Brian White PresidentBuddhist Council of New South Wales Australia
The publication of this second edition is made possible through the Buddhist Council of New South Wales and its Special Religious Education (SRE) programme.
The Council is recognised by the Department of Education and Training for the accreditation and support of Buddhist SRE teachers in Government schools throughout New South Wales.
The printing of this book will provide yet another teaching resource to the SRE teachers as well as to parents who wish to share the story of the Buddha with their children.
4
INTRODUCTION TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS
This colouring book is based on the original text ‘A Pictorial Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha’ by Gunapauta et al. 1998. Its pictures and captions tell a life story of Siddhattha Gotama who became a great spiritual teacher – the fully awakened one, the Buddha. It is a story of an unfolding human life and potential for love and understanding - a story from birth and childhood to married life, to search for the highest truth, and to service until death and Parinibbana. Colouring the pictures and reflecting on the captions will help the children develop ability to concentrate and reflect on life and its purpose. I thank the Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation for permitting me to adapt their publication, and to Phil Thompson for converting my pencil drawings to electronic graphics. Dr Danuse Murty 2nd Edition, Sydney 2009
5
Siddhattha’s homeland –
Kingdom of Kapilavatthu in India
6
Siddhattha’s parents –
King Suddhodana and Queen Mahamaya
7
Siddhattha’s aunt - Mahapajapati
8
Siddhattha showing loving-kindness
9
Protecting a snake
10
Freeing a swan
11
Siddhattha sees nature of life
12
Siddhattha meditating
13
Palace garden
14
Prince Siddhattha and Princess Yasodhara
15
Palace of Prince Siddhattha and of his
wife Princess Yasodhara
16
Siddhattha sees nature of life –
impermanence and suffering
17
Siddhattha sees a peaceful monk
18
Leaving home to find the way out of
suffering
19
Siddhattha becomes a homeless monk
20
Showing compassion for a wounded lamb
21
Teaching not to harm, but rather
be kind to all living beings
22
Studying with meditation teachers
23
Leaving to find the truth about life
by himself
24
Practicing asceticism
25
Fasting
26
A shepherd boy saves Siddhattha from
an early death
27
Accepting a food offering
28
Siddhattha meditating
29
Experiencing the Supreme Enlightenment
30
The Buddha answering brahmin’s questions
31
Contemplating on whom to teach
32
Leaving to help others
33
Persuading his 5 old friends
34
Teaching the 4 Noble Truths: the Noble Truth of Suffering, the Cause of it, the End of it, and the Way to the end of it
35
Going to Uruvela
36
Sigala doing a ritual
37
The Buddha giving Sigala 5 rules of
conduct – the 5 Precepts
38
Two friends and the Buddha’s students
to be – Upatissa and Kolita
39
The Buddha instructing Arahants
on what to teach
40
Meeting his father
41
The Buddha’s son - Rahula
42
The Buddha’s students – Ananda and
Mahapajapati
43
The Buddha’s cousin Devadatta
44
Devadatta attempting to kill the Buddha
45
The Buddha taming a wild elephant
46
Morning alms round
47
Teaching the Universal truth - Dhamma
48
Getting ready to have a bath
49
Resting
50
Advising a farmer
51
Going to Kusinara
52
The Buddha instructing his personal
attendant - Ananda
53
Meditating
54
Instructing the Sangha
55
Last look at Vesali
56
Last resting place – Salavana holiday
resort, near Kusinara
57
Ananda grieving
58
The Buddha consoling Ananda
59
Instructing his new and last student -
Subhadda
60
Giving his last advice
61
Passing away
62
REFERENCES
Gunapauta, Hai J, Lu Z.A. and Lee Y.-F., 1998. A Pictorial Biography of Sakyamuni Buddha. The Corporate Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, Taipei, Taiwan. BodhiTree website: www.buddhistcouncil.org/bodhitree