BUDDHA 12 DEEDS
THE ENUMERATION OF BUDDHA'S 12 DEEDS
1. Buddha decended from Tushita-heaven in the form of a white elephant with 6 tusks.
2. Buddha entered his mother's (Mahadevi) womb, who is the queen of the Sakya-clan.
3. Buddha takes birth.
4. Buddha studied arts and handicrafts and was very skillful in it.
5. Buddha enjoyed life in palace. He was married to Yasodhara and the other women. (This is the custom for a prince of that time).
6. Buddha took renunciation. He left the palace and met with sickness, old age and death. Thus, he developed great renunciation.
7. Buddha's ascetic practices -- He cut his hair and practised asceticism for six years.
8. Buddha went to Bodhgaya and reach enlightenment there.
9. Buddha defeating all the negative forces (i.e. Maras try to disturb Buddha) due to his compassion.
10. Buddha reached enlightenment by the power of vajra-like concentration.
11. Buddha turned the wheel of the dharma in Varanasi which is the Four Noble Truths.
12. Buddha passed into Parinirvana at the age of 84 .
   |