In or about the fifth or sixth century B.C.E., a person named Gautama was born a prince to a royal family in Nepal.
"The future Shakyamuni Gautama Buddha was born in the 5th or 6th century BCE in what is now Nepal. Although historians believe there was such a person, much of his life story seems to be shrouded in legend.
Although we often speak of "the Buddha," there are many Buddhas in Buddhism. On top of that, the many Buddhas come with many names and forms and play multiple roles. The word "Buddha" means "one who woke up," and in Buddhist doctrine, any such enlightened individual is technically a Buddha. In addition, the word Buddha is often used to mean the principle of Buddha-nature. But of course, there is one historical figure that normally is considered the Buddha.
According to legend, Siddhartha Gautama was the son of a king, and as a youth and young adult, he lived a sheltered and pampered life. In his late 20s, he was shocked to witness sickness, old age, and death for the first time, and he was filled with such dread he resolved to give up his royal birthright to seek peace of mind.
After several false starts, Gautama eventually settled determinately into deep meditation under the famous Bodhi tree in Bodh Gaya, in North Eastern India, and realized enlightenment, at about the age of 35. He was called Buddha, which means "one who woke up." He spent the rest of his life teaching and died at about the age of 80, achieving Nirvana. More detail about the life of Gautama can be read in The Life of the Buddha. "
(the above is adapted and excerpted from this excellent page by Barbara O'Brien Shakyamuni Buddha--The Historical Buddha)
Commonly referred to as "the Four Noble Truths", these anciently known truths could help you also:
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All people may experience joys and sufferings from moment to moment.
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Causes of joy and suffering are discernible.
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It is possible to achieve lasting happiness and to avoid, lessen, and prevent sufferings.
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In general, the way to do this is via walking "the Eightfold Noble Path" of virtuous conduct:
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wise action
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kind communication
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critical thinking
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good intention
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dutiful awareness
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appropriate focus
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true understanding
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virtuous efforts thereof (each of the above, simultaneously also)
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elucidation of the capabilities common to each of us with examples of such virtuous exertions:
true understanding
examples:
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comprehension of the "Pythagorean Theorem" helps build a long-lasting, sturdy house (or "earth home" like pictured to the right)
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hearing helpful stories related to traumatic experience from a professional to help lessen our sufferging
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finally "getting it" when learning a sport, a musical instrument, how to dance and draw and paint, how to start a campfire safely, how to garden and otherwise tend to nature, etcetera
also and including:
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irrefutable comprehension
(example: 1 + 1 = 2 ; a banana & an apple are two fruit) -
factual knowledge (examples: I am one of three siblings| "Previously part of Virginia, Kentucky was admitted into the Union as the fifteenth state on June 1, 1792.")
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gnÅsis (recognition of what must be done, what must be said, etcetera, via dutiful awareness to God, to wise people {"[...] be transformed by the renewing of your mind." Romans 12:2})
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veritable "views" (such as an opinion or belief that turns out to be true)
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skills "muscle memory" and its like such as helps to play a flute
bueno intent (good intentions)
definition:
a good intent is one that is holistically so (not making too many trade-offs nor too few)
examples:
Jadav "Molai" Payeng (born 31 October 1959) is an environmental activist[1] and forestry worker from Majuli,[2] popularly known as the Forest Man of India.[3][4] Over the course of several decades, he has planted and tended trees on a sandbar of the river Brahmaputra turning it into a forest reserve.
Dolly Parton renowned for her popular songs has recently worked on a philanthropic venture titled Dolly Parton's Imagination Library "inspiring kids to love to read" (Letter From Dolly - Dolly Parton's Imagination Library); an amazing to me 264,181,752 million books have been gifted since inception
ideal virtues:
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prudent & proud
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helpful & contributory
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positive & pure
apropos focus (appropriate focus)
description:
an "apropos" focus should be welcomed and for an earnest purpose such as sharing good news
example:
concentrating for a school quiz
ideals:
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welcome (permitted, allowed, desired)
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earnest
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"legit"
Mrs. Frizzle of "The Magic School Bus"
The Magic School Bus - Wikipedia
wise action
description:
wise action is cautious and caring, ensuring that something good, enough good will happen as a result of our actions
examples:
looking left and right along with crossing guards to cross streets
Mia Hamm playing soccer and the playing of a virtuoso violinist
ideals:
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cautious & caring
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courageous & considerate
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aware & anticipatory
compassionate communication
description:
Compassionate, respectful, kind communication includes (paraphrased from Compassionate Communication - Center for Nonviolent Communication):
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improving connections with others
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asking for what we want without fear or guilt
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speaking from the heart to address feelings and needs
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enhancing long term relationships (and healing painful ones)
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listening with "giraffe ears", with love, simpatico (self-empathy & empathy for others) and respect (instead of "jackal ears", rudely or with conceit)
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authentically (even vulnerably) self-expressing & making requests
examples:
Michelle Obama's educational speech: Bing Videos
Emma Watson's UN speech: https://youtu.be/gkjW9PZBRfk
ideals:
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kind respect
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straightforward honesty
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"fruitful" (metaphorically)
dutiful awareness
definition:
dutifulness - having due respect for one's own moral obligations (Webster's Third New International Edition)
example:
watching after the safety of people swimming in the ocean as a lifeguard such as Pamela Anderson's and David Hasselhoff's portrayed on the TV show "Baywatch"
ideals:
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admissible & welcome
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vigilant & alert
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just & respectful
"critical"* thinking
description:
critical thinking is helpfully logical thinking requisite to meet needs and satisfy genuine yearnings not in conflict with actual (nor forseeable) needs
examples:
Rachel Carlson's work "Silent Spring" exposing the deleterious effects of herbicides and pesticides
The 14th Dalai Lama, Gyalwa Rinpoche, quoted in "I Am", a movie:
Question for the Dalai Lama: “What’s the most important [thing] we can do now?”
* Answer: “Critical thinking, followed by action. Discern what your world is. [...] And then figure out where your talents might fit in to make a better world.”
(source: https://calvincorreli.com/blog/1957-critical-thinking-followed-by-action)
ideals:
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creative & bold
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helpful & contributory
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purely positive
