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At age 29, having became increasingly dissatisfied with the contrast between a life of aristocratic luxury and the suffering he observed endemic in all people, he abandoned his inheritance and palace and began living an ascetic? life, training with ascetic philosophers, and practicing austere meditative practices. After six years he found that the severe practices did not lead to greater understanding, abandoned them and concentrated on the [middle way]? (a practise of non-extremism), and soon afterwards claimed he had realized complete awakening/enlightenment into the nature and cause of human suffering and the steps necessary to eliminate it. That enlightenment is called a state of "Bodhi," and hence the name "Buddha," or "enlightened one." |
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At age 29, having became increasingly dissatisfied with the contrast between a life of aristocratic luxury and the suffering he observed endemic in all people, he abandoned his inheritance and palace and began living an ascetic? life, training with ascetic philosophers, and practicing austere meditative practices. After six years he found that the severe practices did not lead to greater understanding, abandoned them and concentrated on meditation and the "[middle way]?" (a practise of non-extremism), and soon afterwards claimed he had realized complete awakening/enlightenment into the nature and cause of human suffering and the steps necessary to eliminate it. That enlightenment is called a state of "Bodhi," and hence the name "Buddha," or "enlightened one." |
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After intermittent illness, the Buddha died at Kusinara (now Kusinagar, India) at the age of 80. His last meal was sukara-maddava which he had received as an offering from a smith. The correct translation of this term is unknown; sukara means "pig". Sukara-maddava may mean "tender pork" or "mushrooms or tubers enjoyed by pigs". Vegetarianism is for Buddhists an ideal rather than a mandate, and monks and nuns in particular are enjoined to accept all offerings of food made to them (unless they know an animal has been killed especially to feed them). The Buddha's last words were: "All things which are made of parts eventually come apart. Be mindful, and achieve Enlightenment!" |
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After intermittent illness, the Buddha died at Kusinara (now Kusinagar, India) at the age of 80. His last meal was sukara-maddava which he had received as an offering from a smith. The correct translation of this term is unknown; sukara means "pig", maddava apparently means something like "delicacy". Sukara-maddava may mean "tender pork" or "mushrooms or tubers enjoyed by pigs". Vegetarianism is for Buddhists an ideal rather than a mandate, and monks and nuns in particular are enjoined to accept all offerings of food made to them (unless they know an animal has been killed especially to feed them). The Buddha's last words were: "All things which are made of parts eventually come apart. Be mindful, and achieve Enlightenment!" |
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