Tag: buddha

Unfold the Mystery: Why Buddha’s Robe Has So Many Folds!

Buddha’s robe, with its many folds, was much more than a piece of clothing—it was a powerful symbol of his teachings.

Made from old, discarded cloth stitched together, the robe reflected values like simplicity, equality, and closeness to nature.

The design was inspired by rice fields, and each fold carried meaning.

Buddha taught that living with less helps free the mind from desire and suffering. His robe reminded others to live humbly, without pride or luxury. Even today, the folds in his robe continue to speak of a peaceful, mindful, and meaningful way of life.

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Buddha’s Robe: A Simple Cloth with a Great Message

When we think of Lord Buddha, we imagine his calm face, peaceful smile, and orange or saffron robe.
But have you ever considered that this plain robe might have a significant secret hidden within it?

The Buddha’s robe is not just a relic of history — it remains a symbol of peace and simplicity.
Even today, Buddhist monks across the world wear the same kind of robe, shave their heads, and carry a small alms bowl.
This simple dress reminds everyone of Buddha’s message — live a simple life, help others, and stay close to nature.

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The Meaning Behind Buddha’s Robe

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The saffron robe that Buddha and his followers wore is more than just clothing.
It is a message — a teaching — a way of life.

Long ago, Buddha did not wear new or rich clothes.
He collected old, thrown-away pieces of cloth, washed them, and stitched them together by hand.
This patchwork robe naturally had many folds and lines.

When you look carefully at a Buddha statue or painting, you can see those beautiful folds on his robe.
They are not for decoration — they tell a story.

The Folds Tell a Story

Each fold in Buddha’s robe has meaning.
They show us how to live and what kind of person we should try to be.

The folds stand for:

Simplicity – Buddha lived a life without luxury. He taught that peace comes from needing less, not more.

Equality – All monks wore the same robe. There was no difference between the rich and the poor. Everyone was equal in Buddha’s eyes.

Nature – The robe was made from natural cloth and color. It reminded monks to live in harmony with nature.

Buddha’s robe was a quiet mirror of his mind — peaceful, kind, and full of love for every living being.

A Life with Less: The Buddhist Way

Buddha taught that too many desires cause suffering.
To find peace, one must live with only what is necessary — food, shelter, and clothing.

Food: Living on Alms

Monks went from house to house with a small bowl called a “patra.”
They accepted food given with love and shared it with others.
You can read more about this tradition here:

Why Buddhist Monks Still Depend on Alms

Shelter: Simple Living

Monks lived in small huts or monasteries called viharas.
Sometimes, they even slept under trees or in open fields.
They spent their days meditating, teaching, and helping others.

Clothing: Just Three Robes

Every monk could own only three robes.
In winter, one robe could be used as a blanket.
This rule made sure no one became proud of wealth or beauty.

Inspired by Nature: Robes Like Rice Fields

There is a beautiful story behind the design of Buddha’s robe.

One day, Buddha was standing on a hill. Below, he saw golden rice fields shining in the sunlight.
He turned to his dear disciple Ananda and said,
“Aren’t these fields beautiful? Can our robes look like this?”

Ananda smiled and replied,
“Yes, Lord. If we stitch many small pieces of cloth together in rows, they will look just like these fields.”

Buddha loved the idea.
From that day, monks began making robes that looked like the neat lines of rice fields.
He also said,
“A good monk is like a good field — in him, people grow good deeds.”

Because of this story, these robes were called “Fields of Merit.”

See the Fields, See the Robes

Next time you see a rice field — full of rows, folds, and golden light — look carefully.
Then look at a statue or picture of Buddha.
You’ll see the same pattern of folds on his robe.

These folds connect nature, hard work, and peace.
They remind us that Buddha found wisdom not in palaces, but in the beauty of the natural world.

Even today, this idea inspires artists and designers.
Simple, thoughtful clothes — made with care and respect — are always more beautiful than those made only for fashion.

Peace in Simple Things

Buddha’s entire life was a lesson in peace and balance.
He taught that peace does not come from having more things —
It comes from needing less and being happy with what we already have.

His robe, made of old cloth, spoke this message silently.

Be simple.
Stay humble.
Love nature.
Live with less.

Every fold in his robe whispers this message to the world.

The Timeless Message of Buddha’s Robe

The robe of Buddha tells us something that our modern world needs to hear again and again —
That true happiness does not come from buying more, but from wanting less.

Even though the robe was made thousands of years ago, its message is still alive today:

Care for nature.

Respect everyone equally.

Keep your mind peaceful and your life simple.

The folds of Buddha’s robe are not just cloth — they are pages of wisdom, written with silence.
They teach us that real beauty lies in simplicity, and that peace begins when we stop running after desires.

In Today’s World

In our world full of rush, noise, and competition, Buddha’s robe gives a simple reminder —
slow down, breathe, and be thankful.

His plain robe, made of discarded cloth, is like a soft voice from history saying:

“You don’t need much to live happily.
You just need peace, kindness, and a calm heart.”

Buddha’s robe is not only a part of his image — it is a part of his teaching.
It carries the same light that guided millions towards peace and wisdom.

Even after 2600 years, the meaning of that simple robe remains strong and clear —
Live simply, think deeply, and love all.

Buddha’s Answer to the Thirsty World

There was a situation of war between the two states regarding the water of a river. How did Buddha deal with this problem and why is this incident so relevant even in the present circumstances?

Life is more valuable than water

Water scarcity is often seen as a modern problem, especially in big cities.

People think that we are only now facing water shortages. But this is not true. Water problems have always existed. Even thousands of years ago, people fought over water.

Over time, Human greed, Jealousy, and Pride have made this problem worse. But there is one story from the time of Buddha that shows us how to deal with such issues.

This story is about two kingdoms, their fight over a river, and how Buddha solved the problem with wisdom.

What India Looked Like in Buddha’s Time

About 2500 years ago, India was not one country like today. Instead, it was made up of many kingdoms. Two of these were the Sakya kingdom and the Koliya kingdom. Both were very close to each other, near today’s India–Nepal border.

Between these kingdoms flowed the Rohini River. This river was very important. People drank its water, used it for farming, and depended on it for their daily needs.

The river acted like a natural border between the two kingdoms.

For many years, the Sakya and Koliya people lived peacefully. But one year, things changed.

Fact Note about Rohini River:

The Rohini River starts in the Lumbini region of Nepal and flows into Uttar Pradesh, India. Near Gorakhpur, it joins the Rapti River, which later meets the Ghaghara, a river that finally flows into the holy Ganga.

When Neighbors Became Enemies

One year, there was very little rain. The water in the Rohini River became less and less. This created a big problem.

Farmers in both kingdoms needed water for their crops, especially rice, which was their main food. To save water, farmers began building small dams on their side of the river. Each side wanted to keep more water for itself.

At first, people only shouted and argued. But soon, the fights became serious. People started hurting each other.

The situation grew so bad that soldiers from both kingdoms had to come. Everyone feared that a war would soon begin.

Buddha Steps In

When Buddha heard about this conflict, he decided to step in. He could not see people fighting and suffering.

Buddha had a special connection with both sides. He was born in the Sakya kingdom, but his mother and wife were from the Koliya kingdom. So, he loved both sides equally.

He went to the kings, officers, and farmers to understand the real issue. He saw that the main problem was not the river itself but the shortage of water and the greed that followed it.

Buddha’s Message

Buddha gathered the rulers and people of both kingdoms and gave them a powerful message:

“Life is more valuable than water.”

He explained that fighting over water was foolish. If war broke out, many lives would be lost. What use would water be if there were no people left to drink it?

Buddha also said that anger and pride had made the situation worse. If people had stayed calm and worked together, there would have been no need for fights.

He reminded them that problems can be solved only when people talk, listen, and help each other.

Buddha’s Solution

After calming both sides, Buddha suggested a fair solution. He asked the rulers to share the river water equally. He told the farmers to cooperate with each other instead of competing.

Because Buddha was respected by everyone, his words carried weight. Both sides agreed to his idea. The dams were removed, and water was shared fairly.

Peace returned. The Sakya and Koliya people, who were once ready to fight, now worked together. A possible war was stopped, and harmony was restored.

The Moral of the Story

This story teaches us a very simple but powerful lesson:

Fighting never solves problems.

Working together always brings peace.

Buddha showed that greed and anger make small problems worse. But kindness, patience, and cooperation can solve even the biggest conflicts.

Why This Story Matters Today

Now let’s think about today’s world. Even in modern times, water is a big problem. Many countries fight over rivers. Even inside one country, states and cities argue over how to share water.

Instead of solving the problem, leaders sometimes make people angry at each other. This only makes things worse. People forget that the real issue is water shortage, not each other.

This is exactly what happened in Buddha’s time. The people were not angry because they hated each other. They were angry because there was less water. But greed and pride turned neighbors into enemies.

Buddha’s Lesson for Us

*Buddha’s wisdom is still relevant today:

* Stay calm in times of crisis.

*Do not let anger or pride control you.

*Share resources fairly.

*Talk and cooperate instead of fighting.

*Buddha’s message came from real-life experiences, not just ideas. He always wanted people to live happily and peacefully.

If we follow his advice, we can handle water problems and many other issues in today’s world.

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The story of the Rohini River dispute shows that water scarcity is not just about nature or drought. It is also about human behavior — greed, selfishness, and anger.

Buddha taught us that life is more important than water. If we work together with peace and kindness, there is always enough for everyone.

Even today, his lesson shines like a guiding light. Whenever we face conflicts, whether about water or anything else, we should remember Buddha’s words:

“Life is more valuable than water.”

By choosing peace over fighting, we can make the world a better place for all.

SUTRA OF THE LION’S ROAR

What is the significance of the four lions depicted in the National Emblem of India? What teachings of Gautam Buddha do these represent? Why did Emperor Ashoka get the statue of these four lions built on the top of the Ashoka pillar? Today, even after almost 2600 years, the embodiment of Buddha’s teachings is a unique example of the richness of the Indian culture.

Recently a controversy has arisen over the “Lion Capital”, the national emblem of India.

The reason for this controversy was the replica of the LionCapital to be installed on top of the newly constructed building of the Parliament of India.

Highlights of the Lion Capital statue to be installed on the roof of the new Parliament building

@ The Lion Capital statue to be installed on the roof of the newly built Parliament House is a replica of the original statue located in the museum of Sarnath, Varanasi.

@ The replica to be installed on the roof of the Parliament House is made of bronze and weighs 16,000 kg. The total height of this replica is 6.5 meters.

@ The replica was made by 100 artisans over a period 9 months. This statue is completely hand made, no machine has been used in its construction.

The controversy behind this statue-:

Major opposition parties mainly Congress and Communist Party are attacking the ruling party over this statue. These political parties say that in the construction of this statue, the four lions have been shown as aggressive, whereas in the Lion Capital statue at Sarnath, the four lions have been shown calm and majestic.

Some people say that these lions seem to be violent and man-eaters.

This dispute increased so much that some people went to the court, well the court rejected this petition, but many people are still angry about this incident.

At first glance, it seems that because of being associated with Buddhism, these four lions must have been depicted with a calm nature in the Original statue.

Are the four lions actually depicted as calm & majestic in the original statue located in the Sarnath Museum?

Close up of Lion Capital in Sarnath Museum. (Wikimedia commons )

In fact, even in the original Lion Capital, the four lions are depicted in an aggressive posture.

All four lion’s mouths are open, sharp teeth, their tongue flapping, protruding veins, heavy mane, their claws sticking out (It is worth noting that lion’s claws are retractable and they come out of their paws only when hunting.) It becomes clear at the very first sight itself that all the four lions are depicted in an aggressive posture.

Now an important question arises here.

There is a lot of emphasis on non-violence in Buddhism, then why are the lions depicted in an aggressive posture in the Lion Capital ?

Along with this it becomes necessary to find answers to some more questions.

@ What does the Lion Capital built by Emperor Ashoka on the top of the pillar symbolize?

@ What teachings of Buddha did Emperor Ashoka consider as the basis for the construction of the Ashoka Pillar?

To answer these questions, we must turn to Buddhist literature and Lion Capital. Fortunately, all of these sources are available in abundance.

IN THE WORDS OF THE BUDDHA HIMSELF

THE SUTRA OF THE LION’S ROAR

A teaching of the Buddha was named the Sutra of the Lion’s Roar by his disciple Ananda. Buddha had emphasized the need of Buddhist organization(known as SANGHA, a BUDDHIST COMMUNITY) under this and highlighted the importance of organization.

SANGHA : Monastic community of bhikkhu (monks )and bhikkuni (nuns) Buddha described Sangha as the community that supports one along the path.

Buddha explained this importance of Sangha by giving the example of rice that joint effort is better than single effort, just as a rice grain has the natural tendency to turn into a rice plant, but for this to happen some other Factors are also required such as: sunlight, soil, water, air etc.

Similarly, a person can also try to attain enlightenment all by himself, but with the help of other people, his/her path becomes easier, so association is necessary for attaining knowledge. According to Buddha, by concerted effort under the Sangha, the wall of ignorance crumbles in the same way as darkness with the advent of light.

After explaining the importance of the Sangha, Buddha described the Sangha as powerful as a lion roaming in the jungle.
According to Buddha, The lion is the king of the jungle, when he comes out of his cave, the message of his arrival spreads in all four directions.
When the lion roars before the hunt, fear prevails in all the animals and all the creatures start hiding.
Birds start flying high on hearing the lion’s roar, crocodiles start searching the depth of water, foxes hide in burrows, even the majestic elephants which are decorated with precious jewels, equipped with golden canopies start running away from the roar.

Sangha is the proclamation of the path of enlightenment like the roar of a lion in the jungle. Buddha says that Sangha is like the roar of a lion. All false ideas and misconceptions lurking in some corner are replaced with the ideas and concerted effort of the Sangh.

The teachings of the Buddha, known as the Sutra of the Lion Roaring, make it clear that the lion that the Buddha portrayed the Sangha as, was a majestic and aggressive one.

Now another question arises as to why did Emperor Ashoka get Buddha’s sermons depicting Sangha like a lion installed on the top of the pillars in the form of idols at Sarnath and some other places?

Not only did Buddha give the first sermon in Varanasi Sarnath, but he also gave the concept of the Buddhist Sangha here and established the Sangha. Later, a huge Buddhist monastery was also established here.

The great Chinese traveler Hieun Tsang, during his visit to India, mentioned the residence of 1500 monks and nuns in this huge Buddhist monastery.

In 1905, during the excavation of Sarnath, the ruins of the Ashoka Pillar were found. A picture from that period shows the Lion Capital, and the section of the pillar bearing Emperor Ashoka’s edict. Presently the top of the pillar is located in the Sarnath Museum and the fragments of the pillar are located in a glass show case among the Sarnath Ruins.

Ashoka Pillar Fragments and the warning of Emperor Ashoka can be seen in Sarnath.

English translation of Emperor Ashoka’s warning It is mentioned by Mr. F.O Oertal. The credit for the archaeological excavations of Sarnath in 1905 and the discovery of the Ashoka pillar goes to Mr. F.O Oertal.

Thus saith the beloved of the Gods announced in the Order of Monks and in the Order of Nuns. The Church (Baudh- Math)is not to be divided But whosoever, monk or nun, shall break up the Church, shall be made to dwell white garments and dwell in a place which is not a residence for the clergy. Thus must this edict be announced in the Order of Monks and in the Order of Nuns…………………

Key points of Emperor Ashoka’s warning

Emperor Ashoka was very upset and worried about the rising trend of rebellion in the Sangha. In order to convey his point clearly to the Buddhist monks and nuns, the emperor got his warning inscribed on a pillar.

The top of the pillar reflects Gautam Buddha’s description of the Sangha as a lion and reflects the majestic qualities of the lion, certainly for this reason, Emperor Ashoka built the Lion Capital on the top of the pillar.

Observing the teachings of Buddha himself in the Buddhist literature and the warning of Emperor Ashoka, which is still inscribed on the Ashoka Pillar and the top of the pillar kept in the museum of Sarnath, there is no doubt that the Lion Capital’s lions are majestic. Depicted in an aggressive and virtuous posture.

If you want to find out the significance of the Ashoka pillar, the carved figure of other animals on the lion capital, the wheel with 32 spokes, the wheel with 24 spokes and the base like a lotus flower? You can check out this blog post that I wrote earlier—– https://nithinks.com/2022/11/23/ashokan-pillar-its-history-and-importance/

Source :- OLD PATH WHITE CLOUDS (THICH NHAT HANH)

BUDDHACARITA (ASHWAGHOSH)

THE ROMANTIC LEGEND OF SHAKYA BUDDHA (FO SO HING TSAN )