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continued.... Teachings Gautama knew that other people would find it difficult to make the disciplined search he had made, and experience the truths he had experienced. Therefore, he did not immediately think of teaching others. Finally, he went into a deer park at Sarnath, near the city of Varanasi (Benares). There he met five holy men, whom he had known before his enlightenment. The holy men realized there was something different about the Buddha and were prepared to listen to what he had to say. At the deer park, the Buddha preached his first sermon. Buddhists often call this the "turning of the wheel of the law." The English word law here is a translation of dharma, which also means teaching the truth. The contents of the sermon are the basis of all Buddhist teaching. They are called the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold Path. Followers of the Buddha. The five holy men became the Buddha's first followers. The Buddha was then 35. He spent the next 45 years travelling round northeast India, teaching all kinds of people, and debating with many other religious teachers. The main body of sacred writings, called the Tripitaka or Pali Canon, is concerned with the teachings of the Buddha. Buddhists believe these teachings are more important than the life story of the Buddha. The Buddha always based his teachings on what people already understood and on what was good in their lives. Many people became his followers, but stayed with their jobs, homes and families. These lay followers provided food and shelter for others who decided, like the Buddha, to give up ordinary life and become wandering monks wearing saffron robes. The community of monks and nuns became known as the sangha. continued....
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