When twenty-nine years old, shortly after the birth of his first son, Gautama took the decision he must leave his palace life and mengharnbakan ourselves to the search for the real truth is not plated. Think not only think, but act. With merry way he left the palace, without a wife and children, without bringing any goods and property, and being a bum with not a penny in the bag. The first step, for a time, he was studying of the wise men in those days and after feeling quite pocketed science, he came to the conclusion level of dissatisfaction human problem solving.
Generally assume, the ascetic path to true wisdom. On the basis of the assumption that Gautama tried to become a monk, years of fasting and abstinence like hell. Eventually he realized salable torture yourself edges only cloud the mind, and instead of lead closer to the real truth. Thought has thought, he decided'd better eat it like a normal human being and stop all kinds of asceticism as the action was not only pointless, but can make the body emaciated, sluggish, eyes fireflies, drowsiness, pains, even approaching Dingle.
In the quiet solitude peaceful livelihood he wrestled with human problems. Finally one night, when she was sitting under a broad-leaved trees and fruit of the pear shape semacarn laden seeds of all kinds, then berdatanganlah puzzle of life issues as falling on him. All night long Siddhartha pondered deeply and when the sun broke on the eastern horizon and she gasped in unison believe that already solved complex problems and he began when it calls itself Buddha "who were given the lighting."
At that time the age of thirty-five years. The rest of the age of forty-five years dipergunakannya traveled throughout northern India, spreading his new philosophy in front of audiences who are willing to listen. When he died, in 483 BC, had hundreds of thousands of followers of his teachings. Although his words still have not written one but the advice-petuahnya memorized by many of his followers in his head, passed down from one generation to the next through the mouth alone.
The basic teachings of Buddha can be summarized in what according to the terms of adherents "Four virtues of truth:" First, human life is basically not happy; second, causal unhappiness are selfless and fettered by lust; Third, the idea of self-interest and lust can be pressed exhausted when all the lust and desire can be eliminated, in Buddhism is called nirvana; Fourth, weigh right, think right, talk right, do right, right to make a living, trying to correct, given the right, right meditation. Buddhism can ditarnbahkan it is open for anyone, regardless of whatever race he is, (this is what distinguishes it from Hinduism).
Some time after the death of Gautama new religion spread slowly. In the 3rd century BC, a great Indian emperor Asoka became a power called adherents of Buddhism. Thanks to their support, the spread of Buddhism bolted heavy, not only in India but also in Burma. From here agarna it spread throughout Southeast Asia, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Wind spread of the influence was not just blowing to the south but to the north, broke into Tibet, Afghanistan and Central Asia. Not up there. He mengambah China and claimed effect is not made in magnitude and from there crossed over to Japan and Korea.
While in India itself the new religion began to decline effect after circa 500 AD even endangered in 1200. By contrast, in China and in Japan, Buddhism remain the principal religion. Similarly, in Tibet and Southeast Asia religion is experiencing its heyday centuries.
Buddha's teachings are not written until centuries after the death of Gautama. Therefore it is easy understandable why religion was fragmented into various sects. Two major branches of Buddhism are Theravada branch-effects, especially in Southeast Asia, and it was thought most of Western scholars is the closest branch of the Buddha's teachings that asli-. Another branch of Mahayana, consequential located in Tibet, China and also in Southeast Asia in general.
Buddha, the founder of one of the largest religions in the world, definitely worth nearly level ranks top of the list this book. Because the number of followers of Buddhism lived 200 million compared with adherents of Islam that 500 million number and one billion adherents of Christianity, by itself Buddhist influence is smaller than Muhammad or Jesus. However, a different number of believers-if used as a measure that is exceedingly ketat- can also be misleading. For example, the demise or decline of Buddhism in India is not degenerate any slump but because Hinduism has absorbed many teachings and Buddhist principles into his body. In China too, a large number of residents who are no longer openly calls himself a Buddhist in the practice of everyday life is actually very influenced by the philosophy of religion.
Buddhism, far outperformed both Islamic and Christian, had a very prominent pacifist elements. The views were rooted in nonviolence plays an important role in the political history of the countries berpenganut Buddha.
Many people say that if one day Jesus went back down to earth he would gape shocked at all what people are doing on their behalf, and will be anxious for the bloodshed that occurred in conflicts between sects disagree equally claim to be his followers. So also will happen to Buddha. He can not will not gape-gaping witnessed so many sects of Buddhism vegetated everywhere, differ from each other even though they all confess Buddhists. Narnun, however chaotic sects different from each other that is not sarnpai cause bloody religious wars as happening in the world of Christian Europe. In this connection, at least mean Buddhism seemed much depth internalized by adherents rather than the teachings of Jesus dalarn same connection.
Buddha and Kong Hu Cu roughly equal influence on the world. Both live in the same time period, and the number of followers was not much different. My choice to put the name of Buddha sooner than Kong Hu Cu in order propped up on two considerations: first, the development of Communism in China was almost wiped out the influence of Confucius -Cu, while it seems the future Buddha still more gaps and influence than in Kong Hu- Cu; second, the failure of the teachings of Kong Hu Cu spread beyond the boundaries of China shows how closely the link bertautnya teachings Kong Hu Cu with an attitude and manner of the old Chinese era. Instead, Buddhism is no repeat libelous or chewing on the previous Indian philosophy and Buddhism spread stepped yard limit -India- country relied pure idea of Gautama as well as wide range of philosophies.
-------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
Hundred Most Influential People in History
Michael H. Hart, 1978
Translation H. Mahbub Djunaidi, 1982
PT. World Pustaka Jaya
Jln. Kramat II, No. 31A
Central Jakarta