La famille Li

Queen Siri Mahamaya gives birth to a child 

At the age of 16 the prince marries princess Yasodhara Pimpa

The prince cuts his hair and decides to become a beggar 

The prince becomes Lord Buddha

Lord Buddha was the only arhanta in the world

Three beautiful girls from Mâra came to tempt Lord Buddha with sensual pleasures

Lord Buddha gave his first sermon, the Dhammacakka, the Wheel of Law, to five beggars 

Lord Buddha ordains prince Rahula as the first Samanera

The elephant and the monkey came to serve him and offer him fruiy and a beehive 

Lord Buddha died between two Sâla trees

These images are photos of paintings present in the temple-museum Anek Kuson Sala (Viharna Sien) in Pattaya, Thailand (photos by Bertrand Lépissier)

Buddhism appeared in the 6th century BC. Its founder Siddhartha Gautama, son of a king, was born in North India, on the border with present-day Nepal. 

At the age of 29, Siddhartha decided to leave the royal palace and his family to seek a solution to the human suffering that preoccupied him. He then became a wandering ascetic for almost 6 years. Finally, he decides to abandon the life of asceticism, just as he abandoned the princely life, preferring the middle way. Continuing his quest, he sat under a tree (which we will call bodhi) for a long meditation. He finally found the answer to his questioning; he attained enlightenment. From then on, he is recognised as the Buddha, or the Enlightened One.

Enlightenment reveals to him the origin of suffering and indicates the path that must be followed in order to obtain the end of suffering; a cessation that leads to leaving the eternal cycle of rebirths and reaching nirvana. He delivers his message to five of his companions. We will speak about the sermon of Benedares.

This message takes the form of the Four Noble Truths:

1- Life is nothing but suffering.

2-The cause of suffering is desire.

3- There is a way of suppressing desire to put an end to suffering.

4- This means is the pursuit of the Noble Eightfold Path or, the right balance in the following eight areas:

- The right opinion or understanding

- Right Thinking

- Right speech or language

- Right activity or action

- Just livelihood

- Right effort

- Just be careful

- Just concentration or meditation

Three fundamental elements govern the Noble Eightfold Path: morality, concentration and wisdom.

Morality: 10 prohibitions: murder, lies, theft, slander, lust, insult, idle talk, lust, wickedness, false vision.

Concentration: Purification of the mind through body and mind control exercises.

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The three jewels of Buddhism : Buddha, Dharma and Samgha.

Buddha: The enlightened one, the one who has reached his goal.

Dharma: The Buddha's teaching or Wheel of Doctrine condemns the carnal life which is low, ignoble and material. It also condemns the ascetic life which is unworthy, senseless and painful. It advocates the way of the golden mean, the Noble Eightfold Path that will lead to nirvana (getting out of the circle of rebirth). He does not perceive inherent existence in a universal self or in individual selves, but rather perceives the dependent relationship of all phenomena.

Samgha: The community. All those who take refuge in the Buddhist community, monks and lay people alike. Spiritual friends who help to develop virtuous states of mind through their explanations of the teachings, their encouragement and their practice.

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Originally, Buddhism did not have a deity. Some authors even speak of discipline rather than religion. Then it spread and became established in various Asian countries. It then integrates the customs as well as the beliefs of the host countries. Divinities and demons appeared.

The three traditions or vehicles of Buddhism: Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana.

Hinayana (or Theravada or Small Vehicle) Emphasizes the discipline of the mind and the surrender of worldly things through meditation. Disciples can protect themselves from falling into the lower kingdoms by taking refuge in the three jewels and practising moral discipline, especially refraining from the ten non-virtuous actions, in accordance with the laws of karma. They can also protect themselves from all kinds of uncontrolled births and attain Nirvana by practising the three higher trainings:

- moral discipline,

- concentration,

- and wisdom.

Mahayana (or Great véhicule) Mahayana (or Great Vehicle) involves freer interpretations of the dharma. Adherents have boddhisattvas to help them access their salvation. For disciples of great spiritual capacity, Buddha described how they could protect all living beings from suffering by attaining full enlightenment by taking refuge in the three jewels with the motivation to reach one's highest potential for the good of all. The essential Mahayanist practices are the six perfections: 

- dgift,

-moral discipline,

- patience,

- effort,

- concentration

- and wisdon.

These practices include the three higher trainings of Hinayana.

This current has broken down into several schools of thought, including : Pure Land, which taught that a compassionate Buddha will lead the faithful to Western Paradise upon their death; the Japanese Tendai sect, which used Confucianism's predilection for study and social harmony; Chan or Zen Buddhism with its Taoist-influenced meditation techniques.

Vajrayana (or tantric vehicule) , an esoteric path derived from Mahayana, imbued with magic that advocates the possibility of attaining enlightenment in the course of a single lifetime. Tantrism is mainly practised in Tibet. Vajrayana is called the uncommon path because, while Hinayana and Mahayana can be taught openly, this vehicle can only be taught to those who have received the appropriate empowerment or initiation from a Tantric spiritual master. The essential practice of Vajrayana is to maintain pure appearances and conceptions day and night. These practices include the three higher trainings of Hinayaha and the six perfections of Mahayana.

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Karma is the vital energy which constitutes a considerable force, which is not destroyed after death, and which causes a fall back into existence called rebirth. All actions, words and thoughts contribute to the formation of a new body and new conditions when a person dies; each action carries within itself the seed of retribution. We cannot go back to the past, but we can act on the future.

Karma is the motor of the wheel of life or Samsara. Its representation explains the functioning of the cycle in which our ignorance keeps us locked up. The representation of Samsara is held by Yama, Lord of Death.


In the centre are three animals that symbolise the three mental poisons: desire (the cock), aggression or hatred (the snake) and ignorance (the pig).

Then, six compartments evoke the upper and lower kingdoms of existence in which all beings can be reborn.

- on the left: gods, higher spirits, men

- on the right: animals, hells, demons.

In the outer circle are the twelve interrelated causes leading to rebirth: ignorance, action, mastery, energy, thought, contact, desire, attachment, procreation, birth, death, new life.

Buddha, placed in the upper right corner, indicates the path to liberation or salvation.

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Sacred books: The Buddhist Canons or three baskets.

The first basket, the Sutrapitaka, contains the essence of the doctrine attributed to the Buddha (the Dharma). Practice of training in higher moral discipline.

The second basket, the Vinayapitaka describes the rules and precepts which govern monks and nuns. Practice of training for superior concentration.

The third basket, the Abdhidharmapitaka is a systematic exposition specific to each Buddhist school. Practice of training for higher wisdom.

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The fruit: Buddhahood

A Buddha is a holy being who has attained full enlightenment. He has freed himself from all fault, suffering, mental disturbance and obstacles to omniscience. The Buddha's compassion is perfect and impartial. His wisdom perceives all past, present and future phenomena simultaneously and distinctly. His power enables him to help every living being to lead them on the path to liberation and full enlightenment.

(Recherche : Musée des religions du monde)

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