte h ese same
miracuploowurse.sS ot hBeu ddthoaob ki ritnahw ombt o show
thaetv en orhduimnaabnrye incgasna chitehveeh ihgest
realizaHteid ointd.h tiosin stillc onvictiaonncd o nfidiennh cies
futudries csi.p le
Thet hisrpdie acdle eodft hBeu ddwhaash ibsi ritnth h e
gardienLn u mbi(nipinr eensdta Nye p)aA.ll thoutghhBe u ddha
tooakn o rdinary hutmhaewnra essb tiisrlotlmh e,thi vnegr y
speciinha ilbs i rTthhe.B uddchaam oeu otf t hbeo dy hiosf
mother thhetirrgo hustgi hdS emo.e p epolmei gwhotn dheorw
ThLeif eo ft hBeu ddha 3
thiwsa pso ssibTlheem.yi gthhitn "kW,e wllh, aetx achtalpyp ened?
Didth eri bc agcer acOkn?ed" o esnne'ettdo t hiinntk e rms of
anatopmriocballbe cemaseuth seB uddwhaaas m iraculboeuisn g
anhde j utsotob ki rtthhr ohuigmsho ther'ssi drei.g ht
Att htei moefth eB uddhbai'rstt hhe,wr eer mea nvye ry
spectihiahnlag psep niwnhge hreew abso rnAl.lo fas uddsemone,
crops grsotwairnTtgre.eda e psp eaalrolev det rha er oeafL umbini
and rfloawreer s stuhUcedh um baasrfl ao wetrh ahta d never
growinn t hiasr esat arbtleodo meivneghr yewrFer.o mt hat
momeonntw ahredw sa gisv ethne n amSei ddhianSr atknhrisato ,r
TungyDeru pi nT ibetwahni,cm he a,n" sthoen eth atm akes
everythingp ossibAlsea .r "e soufil ntt erdeopreingidneatntihtoe n ,
preenscoefa hi ghb einegs,pi eacllhyi osr h ebri rptrho,d uces
changtehsee n ivinr onsmuecanhstt hbeol sosminog ff leorw.s
A feyw ealrastw ehreth ne B uddhhaagrd o wnu pa li tthlee ,
traiinnae rdt asn dc raafntdss cieanncdeth su sb ecavmeer y
knowledvgeersahycb olalerl,ay nv,de rysil kfluTlh.iw sa hsi fso urth
deeadn thdi msa yb ea li ttlseu rpribsceianugths,ee B uddwhaas
alreeandlyei ngehdta tlo era asg tr ebaotd hirseiasdttivinangt he
tenbtho dhilseav(tteSvlkab t h.u mItt) .3s houhladv been eont
necserasyf ohimr tot raiinwn o rlsdilklylb sce aeuh ses houhladv e
knowthne mn aturHaolwleyvt.eh rew,ra eas g aains pieficrce ason
fodro ithnig.s I tw ast oc ountvearraicmotiu ssc oncweep tions
mighth avhea dO.n em isuntdaenrdswianstg o tthhaitnt kh e
Buddwhaass omeownheow ass implmye diat wiatthoorau nty
acadeemdiucc atAinoont.hw earst hei dea hteha altr eady
possdeal slt shekinso wledhgede i dsnnoe' ettd ol eaTrnhi.sc ould
give troic soen cetrhinawfste h umatnriset dol easrno metihintg
woullde atdo rneos uOlrta sga.pi oenp lmei gthhitn tkh atth e
Budddhiand o hta vaen qyu alainttdih ehaset n evheartd o t rain.
Sot oo verctohmseeem isconcetphtBeiu odndwsho ar kaetd
beocminasg c hoalnabdre cavmeers ykil lienda lld iefrfeanrt.tI st
alssoh owtsh aitti sn ecseryas tor eecivfulel e ducaitinto hne
cultiunwr hei wceha rbeo rn. mWuesb teful lya to nwei thv arious
poistiavseepc otfso ucru ltutrobe ea blteob ecoamv ee hifcrol e
transmtihtdeth ianrgm a.
Thefif th dteheBedu dodwfha ats o m arrhya,va ec hilda,n d
enjtohyce o mpaonfhiy s q ueYeans dhhoaarnacd o onrsatnsad l l
thep leasoufrr oeysa TlhteBy u.d ddhiathd i ss ot hahtifu st ure
disciwpoluelsdthink n'thta thte B uddohraa n e nhlitgenpereds on
wausn abtloee n joy anyo rfp eltheeelan seuefrdoee rsn joyment.
Thoet hreera fsootrnh Beu ddlhiav siuncgash ne suoluiwsfa ets o
4 The oLftif heBe u ddahnatd h e NFoobulTreru ths
shotwh aevte n thouBguhd dhthahaade l tlh finee sptl eashuer es,
wasns'atfiti esd tbhsyeep leasbuerceahsue hs aeud n dersthtaoto d
thewraeash igfhoerrom fh apnpesist ob es ought.
Thsei xdtehe dth eBo ufd dwhaahs i rse nuncTihapeta iloanc.e
wase nocslewdi thighh walalnsdf o ugra tfecasi nega cohft he
cardpioninatlTs h.eB uddwhean fto ar w aloku tsoifdt eh e
precionftc htpesa laecaecti,hm el eavitnhgr oougnheo ft he
diefrfegnaetts a,n d etaicmhhees aswm oethithnagtg a vhiem a
diefrfelnets osnol ni. fT ehefi rstitm eh ew enotu tth rotuhgeh
eatserng atoeft hpea laces atwah nsedu f ferionfag no lmda n,
discoverintgh fie rfsottri mteh aatllp reosnse xperietnhcee
degeneorfa tbtiohodenAy n.o ther hetimle e ftp atlhtaehc reo ugh
thes uotherng ataen ds awa sicpkre soann dd iscovtehree d
suffrineg thaatlpl re osnasto ntiem eo ra nothseurf fTehren. e xt
timeh ew enotu ttho rugthh wee stgearnta ens da awd eapdeo rns
anddi scotvheer eopdfda eianw thhi aclhpl re somnussu tn dergo.
Thihsih ti hma rbde ceah uers eaelizdt hantom, a ttheorwri cyho u
aren,om attheorwp owuelry foua ren,om attheorwm uch
pleasaunreden joyymoehuna tv teh,e irsne o thyioncuga dno t o
ruanw afyor mt hseu ffriengo fo ladg es,in cekss,an dde aHteh .
realiztehda t wtahnseo r ewt aoay v otihsde ee;v eakinn g counlodt
buy hiosu otwf ta hysi usf friengN.o o ncea runn awaayn d hide
fromt hsiusff erinNgoo. n e ficgahantn dde ftheeastth er ekei nds
ofs uffering.
Butth etnhB eu ddrheaa liztehdam ta ybteh eirsaew ayo ut:
thep racotfais cpei rpitatuhaT.lh eBu dduhnad erstood this when
hel etthf ep altahcreo thuegn ho rthgearnta ens da awm onTkh.a t
momehnetf eglrte waetan reiswitsh t hweo ralndrd e noutnhcee d
woralttdh aeg oef 29.
Aftetrh Beu ddhhaatd h seev isihoegn asv,ue pth ekin gdom
and lelifotffa ep trhienw cheii,chs hi ssve endtehe Hde.l eadl ife
ofa ustefriotsrii yexes a bryst hbea nokfst hNei aljarinvaei rn
IndTihase.ea ustedriindto ite stl ohe iaesdnl ightebnumte ntth,e
yeasrpse dnoti ancsge tipcr acwtiecreneso wta stbeedc atuhseey
hadt hseep cipfiucpr osoefs howingfu turdei scitphlathetes
Buddhhaapd u atv ergyr eaamto uonfte f faonrpdte rvseerance
anddili gencinet oa chievinthge g oaolfe nlighteTnhmiesn t.
sevednethew da asl so ttoh aasstlh oonawgss omeiosant et ached
tom onefyoo,dc ,ol theasn,ald l th ep leasoufr lefullisd f eed,i cation
tos iriptuparla citisicm ep soisbBlueit.f giovneeus pa ttachment,
thent haec hievoefmB eundtd habhceooomde aps osbisliSioty .
TheL ifeo ft hBeu ddha
5
thati sw hyth eB uddehnag aignet dhi sd eed sioyxfe aorfs
austebriyatri iveerss ide.
Thee ighdteheo dft hBeu ddwhaash igisvi ngu po ft he
austseb,ry ia tciceepatib nogwo lfy oguarntd gothienb go dthoi
treaen d vowisntga uynt doet rhi st reuen thielr eached final
awakeniInncg o.n trasta usttose ,trit hthBieeue ddahtathe i s
nutritifoooudas n d ghiasbv oeyd rae sHtep. u thissc lotbhaecsk
ona nd wteotn hbteo d htir eTehB.e u ddghaavu ept haeu sterities
tos hohwi fust urfleol owtehratsth m ea ionb jeocf t Buddhist
pracitiswc oer kiwintgho n'esm inWde. h avteoe liminatteh e
negatini oviutmryi nd haanvtdeod evetlhopepo ti sviqeu aelsoi fti
knowleadngdue n dtearnsdTihnigis.s fari mmpoorrteth aannt
whagto eosno utsoifd eu tsh,aa utss ot earrineto tithe peso iinnt
themsveesl.
Whatth Beu ddha twaosn htouewsd tihsta htte r uper actice
shoulbdei nt hmei ddolfthe e t woe xtreomfpe rsa cttiocoin g
manayu stearintibdee sit nogio n dulTgheefirn stet.x triewsmh ee n
yous tayrovuer osrey lofud ona'ltl yoowu rfsooedla fn ddr ink.
Thseep ractailcseos ipnlvaocyliovnuegr isnee lxft rpehmyes ical
condistiuocnahssb eintgo hoo otr t ocoo lTdh.ii ssp oinstlse
beucsaieht a nso t rusei gnificaTnhcoeet .he exrt riewsmh ee yroeu
jufslotl oawn oyf y oudre ssiT.rh eiisse nedslbse cathuesreie sa
consetsalcnaatt iinyo onud re esisIr.yf o hua vteep nl easyuorue'sll,
wanth uan drIefydo h.ua vaeh undryeoduw,'a lnltth oau sasnod ;
yowilul nevfienrda nsyta iascftiaonnyd o wilul alnseov beera ble
top racttihcdeeh armeai theSrot. h Beu ddwhaan tesdh otuwos
thawte h avteoa votihdee x tremteom ou ocfah u staenritdto yo
mucihn dguelnacnetd h parta clitiecssemo ewheirnte h mied dle.
Then inth dtehBeeud d doihfsca a l"ltheesd u dbuionfgt he
marPaa piyPaanp.iw"ya atsnh lee adtheerm aoarfsT .h ihsa ppened
whetnh Beu ddwhaass itutnidntegh rbe o dthrie Pea.p iuysaend
formrse lattote hdte h rdeies tgu ermboit(nisoonimsme etcsa lled
klesohfia gsn)o rdaencseira,en ,da ggsriseotno try tol urteh e
Buddahwaaf yor mh ipsu rsoufei ntl ightenment.
Thefi rsdte ceprtieopner netisnigg norwaansct eh at the
Buddhwaa sa sked to haibsma enddiotnaa tinodn return
immediattote hley kibnegcdeaoh umisf stha eKinrg Shuddhodana
haddi eadnt dh evile Devadhaattdta ak oevneth rek ingdTohmi.s
did dniosttt uhrBebu ddhmae'dsi taTthiePonan p.i tyriaentd o
creaanto eb asctulsei dnegs biyrs eh owhimin gh iosw nb eautiful
daughwtheotr riset dod eecivaens dde uchime. Whetnh is did not
disturthbeB uddhmae'dsi tMaatritaoh neu ns ehda tbryec do ming