JI LAY HUD – THE PIONEER OF BUDDHISM
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In Chinese language, 如來佛 Ru Lai Fo {Hok Kian = Ji Lay Hud } is a honorary term of address for Buddha Sakyamuni. The term of address Ru Lai is the translation from Sanskrit, Tathagata, meaning He who is coming (Ia Yang Datang).
Buddha Sakyamuni is the Pioneer of Buddhism which is one of 3 (three) big religions in the world with the followers reaching billions of people. Buddha Sakyamuni is a great & noble master of religion, as well as wise and discreet holy man & recognized worldwide.
Ideology & civilization (culture) of Buddhism ordered by Buddha Sakyamuni, was transmitted from a generation to generation, has long been become the important & primary aspect that provides various colors nuance of Eastern World, and has also left perfect and abundant worthy culture for the world history.
釋迦牟尼佛 Buddha Sakyamuni was born in the year of 623 B.C. in a country named Kapilavastu (nearby Nepal) with the name of Sidharta Gautama. Sidharta means: “Someone who succeeds achieving his goal”. Sidharta’s father is King Sudhodana who came from Sakya ethnic group. Because he comes from Sakya ethnic group then he was called a Buddha Sakyamuni. His mother is Queen Mahamaya. Before giving birth of Sidharta, Goddess Mahamaya dreamt of seeing a white elephant entering her uterus. Before he was born as Prince Sidharta, he was actually Maha Bodhisatva who came from the Heaven of Tusita.
The birthday of Buddha Sakyamuni is commemorated in every the 15 th day of the 4 th month of Chinese Calendar. But in temples, it is commemorated at the 8 th day of 4 th month of Chinese Calendar.
When he was born, there was any miracle like recorded in Sakyamuni Buddha Book: at the time of the said baby was born, he walked 7 (seven) steps. Red & golden yellow lotus came out from the earth every time he stepped his feet. In the last step, with his right hand pointed to the heavens & the left hand pointed out to the earth, such baby echoed his voice clearly audible: “It’s me the Greatest in between heavens & earth. I come from the Heavens of Tusita. I come to set forth the secrets of universe & the truth of life, in order to free the creature from the suffering. It is my latest birth in this world!”
That was a Great Bodhisatva has been born through the uterus of kind-hearted and glorious goodness Queen Maha Maya. A week after giving birth the Prince Sidharta, his mother passed away. He was then brought up by his aunt Mahaprajapati.
Prince Sidharta has been married in the age of 16 years with his sister-in-law Princess Yasodhara. They were blessed with a son named Rahula, meaning shackle.
As a Prince, Sidharta enjoyed comfortable, luxury & good life of Palace. King Sudhodana hoped him to take the throne & replace his father as a King. But Prince Sidharta was not accustomed to such kind of luxurious, happy & and high established life.
In the age of 29 years old, he saw 4 matters that then changed his course of life. Firstly, he saw an old person who walked unsteadily by leaning on his stick. Secondly, he saw someone suffering a serious illness. Thirdly, he saw someone to have passed away. Fourthly, he saw a Buddhist monk wearing a yellow robe walked calmly with the face full of serenity. The first three items made the Princes realized the natural law that definitely will be experienced by everybody regardless who they are. The fourth matter indicated the way to overcome world suffering & reached peaceful life.
Such was Prince Sidharta left the palace in the age of 29 years & developed himself with full of sufferings in Uruvela Forest. For six years he developed himself to life as a hermit. Finally, under a Bodhi tree, he obtained a Perfect Explanation in the age of 35 years & from that period he has been called as Buddha Gautama. The day he 成道 reached a perfect Explanation is commemorated in every the 8 th day of 12 th month of Chinese Calendar year.
Then he set forth Dharma for 45 years to his uncountable amount & established Sangha (a holy brotherhood of Buddhist Monks). He was died in the age of 80 years.
