Twelve Stages of the Buddha's Life
A Free Online Course
More than 2,500 years ago, a man decided to find out why there is suffering, and how to overcome it. He succeeded, and became known as "The Buddha," which means, "One who is awake."
Over the centuries, many details of his life and his teachings have been lost, distorted, or confused. Yet by comparing what remains with the teachings given by other men and women who reached similar development, his full teachings become very evident.
The Buddha—also known as Gautama Shakyamuni—did not intend to start a religion or to gather worshippers: he only wanted to demonstrate to all beings how they themselves must work to escape suffering. This is the essence of Gnosis: authentic knowledge that is acquired by one's own efforts.
“I cannot pull someone from the hell realm and carry them to nirvana. Leaving samsara, attaining nirvana or buddhahood, depends on your own efforts. You cannot rely on anyone - not the guru, or the Buddha and bodhisattvas.” – The 14th Dalai Lama
Many biographers have presented his life story with twelve essential stages. The twelve stages of the life of Buddha have deep symbolic importance that has rarely been revealed. By comparing these twelve stages with the esoteric knowledge of Kabbalah and Tarot, the meanings of the events of the life of Buddha Shakyamuni are made brilliantly clear.
Twelve Stages of the Life of Buddha Shakyamuni
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Introduction to the Gnostic Buddha
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First Great Deed: The Promise
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Second Great Deed: Queen Maya's Dream
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Third Great Deed: Birth
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Fourth Great Deed: Expert in the Arts
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Fifth Great Deed: Pleasures of the Kingdom
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Sixth Great Deed: the Four Encounters
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Seventh Great Deed: Renunciation
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Eighth Great Deed: Equilibrium
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Ninth Great Deed: The Flood and the Tempter
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Tenth Great Deed: Turning the Wheel
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Eleventh Great Deed: Visiting Trayastrimsa Heaven
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Twelfth Great Deed (Coming Soon)
