In the first sutra the Buddha taught to the five bhikshus, the “Dharmachakra Pravartana Sutra” (Turning the Dharma Wheel Sutra), he expounded his personal realization—the “Middle Way” teaching—a completely new philosophy different from all other religions. The Buddha admonished the five bhikshus that sensual indulgence and physical torture are two extreme experiences: the former obstructs mental development, while the latter weakens physical strength and wisdom. Neither can achieve supreme bliss, nor can they bring liberation and enlightenment. He proclaimed the “Middle Way teaching” to lead sentient beings toward the realm of perfect purity and complete liberation.
He believed that for thinkers who have severed emotional desires, any physical pleasure is temporary. All material desires are unobjectionable for ordinary people, but for practitioners they serve as a warning, because renunciation is their joy. However, the other extreme of self-torturing asceticism is not achievable by ordinary people and is an artificially created, useless suffering—not a rational and beneficial method. The Buddha had also practiced such asceticism and believed it could only increase suffering without reducing it, being useless for liberation. With Tathagata wisdom, the Buddha pointed out the errors of both extremes and established a middle way system—the Noble Eightfold Path. Subsequently, the Buddha expounded the Four Noble Truths.
Later, the Buddha converted Yashas and fifty others in the city of Benares and also accepted lay disciples. Thereafter, a person named Uruvela Kasyapa, who held high prestige among the ninety-six heterodox schools in India at the time and was a leader of fire worship, reached over one hundred years of age. Due to his high status, he was extremely arrogant. When the Buddha came to the place where he practiced asceticism to visit him, seeing this Shakyamuni who was only in his thirties, he became even more disdainful of everything. However, after several interactions with the Buddha, the Buddha’s inconceivable supernatural powers and ultimate teachings finally made him prostrate himself completely and take refuge in Buddhism. His five hundred disciples also took refuge in Buddhism together. Subsequently, his two younger brothers, each bringing 250 people, joined the Buddha’s community and shaved their heads to become bhikshus. These became the famous “Three Kasyapas” in Buddhism.
Not long after, through his disciples, the Buddha used conditional teachings to convert Sariputra and Maudgalyayana, followers of Sanjaya (one of the six heterodox teachers), along with their 200 disciples who renounced worldly life to follow the Buddha. At this point, Buddhism’s monastic organization gradually grew stronger.
When the Buddha had only sixty-some disciples, he sent them out as spreaders of truth to proclaim his teachings equally to all sentient beings. They traveled alone and penniless, working day and night for the cause of spreading the Dharma. Since most of them were Arhats who had achieved fruition, their sole purpose was to teach Buddhism and propagate pure conduct. Buddhism flourished greatly in India for a time, with many heterodox practitioners taking refuge, and Buddhism established its position in India’s philosophical and religious circles.
Glossary of Terms
Middle Way Not clinging to the two paths of arising and ceasing, nor clinging to the two views of eternalism and nihilism.
Dharma Gate The Dharma taught by the Buddha is the gateway for sentient beings to transcend the ordinary and enter the sacred, hence called Dharma gate.
Wisdom Intelligence and wisdom. Understanding all phenomena is intelligence; comprehending all principles is wisdom.
Enlightenment The meaning of awakening and understanding—realizing truth and developing true wisdom.
Taking Refuge “Gui” means to return, turn toward, rely on, and seek salvation; “yi” means to depend upon. Taking refuge in Buddha, taking refuge in Dharma, taking refuge in Sangha is called taking refuge in the Three Jewels, also called the Three Refuges. Esoteric Buddhism additionally establishes taking refuge in the guru before the three refuges, called the Four Refuges.
Pure Conduct “Brahma” means purity—the practice of leaving desires and cutting off sexual activity.
