Sarnath, the sacred place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, is located very close to which of these cities?

Sarnath, the sacred place where Lord Buddha delivered his first sermon, is located very close to which of these cities? Correct Answer Varanasi

The correct answer is Varanasi.

Key Points

• Sarnath is a small village in Uttar Pradesh, located about 13 km northeast of the holy city of Varanasi.
  • Formerly known as Isipatan, it is famous as the place where Gautama Buddha first taught the Dharma, or where the Buddha gave his first sermon.

Additional Information

• Buddhism started in India over 2,600 years ago as a way of life that had the potential of transforming a person.
  • The religion is based upon the teachings, life experiences of its founder Siddhartha Gautam.
  • He was born in 563 BCE into a royal family of the Sakya clan who ruled from Kapilvastu, in Lumbini which is situated near the Indo-Nepal Border.
  • At the age of 29, Gautama left home and rejected his life of riches and embraced a lifestyle of asceticism or extreme self-discipline.
  • After 49 consecutive days of meditation, Gautama attained Bodhi (enlightenment) under a pipal tree at Bodhgaya a village in Bihar.
  • Buddha gave his first sermon in the village of Sarnath, near the city of Benares in UP.
    • This event is known as Dharma-Chakra-Pravartana (turning of the wheel of law).
  • He died at the age of 80 in 483 BCE at a place called Kushinagara a town in UP.
    • The event is known as Mahaparinibban.
  • Buddha asked his followers to avoid the two extremes of indulgence in worldly pleasure and the practice of strict abstinence and asceticism.
  • He ascribed instead the 'Madhyam Marg' or the middle path which was to be followed.

Important Points

• The main teachings of Buddhism are encapsulated in the basic concept of four noble truths or Ariya-Sachchani and eightfold path or Astangika marg. Four noble truths:
  • Suffering (dukkha) is the essence of the world.
  • Every suffering has a cause – Samudya.
  • Suffering could be extinguished – Nirodha.
  • It can be achieved by following the Atthanga Magga (Eight-Fold Path).
    • Eight-Fold Paths: the path consists of various interconnected activities related to knowledge, conduct, and meditative practices.
      • Right view
      • Right intention
      • Right speech
      • Right action
      • Right livelihood
      • Right mindfulness
      • Right effort
      • Right concentration
  • The essence of Buddhism is the attainment of enlightenment.
  • It points to a way of life that avoids self-indulgence and self-denial.
  • There is no supreme god or deity in Buddhism.