“The Buddha was born into this world for a major purpose.” The 80 years of Buddha’s Life in this world can be categorized into the “Eight Stages of the Buddha’s Life.”

「佛以一大事因緣故，降誕於世。」佛陀住世八十年，足以說明佛陀一生經過的，就是「八相成道」。



1.Descending from Tusita Heaven︰Foretold by Dipamkara Buddha that he will became the Bodhisattva in the Position of Aiding in the Saha world. He stayed in the inner court of Tusita Heaven for 4,000 years in order to observe the conditions of teaching in the Saha world.

1.降兜率︰佛陀經由燃燈佛授記，為娑婆世界的補處菩薩，先住於兜率天的內院之中，在四千年裡，觀察娑婆世界教化的機緣。



2.Entering his mother’s womb︰After spending 4,000 years in the inner court of Tusita Heaven, the Buddha rode on a white elephant, descending from heaven, and entered Queen Maya s womb from her right armpit.

2.入胎︰在兜率內院住滿四千年後，佛陀乘白象由天而降，從聖母摩耶夫人右脅而入胎。



3.Birth︰On a sunny spring day of April 8th, where flowers bloomed, the Buddha was born in Lumbini Garden . He walked seven steps, pointing one finger to the sky and another to the earth, and proclaimed, “I am the only Honored one in the heavens and on earth.”

3.誕生︰春暖花開、豔陽高照的四月八日，佛陀在藍毘尼園中降誕。降誕後，行走七步，一手指天，一手指地，說︰「天上天下，唯我獨尊。」



【Key Words】



Eight Stages of the Buddha’s Life︰

八相成道

Tusita Heaven︰兜率天

Dipamkara Buddha︰燃燈佛

The Bodhisattva in the Position of Aiding

︰補處菩薩

Saha world︰娑婆世界

Inner court︰內院

Queen Maya︰摩耶夫人

Lumbini Garden︰藍毘尼園