What did Buddha do after he found enlightenment?

Answer 1

After The Buddha's enlightenment under the bodhi tree, he went to Deer Park in Sarnath where He gave His first sermon on The Four Noble Truths and The Eightfold Path:

The Four Noble Truths:

1) The truth of the existence of suffering in the world.

2) The truth that the suffering in the world has a cause.

3) The truth that the suffering in the world can cease.

4) The truth which elucidates the cessation of suffering through the Eightfold Path of the Buddha's teachings:

The Eightfold Path

Wisdom:

1. Right Understanding: The Buddha said right understanding means having knowledge with regard to suffering, knowledge with regard to the origination of suffering, knowledge with regard to the stopping of suffering, and knowledge with regard to the way of practice leading to the stopping of suffering. This means, in sum, understanding that a selfish ego is the root of suffering.

2. Right Thought: Being resolved on renouncing worldly desire, on freedom from ill will, on not harming others.

Virtue:

3. Right Speech: Abstaining from lying, abstaining from divisive speech, abstaining from abusive speech, abstaining from idle chatter.

4. Right Action: Abstaining from taking life, abstaining from stealing, abstaining from sexual miscondcut, abstaining from alcohol and illegal drugs.

5. Right Livelihood: Earning one's living in a righteous way. This means not through coercion, stealing, selling of intoxicants, and manufacturing weapons.

Concentration:

6. Right Effort: Exerting onelself to end unvirtous actions, and to develop skillfulness and good qualities.

7. Right Mindfulness: Putting aside greed, and instead turning one's mind toward taming emotions, harnessing positive mental qualities, and protecting one's precious human existence.

8. Right Concentration: Directing thought appropriately so one can develop equanmity.

The Five Precepts{'which are part of Right-Skillful Action are':

1. 'I observe the precept of abstaining from the destruction of life.'

2. 'I observe the precept of abstaining from taking that which is not given.'

3. 'I observe the precept of abstaining from sexual misconduct.'

4. 'I observe the precept of abstaining from falsehood.'

5. 'I observe the precept of abstaining from intoxicants that cloud the mind and cause carelessness.'

*The refrain "I observe the precept of abstaining from ..." which begins every precept clearly shows that these are not commandments. They are, indeed, moral Codes of Conduct that lay Buddhists willingly undertake out of clear understanding and conviction that they are good for both themselves and for society.

The Buddha taught His followers to take refuge in

The Three Jewels: The Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha;

and He taught His Followers the importance of Karma:

'Karma means action, generally taken as a term that comprises the entire cycle of cause and effect. Karma is a sum of all that an individual has done, is currently doing and will do. Individuals go through certain processes and accompanying experiences throughout their lives which they have chosen, and those would be based on the results of their own creations. Karma is not about retribution, vengeance, punishment or reward. The law of Karma simply deals with the causes of all deeds actively created past and present; and the effects in all present and future experiences; thus making one responsible for one's own life, and the pain and joy brought to oneself and others. All living beings are responsible for their karma and for their release from samsara.'

Answer 2

The Buddha preached along northern India and Nepal for about 45 years after reaching enlightenment. His first teaching was held in a Deer Park near Benaras to 5 of his friends who he had been practicing asceticism with and they were his first converts.