Prophet Description
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Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) was born in northern India in the 5th Century BCE. Legends say that at birth he was able to walk and talk, and from a young age practiced meditation. Gautama was the heir to a king who raised Gautama with the intention of succeeding him. However, at the age of twenty-nine, Gautama had an experience which profoundly changed his life – he ventured outside of the palace and encountered four signs: an old man, a sick person, a corpse, and a beggar. It was this event (believed to be divinely orchestrated) that motivated Gautama to leave his life as a prince and search for answers to the questions that bothered him.
Seven years after fleeing from the palace, in a single night of deep meditation, Gautama achieved a major breakthrough, an absolutely clear awareness of the real questions of life and the unique religious means for dealing with them. This enlightenment confirmed the truth of his insight, and at this point he became the Buddha. Two weeks after the enlightenment, the Buddha gave his first sermon, passing along to others his insight into the dharma (the truth). This sermon is often referred to as the “first turning of the wheel of dharma.” Though it is important to note that many of the Buddha’s teachings reflect the influence of Hinduism, he thoroughly modified various Hindu concepts and did not embrace the caste system.
The teachings of the Buddha are optimistic and hopeful about the future. These teachings maintain that every human being—regardless of his social position or past life—can gain control of themselves, their ideas and passions, and their destiny. The main principles of his teachings are: caring for others, love, non-injury to living creatures, and the obligation of all people to promote friendship and peace. Also, the Buddha taught his disciples to turn from the materialism of the world and live a life of the spirit.
The Pali Canon - Dhammapada - Chapter XVII. Anger
Let a man overcome anger by love, let him overcome evil by good; let him overcome the greedy by liberality, the liar by truth!The Pali Canon - Sutta Nipata - Mahavagga
To every man that is born, an ax is born in his mouth, by which the fool cuts himself, when speaking bad language.The Pali Canon - Dhammapada - Chapter I. The Twin-Verses
For hatred does not cease by hatred at any time: hatred ceases by love, this is an old rule.The Pali Canon - Sutta Nipata - Uragavagga
By faith one crosses the stream, by zeal the sea, by exertion one conquers pain, by understanding one is purified.The Pali Canon - Dhammapada - Chapter IV. Flowers
Like a beautiful flower, full of colour, but without scent, are the fine but fruitless words of him who does not act accordingly.The Pali Canon - Anguttara Nikaya - Book of the Ones
I don't envision a single thing that, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about such suffering & stress as the mind. The mind, when undeveloped & uncultivated, brings about suffering & stress.The Pali Canon - Dhammapada - Chapter VIII. The Thousands
If one man conquer in battle a thousand times thousand men, and if another conquer himself, he is the greatest of conquerors.The Pali Canon - Sutta Nipata - Atthakavagga
Look upon those men trembling in selfishness, like fish in a stream nearly dried up, with little water; seeing this, let one wander about unselfish, without forming any attachment to existences.The Pali Canon - Dhammapada - Chapter XV. Happiness
Health is the greatest of gifts, contentedness the best riches; trust is the best of relationships, Nirvana the highest happiness.The Pali Canon - Anguttara Nikaya - Book of the Threes
A person endowed with three things is to be recognized as a wise person. Which three? Good bodily conduct, good verbal conduct, good mental conduct. A person endowed with these three things is to be recognized as a wise person.