This children's animation (in English with subtitles in Sinhala) does a decent job of telling the life of the Buddha and some key teachings in animations. Some artistic licence is taken, particularly in the story of Devadatta, but the gist is accurate enough.
Gotama Buddha's Life 1
Conception and birth of the Bodhisatta. Naming as Siddhattha. Prediction of the baby's destiny by Kondañña, the youngest and wisest of the King's astrologers. The young child Siddhattha is shocked by the suffering of animals preying on each other. He meditates and the king pays respects to him. When he is a boy, Siddhattha rescues a swan shot by Devadatta.
Gotama Buddha's Life 2
The wise men at the court decide that the swan belongs to Siddhartha who saved its life. Siddhattha's marriage to Yasodharā is arranged. Siddhattha has a nightmare of four walls moving in to crush him. He goes outside of the palace and sees the four sights: an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a monk.
Gotama Buddha's Life 3
The fourth sight (contd). The birth of Rāhula, and the Bodhisatta's renunciation. He meets the five ascetics, who join him to practise austerities. After six years, when he accepts milk from a cow herd and follows the Middle Way, the five ascetics leave him. Sujātā's maid finds the Bodhisatta meditating and tells Sujātā.
Gotama Buddha's Life 4
Sujātā offers rice to the Bodhisatta. The Bodhisatta battles with Māra and his daughters, and attains Enlightenment. Two merchants from Ukkala, Tapassu and Bhalluka, offer rice cakes and honey.
Gotama Buddha's Life 5
The Buddha gives Tapassu and Bhalluka some hairs. The first Sermon to the five ascetics. Moggallāna and Sāriputta meet Venerable Assaji and become the Buddha's two chief disciples. The Buddha urges a Brahmin to release animals brought for sacrifice.
Gotama Buddha's Life 6
A horseman arrives with an invitation from King Suddhodana to visit Kapilavatthu, the city where Siddhattha was born and raised. When the Buddha arrives, he goes begging in the street. The king is angry and rushes out to stop him. The Buddha performs the Twin Miracle. The Ordination of many Sākyan Princes including Ānanda, Devadatta, and Upāli. The Buddha meets Yasodhara and gives the going forth to Rāhula. His grandfather is deeply upset, so the Vinaya rule about asking parents' permission is laid down at King Suddhadana's request. The Buddha grants the ordination of women at Ānanda's request. Then follows the somewhat altered story of Devadatta's efforts to cause a schism, which in fact took place towards the end of the Buddha's life.
Gotama Buddha's Life 7
End of Devadatta schism episode. The Buddha goes to live in the forest for three months, waited on by monkeys and a parrot. The story of Angulimāla, and the offering to provide him with the requisites by King Pasenadi.
Gotama Buddha's Life 8
The story of Kisagotamī. The story of Ambapāli the courtesan. Many years later, the great earthquake when the Buddha renounces the remainder of his life span. He tells the monks about his forthcoming demise, admonishing them for the last time. The scene on the Buddha's deathbed between the Sāl trees when the Buddha says how best to honour and respect him. The ordination of the Buddha's last disciple, Subhadda Thera who has doubts about other religions. The Buddha says that wherever the eightfold path is found that is the true religion. The Buddha's last words: “Seek out your own salvation with diligence.” The film ends with the Dhammapada verse 183:
Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
Gotama Buddha's Life 1
Conception and birth of the Bodhisatta. Naming as Siddhattha. Prediction of the baby's destiny by Kondañña, the youngest and wisest of the King's astrologers. The young child Siddhattha is shocked by the suffering of animals preying on each other. He meditates and the king pays respects to him. When he is a boy, Siddhattha rescues a swan shot by Devadatta.
Gotama Buddha's Life 2
The wise men at the court decide that the swan belongs to Siddhartha who saved its life. Siddhattha's marriage to Yasodharā is arranged. Siddhattha has a nightmare of four walls moving in to crush him. He goes outside of the palace and sees the four sights: an old man, a sick man, a dead man, and a monk.
Gotama Buddha's Life 3
The fourth sight (contd). The birth of Rāhula, and the Bodhisatta's renunciation. He meets the five ascetics, who join him to practise austerities. After six years, when he accepts milk from a cow herd and follows the Middle Way, the five ascetics leave him. Sujātā's maid finds the Bodhisatta meditating and tells Sujātā.
Gotama Buddha's Life 4
Sujātā offers rice to the Bodhisatta. The Bodhisatta battles with Māra and his daughters, and attains Enlightenment. Two merchants from Ukkala, Tapassu and Bhalluka, offer rice cakes and honey.
Gotama Buddha's Life 5
The Buddha gives Tapassu and Bhalluka some hairs. The first Sermon to the five ascetics. Moggallāna and Sāriputta meet Venerable Assaji and become the Buddha's two chief disciples. The Buddha urges a Brahmin to release animals brought for sacrifice.
Gotama Buddha's Life 6
A horseman arrives with an invitation from King Suddhodana to visit Kapilavatthu, the city where Siddhattha was born and raised. When the Buddha arrives, he goes begging in the street. The king is angry and rushes out to stop him. The Buddha performs the Twin Miracle. The Ordination of many Sākyan Princes including Ānanda, Devadatta, and Upāli. The Buddha meets Yasodhara and gives the going forth to Rāhula. His grandfather is deeply upset, so the Vinaya rule about asking parents' permission is laid down at King Suddhadana's request. The Buddha grants the ordination of women at Ānanda's request. Then follows the somewhat altered story of Devadatta's efforts to cause a schism, which in fact took place towards the end of the Buddha's life.
Gotama Buddha's Life 7
End of Devadatta schism episode. The Buddha goes to live in the forest for three months, waited on by monkeys and a parrot. The story of Angulimāla, and the offering to provide him with the requisites by King Pasenadi.
Gotama Buddha's Life 8
The story of Kisagotamī. The story of Ambapāli the courtesan. Many years later, the great earthquake when the Buddha renounces the remainder of his life span. He tells the monks about his forthcoming demise, admonishing them for the last time. The scene on the Buddha's deathbed between the Sāl trees when the Buddha says how best to honour and respect him. The ordination of the Buddha's last disciple, Subhadda Thera who has doubts about other religions. The Buddha says that wherever the eightfold path is found that is the true religion. The Buddha's last words: “Seek out your own salvation with diligence.” The film ends with the Dhammapada verse 183:
Not to do any evil, to cultivate good, to purify one’s mind, this is the teaching of the Buddhas.
