Introducing Buddha

A Graphic Guide

Borin Van Loon, Jane Hope

• Publisher: Icon Books
• Year: 2014
• ISBN:
  9781848317680
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Buddhism

Meditation, Karma, Zen, Tantric and Nirvana are some of the many Buddhist ideas Westerners hear of frequently, even if their meaning has been lost in translation. This vast and complex non-theistic religion is woven into the fabric of Asian civilisations. from India to the Himalayan regions, China, Vietnam, Korea, Japan and elsewhere. What is Buddhism really all about?Introducing Buddha describes the life and teachings of the Buddha, but it also shows that enlightenment is a matter of experiencing the truth individually, and by inspiration which is passed from teacher to student. Superbly illustrated by Borin Van Loon, the book illuminates this process through a rich legacy of stories, explains the practices of meditation, Taoism and Zen, and goes on to describe the role of Buddhism in modern Asia and its growing influence on Western thought.

PART ONE

There is much misunderstanding about who or what the Buddha was. The word Buddha literally means “awakened one”.

Eastern traditions recognize that there have been many buddhas in the past and will be many buddhas in the future.

Nevertheless, there was a historical figure, whose family name was Siddhartha Gautama, and who has become known as the Buddha for this age. He was also known as Sakyamuni Buddha, the sage of the Sakyas. The life and teachings of the historical Buddha are a milestone in human understanding, but the Buddha himself was an ordinary man with no claims to divine origin. Belief in a creator God has no part in the Buddhist religion.

In the Buddhist lineage, knowledge is not handed down like an antique. One teacher experiences the truth of the teachings and hands it down as inspiration to his students. That inspiration wakens the student who passes it on further. The teachings are seen as always up to date, they are not thought of as “ancient wisdom”.

It is like a recipe for bread. Each baker must apply his general knowledge of how to bake bread, but each time it is cooked it is completely fresh.

The doctrine of change and impermanence which is at the heart of Buddhism constantly breaks up any tendencies towards fundamentalism.

The Buddhist experience relies on experiencing the truth for oneself, and ultimately it does not really matter whether or not there was an historical Buddha. However, the traditions and legends that surround the life of the Buddha contain in allegorical form, the precise nature and form of the spiritual journey.

The early stories and teachings of the Buddha were not written down until several centuries after his death. They were not seen as the “authorized version”. The Buddha encouraged his followers to put everything he said to the test, and therefore, through the ages, followers of the Buddha have trusted their own wisdom, rather than trying to interpret what might have been meant in old texts.

Prince Siddartha was born around 560BC in a small kingdom just below the Himalayan foothills. His father was a king of the Sakya clan. His mother, Queen Maya was said to be so radiant and alluring that even the gods envied her. She was called Mayadevi “Goddess of Illusion” because her body was so beautiful as to be unbelievable. On the night of the Buddha’s conception, Queen Maya dreamed that a white elephant had entered her womb. The dream revealed to her that the child would be special.

Soon after Siddartha was born, a holy man prophesied:

If he stays in the palace he could become an outstanding world leader, but if he enters the religious life he will become enlightened, a teacher of gods and men.
This fills me with apprehension! … I want Siddharta to take over the throne of the kingdom when I die.

The king therefore determined to make the first prediction come true and lavished care and attention on his son. As the prince grew up, he mastered the traditional arts and sciences, becoming skilled in

It will be the hard facts of life that will turn my son’s mind towards religion, so I’ll provide every pleasure and luxury that the world can offer!

In order to keep him addicted to the palace, the king had a chamber of love built, decorated with erotic art. Pleasure girls, skilled in the art of love were invited to the palace. Siddartha’s life in the palace revolved around the pleasures of the senses.

In the course of time, the palace women told him about the world outside the palace and how beautiful it was. Plans were made for the prince to make a journey, but first the King ordered that anyone who was old or sick or crazy or diseased should be cleared from the roads.

The Prince went out of the palace several times, and each time he left, he saw something which disturbed his mind. The first time he saw an old, bent, toothless man.

Now I realize how old age destroys memory and beauty and strength.

The second time he saw a diseased man with a swollen belly covered with filth and flies.

Now I realise how the body decays.

On the third visit, he saw a corpse being carried through the streets, followed by anguished friends and family.

What is the significance of each episode?
All human beings suffer the same fate.
I am amazed that people can feel at ease when faced with such a threat.

He himself felt frightened and alarmed when he refle...