The Buddha Decides to Teach
For seven days after the enlightenment, Buddha continued to meditate under the tree without moving from his seat. He passed another week passed doing walking meditation. Then he went back to meditating under the Bodhi tree for a third week Bodhi tree. The Buddha did not think he could pass his knowledge on, but the god Indra beseeched the Buddha to help humanity. Buddha then decided to teach.
After seven weeks of fasting, two merchants came into the Buddha’s presence. They were called Tapussa and Bhallika. They offered the Buddha rice cakes and honey to break his fast and the Buddha told them some of what he had found in his enlightenment. These two merchants, by taking refuge in the Buddha and his Dharma became his first followers. There were not yet any monks and
nuns. This demonstrates the close ties between Buddhism and commerce – business being seen as a civilizing and peaceful influence.
The Buddha decided to teach his five former ascetic associates. He went to the
deer park in Sarnath to teach them. At first they rejected him, but when they saw his radiance they realized that he had attained enlightenment and they came to hear his first sermon. This sermon is considered to be very significant by the Buddhists because it contains the essence of Buddhism or the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha.
nuns. This demonstrates the close ties between Buddhism and commerce – business being seen as a civilizing and peaceful influence.
The Buddha decided to teach his five former ascetic associates. He went to the
deer park in Sarnath to teach them. At first they rejected him, but when they saw his radiance they realized that he had attained enlightenment and they came to hear his first sermon. This sermon is considered to be very significant by the Buddhists because it contains the essence of Buddhism or the most fundamental teachings of the Buddha.
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