12 Deeds of

BUDDHA
And
A Pictorial Journey
of His Life
Recompiled by
Karma Tshering aka
Wan SC

 Over 2,500 years ago, the devas prophesied, "In twelve years a great bodhisattva
will be born who will become either a universal ruler or a Buddha, and will be
known as Shakyamuni." The Mahasattva who resided in Tushita Pure Land heard
this and, moved by compassion, resolved to take rebirth in India , on the
Jambudvipa continent, as the son of King Shuddhodana and Queen Mayadevi of
the Shakya clan. Buddha Shakyamuni manifested the 12 deeds, as do all
Buddhas, as implicit teachings for the beings of our world system, in addition to the
explicit teachings he gave during his life. Ven. George Churinoff said, "Through
the various deeds he showed us that we too, born from a mother's womb as the
Buddha seemed to be, can attain enlightenment. The Buddha's deeds of leaving his
family and palace and his passing away into parinirvana are obvious teachings to
his disciples about renunciation and impermanence." There are different authentic
versions of these 12, which usually mean that two deeds which are presented
separately according to one list are combined into one according to another. The
deeds depicted in the Wish Fulfilling Temple follow the order presented in His
Holiness the Dalai Lama's Opening the Eye of New Awareness (published by
Wisdom Publications).

The Life of Buddha

Buddhist Cosmology

1.Descending from Tushita

Before Siddhartha born in the realm of humans, he was a Bodhisattva in

the Tushita heaven and his name was Shevtaketu. ("White Banner") He
made a vow to manifest himself in the sentient world and relieve people
from their sufferings. When the time came for him to manifest himself on
earth, he selected king Suddhodana and his wife queen Mahamaya as
future parents.

Buddhist Cosmology- Heaven

2. Conception into womb

Mahamaya was also known as Maya Devi

The bodhisattva's descent from the

Tushita heaven occurred as a
dream to Mayadevi. In this
dream, a white elephant
approached and touched her right
side with its trunk. Through this
symbolic act, the bodhisattva
entered the womb of Mayadevi and
impregnated her.
The choice of an elephant as a
symbol of her impregnation
because elephants are known for
their strength and intelligence, The
white color, adds to this an
element of purity and immaculacy.
The royal fortunetellers explained
that the dream announced the
queen's pregnancy, and that the
newborn would possess
exceptional traits.

3. Birth in Lumbini Garden ~ 563 BC

Birth of Siddhartha at Lumbini Grove: When Mahamaya's time was approaching she took a trip
to her parental home, Devadaha to have her first child with her mother. On her way, when she
reached Lumbini grove, queen gave birth to a divine son between to Sala trees as she held the
branch of the sala tree. Brahma, Indra and other Devas were present at the birth. The new
born baby walked seven steps towards each point of the compass, exclaiming
"this is my last
incarnation." A monument at the birth-place of the Buddha, erected by emperor Ashoka after
375 years of the event, still stands witness to his historical
character. The new born child was
brought to Kapilavastu and named
Siddhartha, meaning whose
purpose has been fulfilled.
Queen Mahamaya passed away
seven days after the birth of her child.
Gautama was then mothered by his
mother's sister Mahaprajapati Gautami,
who was also his step-mother. The child
preferred solitude and
thoughtfulness to the frolics and
pranks natural to his age.

 According to legend, Buddha was born

from the right side of his mother.
Immediately upon his birth, he stood up
and took seven steps, and wherever his
feet touched the earth lotuses sprang
up. Raising his hand he said: "Worlds
above, worlds below, there's no one
in the world like me.
A great immeasurable light then filled
the entire universe and all its world
systems trembled and quaked.
According to popular biographies about
the Buddhas birth in East Asian
Buddhism, the infant Buddha is also
said to have proclaimed the famous
statement: Above and below the
heavens, I alone am the most honored
( ).

 It is said[2] that immediately after the birth of Siddhartha

Gautama (BC 623),[3][4] he stood up, took seven steps north, and
uttered:
"I am chief of the world,
Eldest am I in the world,
Foremost am I in the world.
This is the last birth.
There is now no more coming to be."

4. Training in the Arts, Crafts and

Sciences and Sports.

As the son of the king, Siddhartha was provided with the finest upbringing. His life had ample
quantities of both opportunity and security. He received the finest education and mastered all
lessons taught to him. In his younger years, he excelled in sports and other contests of skill. The
vigorous training befitted the grooming of a future monarch. He was said to particularly excel on
the horse and with the bow.
The most significant episode of his youth occurred during the contest for winning the hand of the
beautiful princess Gopa. An elephant had been placed inside the city gate to test which one was the
strongest. Devadatta, Buddha's cousin, killed the animal with one hand. Siddhartha, seeing the
mindless killing, picked up the animal lightly and tossed it over the city wall, where it came to life
again. Needless to say, Siddhartha was chosen as the groom.

Siddhartha vs Devadatta

Siddhartha Nursing the Wounded

Swan (Manifestation of Pity and
Compassion) : The heart of
Siddhartha was imbibed with pity
and compassion for all the
creatures of universe since his
childhood. One example is
illustrated here. Siddhartha is
shown here nursing a wounded
swan which was injured by his
step-brother Devadatta.

5. Taking Charge of the Kingdom

Siddhartha in Secluded House with

Queens and Attendants: when he came
of the age and assumed royal duties,
prince Siddhartha had a retinue of
sixty thousand queens, principally
Yasodhara and Gopa. With the
discriminative wisdom of a
Bodhisattva, he engaged in the sensual
pleasure of worldly life only to
experience them as illusory, But
Siddhartha never felt satisfied with this
life, and thirsted for knowledge and
fulfillment.
At the age of 16, his father reputedly
arranged his marriage to a cousin of
the same age named Yaodhar and
gave birth to a son, named Rhula.
Siddhartha is then said to have spent
29 years as a prince in Kapilavastu.

6. The Four Encounter and

Renunciation of Samsara

But neither the joys of wedded life, nor the

pleasure of harem, nor his love for his son
can overcome in the young prince
preoccupations of philosophical and moral
kind. The evolution of his thought is well
represented in the legend by the school of
the 'four meetings'. Harassed by the
question of the purpose of life, Siddhartha
leaves the city in his chariot and saw an old
man (Eastern Gate) whose decrepit air
strikes him. 'We live then to grow old and
decrepit!' he cries. In the course of similar
wanderings he comes upon a sick man
(Southern Gate) and funeral procession.
(Western Gate) 'So this is life' he meditates,
' suffering - then final annihilation!'
Fortunately the fourth meeting dissipates his
pessimism. Seeing hermit perfectly calm in
his retreat, perfectly happy in his
contemplation, the prince divines that the
true way of salvation lies in the renunciation
of the joys of life, causes of three great
evils, old age, sickness, and death, and in
the surrender of oneself to contemplation
which frees one from the ties of earth.

6. The Four Encounter and

Renunciation of Samsara

Having made the decision, Siddhartha (29 yrs old )

requested his father to allow him to proceed in his
quest for truth. On hearing of the prince's resolve, his
father became extremely anxious and entreated him
to revert his decision. To which Siddhartha replied
thus: "Father if you can fulfill my four desires, I
promise not to leave you. These are: First, I should
not die; Secondly, No disease should ever afflict me,
youth should never desert me, and finally, prosperity
should always be my companion." Hearing these
impossible demands, the king was extremely dejected
and became resigned to his fate. Gautama left the
luxurious palace of his father in the middle of the
night, leaving behind his sleeping wife and son.
Taking hold of his top-knot and diadem, he threw
them into the air, saying: "If I am to become a
Buddha, let them stay in the sky; but if not, let them
fall to the ground."
They rose into the air for a distance of one league
before Vasava (corresponding to the Indra), the chief
of gods, perceiving them with his divine eyes,
received them in an appropriate jeweled casket, and
established them in heaven.
"His hair he cut, so sweet with many pleasant scents,
This Chief of men, and high impelled it towards the
sky; And there god Vasava, the god with a thousand
eyes, In golden casket caught it, bowing low his
head."

7. Six years of Austerities

During the initial years he first spent time

with and practiced the systems of
meditation taught by two leading ascetics of
the time( Alara Kalama & Udraka
Ramaputra ). Although he mastered their
respective systems, he felt that here he had
not found any real answer to the problem of
human suffering. So next, in the company
of five other wandering ascetics, he turned
to the practice of severe austerities at a
desert in the small district Urubilva near
Gaya.
There for six years he gives himself over to
the most painful mortification; he ate a
single grain of rice in a day, and reducing
himself almost to the condition of a
skeleton.

 In the end, the Buddha gave

up the austerities, by accepting
a bowl of yogurt (milk rice)
from Sujata and gave his body
a rest and adopted the Middle
Way ; a course which wins for
him the contempt of five
pupils, who stigmatize him as
glutton and voluptuary
because he accepts the food.

8. Under the Bodhi Tree

Unmoved by these reproaches,

Shakyamuni goes forth to the town
to day called Bodh-Gaya. There he
seats himself at the foot of a tree
and declares that, though his body
may wither away in this position of
meditation, he will not leave it until
he has attained the 'Bodhi' or
perfect knowledge.

Achieving Enlightenment
Prince Siddahartha attains
Enlightenment after 49
days under the bodhi tree
at the age of 35, on the
eighth of 12th Mth or 15th
day of the 4th Month
after defeating Mara
The possession of Bodhi once
attained, Shakya remains yet 7
[or 7 x 7] days at the foot of
the tree in order to fully enjoy
his beatitude. Afterwards he
goes forth under other trees
and walks by the side of rivers
and streams where the Nagas
[Serpents] shield him from the
rays of the sun with their heads
miraculously multiplied and
enlarged.

7 weeks after Enlightenment

Week Buddhas Realisation/Activities

Buddha sat under the bodhi tree experiencing the happiness of freedom and peace. He was free from
disturbing thoughts, calm and blissful. He gained 3 knowledge : his Past Lives, origination and
cessation of suffering (dependent arising)

Meditated and gazing motionless with great gratitude at the Bodhi tree that has sheltered him

Cleared the doubts of the Devas in the Heaven about his Awakening using his Psychic Powers to
create a Golden/Jeweled bridge and paced up and down. Also did walking meditation
(Cankamana/cloister walk was the mark of this )

Created and sat in the jewelled chamber contemplating the Abidharma- 6 coloured rays emitted from
his body: BLUE,YELLOW,RED,WHITE, ORANGE and the Mixture of this 5 colours (colors of the
buddhist flag)

Tempted but unpertubed by Maras daughters while meditating under the Banyan(Ajapala) tree.
Replied a conceited Brahmin on what is a true Brahmana : rid of evil traits, pride & attachment with
worldly life; is learned, self restrained & spotless and follows a holy path.

Then he move to meditated under a Mucalinda tree and heavy rain felled, a cobra coiled him 7
rounds and provided a hood to protect him from the rain. The cobra turned into a young man and
paid respect to him on the 7th day (rain stopped). The Buddha said to him:
"Happy are they who are contented. Happiness is for those who hear and know the truth. Happy are
they who have good will in this world towards all sentient beings. Happy are they who have no
attachments and have passed beyond sense-desires.

Meditated under the Rajayatana tree, where 2 merchants (Tapussa +Thallika) offered rice
cakes and honey to Buddha to break his fast and became his first lay followers.

9. Overcoming the Maras (wk5)

When the Buddha was sitting under the bodhi tree, Papiyan, the leader of Maras, used forms related to the three
disturbing emotions (sometimes called kleshas) of ignorance, desire, and aggression to try to lure the Buddha
away from his pursuit of enlightenment. The first deception, representing ignorance, was that the Buddha was
asked to abandon his meditation and return immediately to the kingdom because his father King Shuddhodana
had died and the evil Devadatta had taken over the kingdom. This did not disturb the Buddha's meditation.
Then Papiyan tried to create an obstacle using desire; his beautiful daughters (DESIRE, FULFILLMENT &
REGRET) tried to deceive and seduce the Buddha. When this did not disturb the Buddha's meditation, Mara
then used hatred by coming towards the Buddha surrounded by millions of horribly frightening warriors who
were throwing weapons at the Buddha's body. But the Buddha wasn't distracted or fooled by these three
poisons.

Meaning of the Buddhist flag

CONFIDENCE
HOLINESS
WISDOM
PURITY

ABSENCE OF
DESIRES
PURITY OF
THE DHARMA
BLESSINGS
OF THE
PRACTICE
THE MIDDLE
PATH
UNIVERSAL
COMPASSION

WISDOM

 After his awakening, the

Buddha met two merchants,
named Tapussa and Bhallika
, who became his first lay
disciples. They were
apparently each given hairs
from his head, which are
now claimed to be enshrined
as relics in Burma. The
Buddha intended to
visit Asita, and his former
teachers, Alara
Kalama and Udaka
Ramaputta, to explain his
findings, but they had
already died.

 Buddha preaching methods

1.
2.
3.
4.

According to the desires and needs of the hearers

According to the capacity of the hearers
Refuting and correcting the vices and errors of the hearers
The Ultimate Truth when the hearers have the capability

10. Turning the Dharma Wheel

10. Turning the Dharma Wheel

For seven weeks the Buddha sat in silent
contemplation under the Bodhi Tree. He was
implored by the gods Brahma and Indra to
teach. "Please do not pass into nirvana", they
said. "Fulfill your vow and share this precious
attainment with the living beings of this
world." He journeyed to Varanasi (Sarnath
Deer Park) to turn the wheel of the doctrine.
He ordained the five ascetics as his first
disciples, and taught the Four Noble Truths. In
the second turning of the wheel he taught
the Perfection of Wisdom to innumerable
bodhisattvas in Vulture Peak,Rajgir. In the
third turning, the Buddha clarified the
relationship between the teachings of the first
and second turnings especially with regard to
emptiness and taught Buddha nature.

Buddhas Missionary

The formation of Sangha

first sermon to the five companions with whom he had sought
enlightenment. Together with him, they formed the first sagha: the
company of Buddhist monks.
All five become arahants, and within the first two months, with the
conversion of Yasa and fifty four of his friends, the number of such
arahants is said to have grown to 60. The conversion of three brothers
named Kassapa at Uruvela followed, with their reputed 200, 300 and
500 disciples, respectively. This swelled the sangha to more than
1,000.

Buddhas preaching journey + life ministry :

Bodhgaya -> Sarnath/Varanasi/Istapatana -> Uruvela-> Rajagriha-Bamboo
Groove/Veluvana (4 Yrs)-> Kosala->Kapilavastu-> Vaishali-> SrasvathiJetavana Grove (many rainy seasons/vassana)- 844 discourses-> RajagrihaMango Grove (72 yrs old)-> Kapilavastu ->Fled the WARS..Kosala invaded
Shakya, via Vajji ->Rajagriha(gained no support)-Vuture Peak-Last Discourse > on way to Kapilavastu via Vajji, poisoned at Pavaasked Ananda to bring
him to Kushinagar

Formation and Mgmt of Sangha

Buddhas principal disciples

Foremost in

riputra

WISDOM

Rajagaha

Maudgalyyana

SUPERNATURAL POWERS

Rajagaha

Mahkyapa

LEADER- ASCETIC PRACTICE

Rajagaha

Subhti

UNDERSTANDING DOCTRINE OF EMPTINESS

Srasvati

PREACHING

Srasvati

Pra Maitryaniputra

Mahktyyana

DEBATE

Srasvati

Aniruddha

CLAIRVOYANCE (DIVINE INSIGHT)

Kapilavastu

Upli

VINAYA (OBSERVING PRECEPTS)

Kapilavastu

Rhula (son of Gautama)

INCONSPICUOS PRACTICE

Kapilavastu

10

nanda

HEARING BUDDHAS TEACHING

Kapilavastu

10. Turning the Dharma Wheel

Vulture Peak, Rajgir
2nd Turning of Dharma
Wheel.

The Buddha turned the wheel of the dharma three times, meaning He taught in three different
ways. The first is called the Hinayana, which consists of the teachings on the Four Noble Truths,
meditation and developing an understanding of the emptiness of self. The second is the
Mahayana teachings which involve the study of emptiness of phenomena and practicing the
bodhisattva path. The third turning is the Vajrayana which involves the understanding that
everything is not completely empty, but there is also Buddha-nature that pervades all sentient
beings.

11. Descent from the Trayastrimsa

Heaven

Buddha had left for heaven at the age

of 41, having ascended to The Heaven
of Thirty-Three (Trayastrimsa) in order
to give teachings to benefit the gods in
the desire realms and to repay the
kindness of his mother by liberating
her from Samsara. He was exhorted
by his follower and
representative Maugalyayana to
return, and after a long debate
managed to return. This is considered
to be one of the eight great deeds of
the Buddha.

Tibet celebrate this as Lhabab Duchen

11. Descent from the Trayastrimsa

Heaven

When the inhabitants of the earth fervently

supplicated him to return, Buddha coasted
downwards with the help of a ladder that had
thirty-three rungs, handcrafted by the divine
architect Vishwakarma. artworks.
This legend cosmicises the historical Buddha
in several ways. His ability to move between
the two worlds is clearly indicative of his
transcendental and divine nature. Moreover,
the ladder here, reminiscent of the story of
Jacob's ladder in the Bible, serves as a
cosmic pillar that connects heaven and earth
and is echoed in Shiva's symbol, the lingam.
There too the lingam stretches from the
heaven down to the netherworld and is
worshipped by Brahma and Vishnu.
Similarly, the descending Buddha is revered
by Indra and the four-headed Brahma, as
well as other sacred beings. Yet another link
is reflected in Buddha's taking three steps,
both on the way up and down. The idea is
clearly related to Vishnu's three strides in the
myth of the Vamana (dwarf) avatar.

Buddhas Nine Ordeals

1. Six years of ascetic practice;
2. Slander by Sundari;
3. Foot pierced by wooden spear;
4. Horse fodder as food:
5. Massacre of the Sakya Clan by King Virudhaka;
6. Empty bowl after begging;
7. Slander by Cinca Manavika;
8. Boulder dropped by Devadatta; A
9. Asking for Robes to block cold wind.
10.King Ajatashatru loosed a drunken elephant and set
it upon Shakyamuni and his disciples in an attempt
to have them trampled to death.

i.

ii.

At the instigation of a group of Brahmans, a beautiful

woman named Sundari spread rumors to the effect that she
was having an affair with Shakyamuni

iii.

iv.

Agnidatta, a Brahman in Vairanja, invited Shakyamuni and

five hundred disciples to his mansion, but was so
completely absorbed in the pursuit of pleasure that he
neglected to make them any offerings. For a period of
ninety days, they had nothing to eat but oats used as horse
fodder.

v.

King Virudhaka of Kosala killed a great many members of

the Shakya clan, to which Shakyamuni

vi.

When Shakyamuni entered a Brahman city, the

king forbade the people to make offerings or
listen to him.

vii.

A Brahman woman named Chincha tied a tub to her belly

under her robe and claimed that she was pregnant by
Shakyamuni.

Chincha slander

viii.

Devadatta pushed a boulder

from atop a cliff on
Shakyamuni in an attempt to
crush him. It missed its mark
, however, injuring only his
toes

King Ajatashatru at the

instigation of Devaddata
loosed a drunken
elephant and set it upon
Shakyamuni and his
disciples in an attempt to
have them trampled to
death.

ix.

Once, around the time of the winter solstice, an icy wind

rose and continued to blow for eight days. Shakyamuni and
his disciples were particularly vulnerable since they were
away from the monastery and had no permanent shelter.
Shakyamuni protected himself from the cold wind by
wearing three robes made of discarded rags, the only
garments permitted a monk.

Buddhas Twin Miracles

Buddhas Display Miracles in Sravasti for

15 days

12. The Passage into Parinirvana

Passing away at the age of 80 in the

town of Kushingara.
The Buddha asked his students if
they had any final questions and
then lying on his side, in the lion's
posture, he passed away. His last

"Bhikshus,
never forget: Decay is
inherent in all composite
things or compounded
phenomena. Therefore,
work/practise diligently."
words were,

Thousands of candles can be lighted

from a single candle, and the life of
the candle will not be shortened.
Happiness never decreases by being
shared.
-- Buddha