The Buddha is a Religious Teacher with an Authentic History

http://Buddhism.2be.net/The_Buddha_is_a_Religious_Teacher_with_an_Authentic_History

From Buddhist Encyclopedia

• From a chapter in the book - The Greatest Man Who Ever Lived by Ven. Weragoda Sarada Maha Thero

Most religious leaders, creators, savious and gods are not historical persons. There is no acceptable historical evidence to prove that they actually lived. But, there is a vast variety of evidence to uphold the fact that the Buddha was a truly historical personage, and that he actually lived.

The whole world has now accepted the fact that he is a historical figure. His line the(Sakyas). His clan (Gotama), his name (Siddhartha) are all recorded in ancient Indian Literature. They are mentioned in Hinayana and Mahayana books. His birth-place, the place where he delivered his first sermon, the site at which he realized Nibbana, can still be seen. Emperor Asokavisited many of these sites mostly on foot. He had rock edicts set up at these sites. Vities, villages, rocks, rivers mentioned in his sermons and Discourses, exist even today. Those persons he met, King Bimbisara, King Kosala, King Ajatasatta, and the Licchavi Kings, are also historical personalities.

Emperor [[Asoka] who visited Lumbini, the site at which Prince Siddhartha was born, set up a stone pillar there to mark the sacred spot. The legal on the Pillar reads this:

'Devanam piyena Piyadasina Lajina visati vasahi sitena atana agaca mahiyite hida Budhe jate Sakya muniti sila vigada hiva kala pita, sila thabheva usa papite hida bhagavam jateti Lunmini game ukhalike kate ata bhagiyeva.’ (King devanampriya Priyadarshi visited this place personally in the twentieth year of his enthronement, and had offerings made here as this was the site where Sakya Muni Buddha was born. A stone wall was also set up. He established a stone pillar. The village of Lumbini was freed from taxation. One-eighth of the income was also given to the village.)’

(Lumbini Rock Inscription) In several inscriptions set up by emperor Asoka the Buddha’s name is mentioned. In a variety of contexts the places where the Buddha resided are referred to. ‘Savatthiyam Viharati Jetavane’ (in the Jeta Grove in [[Savatthi]; ‘Sakkesu Viharati Kapilavatthusmin’] (at Kapilavatthu); ‘Vesaliyam Viharati Mahavane’ (at [[Vesali in the Great Forest ]; Rajagaha]; (in Ghositarama at Kosambi); ‘Rajagaha’’Kosambiyam viharatiGhositarame’ (in ghositarama at [[Kosambi]; ‘Rajagahe Viharati Mora Vivapa’ (at Mora Nivape in Rajagahe );’Saketa Viharati Kalakarame’ (in Kalakarama at Saketa); Rajagahe Viharati Gijjhakute Pabbate’ (in the Gijjhakutta Rock at Rajagahu); ‘Rajagahe Viharati Veluvana, Kalandaka Nivape (in veluvana, Kalandaka Nivapa, at Rajagaha); ‘anthara ca Ukkuttham anthara ca Setavyam’ (walking between the cities of Ukkuttha and Setavya); ‘Bhaggsu Viharati Sumsumaragire’ (in Bhagga at Sumsumaragira); ‘Koliyesu Viharati – Sajjanelam’ (in Sajjanela in the land of the Koliyas); ‘Kusinarayam viharati Malanam Salavana’ (in the Sala Grove of the mallas in Kusinara); ‘Savatthiyam Viharati Pubbarame’ (in Pubbarama at Savatthi); ‘Bhagavanalike Viharati Niculavane]; ‘Bhagavanalike Viharati Niculavane’ (in Niculavana at Bhagava Nalike); ‘Baranasiya Viharati Gijjhakavasathe (in Gijjhakavasatha in Baranasi); ‘Kimbilayum viharati Isipatance); ‘Alaviyam Viharati Aggalave Cetiye); ‘Campayam Viharati Pokkharani Tire’ (at Campa near the Pond); Magadhesu Viharati Manimalake’ (in Manimalaka in Magadhe.

All these places are found in North India even today. Some of the rivers the Buddha mentioned, like Ganga, Yamuna, Aciravati and Godhavari, still continur in their courses. Some of the mountains he referred to, Himalaya and Gijjhakuta, for instance, still stand. Brahmins, who like those who asked Buddha various questions, are there in India Today, too. Those pointed out as futile are practiced today, too. The caste cleavages that existed at that time flourish today, too. Those regions in which he traveled exist there still. The Buddha referred to four places that should move devoted householders. They should see these four places. These four places are the place the Buddha was born, the place where he realized Buddahood, the place where Dhammacakka Pavattana Sutta was preached, and the place where the Buddha passed away. These four places are Lumbina, Buddha Gaya, Isipatana and [[Kusinara (Cattarimani Ananda Saddhasa Kulaputassa dassaniyani samyejaniyanithanani. Katamani cattari: idha tathagato jatoti;idha tatagatho anutharam sammasambodhim abhi sambuddhoti;idha tathagatena anuttaramDhammacakam Pavattitanti; idha tathagato anupadisesaya Nibbana dhatuya parinibbuto ti)

(Maha Parinibbana Sutta) Thousands of devotees go to see these four sacred sites referred to by the Buddha himself. Seeing these places they really are moved. The places the Buddha told Ananda were pleasant spots, can still be seen. (Ramaniya Ananda Vesali ramaniyam Udena Cetiyam, ramaniyam Gotamaka Cetiyam, ramaniyam Sattamba Cetiyam, ramaniyam Bahuputta Cetiyam, ramaniyam Ananda Sarananda Cetiyam, ramaniyam Capala Cetiyam).

(Maha Parinibbana Sutta) The places the Buddha referred to as especially pleasant are – Vesali, Udena Cetiya, Gotamaka Cetiya, Sattamba Cetiya, Capala Cetiya.

When the Buddha was nearing his last days, Ananda spoke to him thus:

“”Sir, this is but the suburb of a minor city. Please do not pass away in such a small town. In India there are such great cities as Campa, rajagaha, Savatthi, Saketa, Kosambi and Baranasi. Please pass away in one of those great cities.

(Maha Parinibbana Sutta) As has been indicated by the Buddha the sixteen Great Kingdoms of India, during Buddha’s time were – Anga, Magadha, Kasi, Kossala, Vajji, Malla, Ceti, Vanga, Kuru, Pancala, Maccha, Surasena, Assaka, Avanti, Gandhara and Kamboja.

The black soil that was burnt at the cremation of the Buddha's body can be seen even today. The Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha realized Enlightenment exists today, too. A sapling of this Bodhi Tree has grown in Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka. Two caskets containing the relics of Ven. Sariputta and Ven. Moggallana, the two Chief disciples of the Buddha, were brought back to India from the Victoria and Albert Museum in England, and were deposited at Sanchi Stupa. The two words'Sariputasa' and 'Mugalanasa' are carved on the caskets. A yooth relic is deposited at the Temple of the Tooth Relic in Kandy, Sri Lanka. The Buddha's word in Tripitaka is preserved in Buddhist countries. The line of Bhikkhus initiated by the Buddha still flourishes and there are tens of thousands of Buddhist Bhikkhus in Buddhist countries. Buddhist King Kanishka of the 1st century A.D. minted a coin with the image of the Buddha on it. The two pilgrim monks from China, Fa-Hien and Huien-tsiang, visited all the important Buddhist sites in the 5th and 7th centuries A.D. In those countries in Asia, where Buddhism flourished, Buddha's image are found not in thousands, but in hundreds of thousands. This way, the Buddha is a Great Man witha history, who made history. The Buddha occupies the foremost place among those great people who adorned human great people who adorned human history, and world history.