The Life and Times of Gautam Buddha

What is the secret of Buddha's hold on the mind and imagination of vast numbers of Asiatic humanity over two millenniums? What should one think when on the one hand Buddhism tells us that life is suffering and on the other we are told to enjoy life's every moment?The Life and Times of Gautam Buddha seeks to answer these questions. It brings together the leading ideas and tenets of Buddhism, interpreting them in the light of the fundamental principles of human life as well as of the latest research in the science of human mind.The book takes reader through the life of Siddhartha Gautam in a manner of a mortal hero and establishes basis for his eventual enlightenment and observations. It describes his protected royal youth, search for a way to end suffering and his enlightenment. The book also takes up the core teachings one by one—the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path and the Six-sense media. The book brings together teachings of the Buddha ranging from basic ethical observances recommended to the busy man or woman of the modern world._______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Contents's Note —Pgs. 71. Reference to the Context —Pgs. 112. A Civilisation of Sixteen Realms —Pgs. 143. Birth and Childhood —Pgs. 174. Marriage —Pgs. 225. The Four Encounters —Pgs. 236. Disenchanted with Youth —Pgs. 267. The Great Departure —Pgs. 288. I Strive —Pgs. 319. First Teachers —Pgs. 3310. Truth in the Doctrine of Karma —Pgs. 3511. Mortification —Pgs. 3812. The Enlightenment —Pgs. 4313. Merchants of Myanmar —Pgs. 4614. Beginning of the Mission —Pgs. 4715. The First Sermon —Pgs. 4916. Discourse on Non-Self —Pgs. 5317. Conversions —Pgs. 5718. Monasteries —Pgs. 6119. Return to Kapilavastu —Pgs. 6220. Rajagriha and Sravasti —Pgs. 6521. The Ideal of a Wife —Pgs. 6922. King Prasenjit of Kosala —Pgs. 7123. Growth of Sangha —Pgs. 7324. Vishakha —Pgs. 7525. Glory of Mahanama —Pgs. 7726. Failed Mission in Kaushambi —Pgs. 7827. I Sow Faith, my Plough is Wisdom —Pgs. 7928. Relationship with Rahula —Pgs. 8129. Angulimala —Pgs. 8330. Ananda the adjutant —Pgs. 8631. Contemporary Thoughts —Pgs. 8732. A Decade of Crisis —Pgs. 8933. Killed by its Own Fruit —Pgs. 9034. Amrapali —Pgs. 9235. Legacy —Pgs. 9636. Nirvana —Pgs. 9837. The Last Rites —Pgs. 10138. The Canon —Pgs. 10239. Distinctive Types of Buddhism —Pgs. 10440. Buddhism's Decline in India —Pgs. 10641. Buddhism in Myanmar —Pgs. 10742. Ideals of Different Schools of Buddhism —Pgs. 10943. Buddhist Doctrine —Pgs. 11144. Three Types of Men —Pgs. 11945. Four Noble Truths —Pgs. 12546. The Four Great Existents —Pgs. 12747. Five Aggregates of Existence —Pgs. 13348. Genesis of Karma —Pgs. 13649. Five Aspects of Speech —Pgs. 14350. The Five Precepts —Pgs. 14851. Five Evils in the World —Pgs. 15152. Six Sense-Media Theatre —Pgs. 15253. Noble Eight-fold Path —Pgs. 15854. Defilements of the Mind —Pgs. 16155. The Principle of Skilful Action —Pgs. 16356. Ending of the Fermentations —Pgs. 16957. Managing Emotions —Pgs. 17658. Cultivation of Discrimination —Pgs. 17959. Three Frames of Reference —Pgs. 18060. Ideal Emotional State —Pgs. 18261. The Fruits of Contemplative Life —Pgs. 18762. Folly of Misapprehending the Dharma —Pgs. 19163. Recapitulating —Pgs. 195References —Pgs. 201Timeline —Pgs. 207