Lesson 2

THE BUDDHA'S BIRTH AND HIS CHILDHOOD

Paragraph 1. Over 2500 years ago, the Saøkyas were a proud clan of the Khattiyas (the warrior caste) living on the foothills of the Himalaya in modern Nepal. They were ruled by a wise and powerful king called Suddhodana, who founded his capital at Kapilavatthu. His wife was Queen Maøyaø, daughter of the Kolyas.

P 2. So far they were childless and were longing for a son to complete their royal happiness. One day, the queen realized that she would become a mother. According to their custom, she asked the king's permission to return to her parents' home in another city, Devadaha, for the childbirth.

P 3. Midway the queen desired to rest for a while in Lumbini Park, a wonderful garden where flowers filled the air with their sweet odour, while swarms of bees and butterflies were flying around and birds of every colour were singing as if they were getting ready to welome the queen. As she was standing under a flowering saøla tree, and catching hold of a branch in full bloom, she gave birth to a prince who would later become Buddha Gotama, the Enlightened One, the Great Master of gods and men. Allexpressed their delight to the queen and her noble baby prince; Heaven and Earth rejoiced at the marvels. The memorable day was the Full Moon Day of Vesak (May) in 623 BC (according to the inscription at Buddha Gayaø).

P 4. On the naming ceremony, many learned Braøhmins were invited to the palace. A wise hermit, Asita, told the king that two ways would open before the prince: he would either become a universal ruler or he would leave the world and become a Buddha. The sage named the baby Siddhattha, which means “the One whose wish is fulfilled” (or “Wish - Fulfilled"). At first the king was pleased to hear this, but he was later worried about the statement that the prince would renounce the world and become a homeless hermit.

P 5. In the royal palace, however, delight was followed quickly by sorrow, for seven days after the childbirth, Queen Maøyaø suddenly died. Her younger sister, Paøjapati Gotamì, the second queen, became the prince's devoted foster mother, who brought him up with loving care.

P 6. The little prince grew up to be a lovely character in spite of every luxury around him: he was kind, gentle, pure and very intelligent. He received an excellent education as a crown prince of the warrior caste. His education consisted not only of all the knowledge for thewise including the 4 Vedas, but also of all arts of warfare. The young prince amazed all his teachers because of his intelligence: he learnt everything in a very short time. To sum up, he was quite healthy, kind-hearted and skillful, but at the same time he was very thoughtful.

(Adapted from G. P Malalasekera, The Buddha and His Teachings).

Dhammapada Verse 194.

Pleasant is the Birth of the Buddha,

Pleasant is the preaching of the Dhamma,

Pleasant is peace and unity in the Sangha,

The devotion of those who live in harmony is pleasant.

------

I/ Pronunciation: word stress and sound columns.
  1. [i:] sweet, queen, compleùte.
  2. [i] fulfíll, skillful, consíst, permíssion, inscríption.
  3. [e] heùalthy, heùaven, weùlcome, eùxcellent, howeùver, meùmorable, inteùlligent.
  4. [æ] paùlace, chaùracter.
  5. [a:] caste, art, branch.
  6. [ɔ] god, foùster, foùllow, soùrrow.
  7. [] broùught, swarm, thoùughtful, waùrrior, waùrfare, accoùrding.
  8. [] coùlour, cuùstom, moùther, loùving, buùtterfly, luùxury, suùddenly.
  9. [Ə:] birth, heùrmit, leùarned, univeùrsal.
  10. [ei] amaùze, Himalaùya(s)
  11. [ou] noble, oùdour, hoùmeless, devoùted, Goùtama.
  12. [ai] desíre, invíte, delíght.
  13. [au] crown, renoùunce, poùwerful
  14. [i; iƏ] reùalize
  15. [ɔi] roùyal
  16. [k] custom, character.
  17. [g] garden, Gotama
  18. [t∫] branch, childhood.
  19. [dʒ] gentle, knowledge, intelligence.
  20. [∫] sure, ancient, luxury, permission.
  21. [ʒ] luxurious.
II. Vocabulary: words and expressions:
LESSON 2: THE BUDDHA'S BIRTH & HIS CHILDHOOD

P. 1. The Sakyas : The Sakya clan : Boä toäc Sakya (doøng hoï Thích-ca).

A clan: an early social group composed of several families: 1 boä toäc, goàm nhieàu gia toäc.

The Khattiyas: The caste system in ancient India consists of four castes:

Heä thoáng giai caáp ôû AÁn Ñoä coå ñaïi goàm 4 giai caáp:

1) The Brahmanas : the Priest caste or the Priest: 1) Baø-la-moân, tu só.

2) The Khattiyas: the noble, the warriors: 2) Saùt-ñeá-lî, voõ töôùng, quyù toäc.

3) The Vessas : the merchants, workers: 3) Veä-xaù, thöông nhaân, thôï.

4) The Suddas: the servants, slaves. 4) Thuû ñaø, toâi tôù, noâ leä.

P 2 * Long for s.o / s.t (a child / a holiday)

= Have a strong desire for s.o/s.t. = Want s.o / s.t very much: Tha thieát öôùc mong ai / c.g.

Royal (adj). A royal palace / family : Thuoäc veà vua chuùa, vöông giaû.

Realise s.t = Understand s.t.: - YÙ thöùc / hieåu roõ v. g

Realise one's mistake: - Nhaän ra loãi mình.

She realised her mistake. = She realised that she was wrong: Coâ aáy nhaän ra loãi mình.

Ask s.o - s.t (a question): Hoûi ai v. g.

Ask s.o for s.t (help/ money) : Xin ai caùi gì.

Ask s.o's advice / opinion. Hoûi yù kieán ai.

Ask s.o to do s.t. Baûo ai laøm gì.

P.3 * Midway (adv) Giöõa ñöôøng.

Catch hold of s.t: hold s.t : Caàm / naém c.g.

Give birth to a baby (Ngöôøi) sanh moät haøi nhi.

- Give birth to fruit. (Caây) sinh traùi

Saøla-tree (Shorea robusta): a kind of Indian tree

Caây Saøla (teân khoa hoïc: Shorea robusta): loaïi caây AÁn ñoä.

According to the Paøli Text, Queen Maøyaø gave birth to a prince while standing under a Saøla tree.

Theo Kinh taïng Paøli, Hoaøng haäu Maøyaø sinh moät hoaøng töû trong khi ñang ñöùng döôùi caây Saøla.

Express one's delight to s.o. Baøy toû haân hoan vôùi ai.

A god (in the six heavens of sense desires). Vò thieân ôû saùu coõi trôøi duïc giôùi.

Sakka is the King of gods in the Thirty-Three Heaven: Ñeá Thích laø chuùa teå cuûa chö thieân (Thieân chuû) ôû coõi trôøi 33.

Rejoice at / over s.t. : Baøy toû noãi haân hoan veà vg.

- Rejoice at the good news/ success / victory. . . Hôùn hôû tröôùc tin möøng / thaønh coâng / chieán thaéng. . .

Memorable (adj). Ñaùng ghi nhôù.

Try to learrn the Buddha's memorable verses, the Dhammapada.

Haõy gaéng hoïc nhöõng vaàn thi keä ñaùng nhôù cuûa Ñöùc Phaät, Phaùp cuù

The Buddha Jayanti: Ngaøy Phaät ñaûn sanh

The memorable day was the Full Moon Day of Vesak (May) in 623 B.C:

Ngaøy ñaùng ghi nhôù aáy laø ngaøy traêng troøn thaùng Vesak (khoaûng thaùng 5) 623 tröôùc C.N.

There are some debates (discussions) over (about) the exact year of the Buddha's birth; the majority of opinions favour 566 B.C. But the Buddhist Era dates from the year of his death in 543 B.C, for the date is traditionally accepted in Sri Lanka as the basis for dates in the Buddhist Era:

Thöôøng vaãn coù moät soá tranh luaän veà naêm sinh chính xaùc cuûa Ñöùc Phaät; ña soá yù kieán choïn 566 tröôùc C.N. Song Phaät lòch tính töø naêm Ngaøi nhaäp dieät 543 tröôùc C.N, vì naêm aáy theo truyeàn thoáng ñöôïc coâng nhaän ôû SriLanka laøm caên baûn ñeå tính naêm thaùng theo Phaät lòch (Kyû nguyeân Phaät giaùo). Celebrate a ceremony Cöû haønh leã.

A naming ceremony :Leã ñaët teân.

A Universal King :Vò vua cai trò toaøn caàu,

Siddhattha = Wish – Fulfilled: Ngöôøi Toaïi Nguyeän.

Reign over a kingdom: Chuyeån Luaân Thaùnh Vöông

Cai trò vöông quoác.

 A reign (n) :Thôøi kyø cai trò, trieàu ñaïi.

Under the reign of king Asoka, the Buddha's teachings were widely spread:

Döôùi trieàu A-duïc Vöông, Phaät Phaùp ñöôïc truyeàn baù roäng raõi.

Renounce the world = leave the world for a religious life: Töø boû theá tuïc ñeå soáng ñôøi soáng tu haønh.

 Renunciation (n). :Söï töø boû, söï xuaát ly.

A hermitHermitage (n) AÅn só nôi aån cö.

P5 * Devoted (adj)  Devotion (n) :Heát loøng thöông yeâu, taän tuïy.

A foster mother /father /son /daughter :Meï nuoâi, cha nuoâi, con nuoâi. .

Bring s.o. up. :Nuoâi naáng ai

Grow up to be + n :Lôùn daàn thaønh

A character : Moät nhaân vaät ñaëc bieät.

He grew up to be a lovely character. :Caäu beù lôùn daàn thaønh moät ngöôøi ñaëc bieät khaû aùi.

A crown prince :Moät hoaøng thaùi töû

Crown :Vöông mieän.

Consist of s.t: be composed of s.t : Goàm coù c.g

The Vedas :Kinh Veä-ñaø cuûa Baø-la-moân giaùo.

Be versed / well learned in the Three Vedas :Tinh thoâng 3 taäp Veä-ñaø.

Luxury (n) luxurious (adj). Neáp soáng xa hoa.

Live in luxury =Lead a luxurious life: Soáng xa hoa.

Amaze so: surprise s.overy much. :Laøm ai kinh ngaïc.

 Amazement. (n) Söï kinh ngaïc.

They amazed the world by reaching the top of the Himalaya (The Mountain of Snows):

Hoï laøm theá giôùi kinh ngaïc vì leân taän ñænh Tuyeát Sôn.

.

III. Comprehension Questions

P 1. 1. Who were the Sakyas?

2. Where did they live?

3. What is the Himalaya?

4. What do you know about the Himalaya?

5. Who ruled the Sakyas that time ?

6. Where did the king found his capital? (found = build.)

7. Who was his wife?

P. 28. What were they longing for?

9. What did the Queen know at last?

10. What did she ask the King for the childbirth?

P. 3 11. Where did the Queen want to rest midway?

12. Describe Lumbini Park at the Buddha's Birth.

13. What was the Queen doing when she gave birth to a prince?

14. Who would the prince become later?

15. Who expressed delight to the Queen and her baby?

16. What was the Buddha's Birthday?

P. 4 17. Who was invited to the palace on the naming ceremony?

18. What did the sage Asita foretell about the prince?

19. What did the sage name the baby?

20. What does it mean?

21. Was the king pleased or worried on hearing the foretelling ? Why?

P. 5 22. When did Queen Maøyaø die?

23. Who took care of the baby prince?

24. Did the prince live in luxury?

P. 6 25. What was the prince like when he grew up?

26. What kind of education did he receive?

27. What did his education consist of?

28. Why did the prince amaze all his teachers?

29. What do you know about the young prince during his boyhood?

  1. Was he a common prince or a wonderful one?

ANSWERS (Lesson 2)

THE BUDDHA'S BIRTH & HIS CHILDHOOD.

P 1.

  1. They were a proud clan of the Khattiyas, the warrior caste in ancient India.
  2. They lived on the foothills of the Himalaya.
  3. It's the greatest mountain range of the world extending between India and Tibet.
  4. It's known as the Mountain of Snows because its peaks are covered with everlasting snows and beautiful forests. Its highest peak is Mount Everest, 8882 metres high.
  5. A wise and powerful King called Suddhodana ruled themthen.
  6. He founded his capital at Kapilavatthu.
  7. She was Queen Maøyaø, daughter of the Kolyas' king.

P 2.

  1. They were longing for the birth of a son.
  2. She knew (that) she would become a mother at last.
  3. She asked his permisson to return to her parents' home for the child-birth.

P 3.

  1. She wanted to rest for a while in Lumbini Park on her way.
  2. It was a wonderful garden where flowers filled the air with their sweet odour while swarms of bees and butterflies were flying around and birds of every colour were singing as if they were getting ready to welcome the Queen.
  3. She was standing under a flowering Saøla tree, and catching hold of a branch in full bloom when she gave birth to a prince.
  4. He would later become Buddha Gotama, the Enlightened One, the great Master of gods and men.
  5. Heaven and earth expressed delight to them.
  6. It was the Full Moon Day of Vesak (May) in 623 BC according to the inscription at Bodhigaya in India.

P 4.

  1. Many learned brahmins were invited to the palace then.
  2. He foretold that two ways would open before the Prince: He would become either a Universal Ruler or a Supreme Buddha.
  3. He named him Siddhattha.
  4. It means the One whose wish is fulfilled or “Wish-Fulfilled”.
  5. At first he was pleased, but later he was worried because he didn't want his son to renounce the world and become a homeless hermit.

P 5.

  1. She died seven days after the childbirth.
  2. Pajaøpati Gotamì, the second Queen, took care of the baby Prince.
  3. Yes, he did. He lived in luxury.
  4. When he grew up, he was kind, gentle, pure and very intelligent.
  5. He received an excellent education as a crown prince of the warrior caste.
  6. It consisted of all knowledge for the wise including the 4 Vedas and all arts of warfare.
  7. He amazed all his teachers because he was so intelligent that he learnt everything in a very short time.
  8. He was quite healthy, kind-hearted to everyone especially to animals ; besides, he was very skillful in all arts, but at the same time he was very thoughtful.
  9. He was a wonderful prince.
IV. Translation Into Vietnamese :
Baøi 2.

ÑÖÙC PHAÄT ÑAÛN SANH vaø THÔØI THÔ AÁU CUÛA NGAØI

Ñoaïn 1 Caùch ñaây hôn 2500 naêm doøng hoï Sakya (Thích-ca) laø moät boä toäc kieâu huøng cuûa ñaúng caáp Khattiya (Saùt-ñeá-lî) giai caáp voõ töôùng, quí toäc) soáng ôû vuøng ñoài nuùi Himalayas(Tuyeát Sôn) thuoäc nöôùc Nepal ngaøy nay. Doøng hoï naøy ñöôïc moät quoác vöông hieàn ñöùc vaø huøng maïnh cai trò, (ngaøi) coù danh hieäu laø Suddhodana (Tònh Phaïn), döïng kinh ñoâ taïi Kapilavatthu (Ca-tyø-la-veä).Vò chaùnh cung cuûa ngaøi laø Hoaøng haäu Maøyaø (thuoäc doøng hoï Kolya).

Ñoaïn 2. Töø tröôùc ñeán giôø hai vò chöa coù con vaø haèng noùng loøng öôùc ao moät hoaøng nam ra ñôøi ñeå laøm troøn haïnh phuùc vöông giaû cuûa hai vò (= ñeå haïnh phuùc cuûa hai vò ñöôïc hoaøn maõn). Moät ngaøy kia hoaøng haäu bieát ñöôïc raèng baø saép ñöôïc laøm meï. Theo phong tuïc thôøi aáy, baø xin pheùp ñöùc vua trôû veà nhaø song thaân mình ôû moät kinh thaønh khaùc, ñoù laø Devadaha, ñeà kòp thôøi khai hoa maõn nguyeät.

Ñoaïn 3. Giöõa ñöôøng, hoaøng haäu mong muoán nghæ ngôi choác laùt trong ngöï vieân Lumbini (Laâm-tyø-ni), moät khu vöôøn kyø dieäu vôùi muoân hoa toaû ngaùt muøi höông dòu daøng giöõa khoâng gian, trong luùc töøng ñaøn ong böôùm bay löôïn khaép nôi vaø chim muoâng ñuû maøu ca hoùt nhö theå moïi vaät ñeàu saün saøng cung ngheânh hoaøng haäu. Vöøa luùc baø hoaøng ñöùng döôùi moät caây Saøla ñang nôû roä vaø vin laáy moät caønh hoa thaät sung maõn, baø lieàn haï sanh moät hoaøng töû, laø ngöôøi sau naøy seõ trôû thaønh ñöùc Phaät Gotama, ñaáng Giaùc Ngoä, baäc Ñaïi Ñaïo Sö cuûa chö thieân vaø nhaân loaïi. Moïi loaøi ñeàu bieåu loä nieàm haân hoan ñoái vôùi hoaøng haäu vaø vò vöông töû haøi nhi cuûa baø; Trôøi ñaát ñeàu traøn ñaày hyû laïc tröôùc caùc phaùp hy höõu (tröôùc nhöõng vieäc kyø dieäu chöa töøng coù). Ngaøy ñaùng ghi nhôù aáy laø ngaøy raèm (traêng troøn) thaùng Vesak (khoaûng thaùng 5-6) naêm 623 tröôùc Taây lòch (theo bia kyù ôû Boà-ñeà ñaïo traøng (Bodhigaya).

Ñoaïn 4. Vaøo ngaøy leã ñaët teân, nhieàu vò Baø-la-moân thoâng thaùi ñöôïc môøi ñeán hoaøng cung. Moät vò hieàn giaû, aån só Asita (A-tö-ñaø), taâu vôùi quoác vöông raèng hai con ñöôøng seõ môû ra cho thaùi töû: hoaëc thaùi töû seõ thaønh moät vò Chuyeån Luaân Vöông, hoaëc thaùi töû seõ töø giaõ theá gian vaø trôû thaønh moät Baäc Ñaïi Giaùc Ngoä, Vò hieàn giaû aáy ñaët teân thaùi töû laø Siddhattha, nghóa laø “Ngöôøi Ñaït Ñöôïc Öôùc Nguyeän” hay “Ngöôøi Toaïi Nguyeän”. Thoaït tieân, ñöùc vua haøi loøng khi nghe ñieàu naøy, nhöng veà sau ngaøi lo ngaïi veà lôøi tieân ñoaùn raèng thaùi töû seõ xuaát theá vaø trôû thaønh vò aån só khoâng nhaø.

Ñoaïn 5. Tuy nhieân, trong hoaøng cung, noãi saàu bi laïi tieáp theo ngay nieàm hoan laïc, vì chæ baûy ngaøy sau khi hoaøng töû chaøo ñôøi, hoaøng haäu ñoät ngoät töø traàn. Vò thöù phi, em gaùi baø, laø Pajaøpati Gotamì, ñaõ trôû thaønh baø döôõng maãu ñaày taän tuïy nhieät tình nuoâi naáng hoaøng töû vôùi loøng chaêm soùc thöông yeâu.

Ñoaïn 6. Vò hoaøng töû aáu nhi lôùn leân daàn trôû thaønh moät ngöôøi ñaëc bieät khaû aùi, duø soáng giöõa caûnh xa hoa nhung luïa vaây quanh. Thaùi töû thaät nhaân töø, thanh lòch, trong saùng vaø raát thoâng minh. Thaùi töû ñöôïc giaùo duïc hoaøn haûo ñuùng vôùi cöông vò cuûa moät hoaøng thaùi töû giai caáp quí toäc. Vieäc giaùo duïc thaùi töû khoâng chæ bao goàm taát caû kieán thöùc daønh cho lôùp ngöôøi thoâng thaùi thôøi baáy giôø, trong ñoù coù 4 taäp Kinh Veä-ñaø, maø coøn ñuû moïi ngaønh voõ ngheä.

Vò hoaøng thaùi töû treû tuoåi naøy laøm kinh ngaïc toaøn theå giaùo sö vì söùc thoâng minh loãi laïc (cuûa mình). Thaùi töû thoâng hieåu moïi söï qua moät thôøi gian raát ngaén.

Noùi toùm laïi, thaùi töû raát maïnh khoûe (cöôøng traùng), ñaày töø taâm vaø ñuû taøi naêng, nhöng ñoàng thôøi chaøng cuõng raát hay suy tö.

(Phoùng taùc theo Dr. Malalasekera)

Phaùp cuù 194

Vui thay Phaät ra ñôøi,

Vui thay lôøi Phaät daïy,

Vui thay Taêng hoaø hôïp,

Hoøa hôïp tu vui thay!

***

V. Grammar Review: The Simple Past:

A) Form:

Subject + Past form of a Verb.

Note: The pronunciation of the ending ED in regular verbs and adjectives:

1/ ED is pronounced /t/ after a voiceless sound except /t/:

/p/, /k/, /f/, /s/, /∫/, /t∫/

stepped, looked, puffed, placed, washed, watched

2/ ED is pronounced /d/ after a voiced sound except /d/:

carried, tried, played, rubbed, spelled, opened, lived.

3/ ED is pronounced /id/ after /t/ and /d/:

limited /tid/, treated /tid/, needed /did/, decided /did/.

Some exceptions: wicked /kid/, naked / kid/, blessed /sid/, learned /nid/, beloved /vid/, ragged /gid/, aged /dʒid/.

(Note: These exceptions are used as adjectives. )

B) Use: The Simple Past is used for an action completed at a definite time in the past:

I saw him yesterday.

The Buddha was born in 623 B. C.

The Simple Past is often used with adverbs of time such as: yesterday, ago. . . last week, last year, once (upon a time), in the old time / in the old days. . .

* He went to Dalat last week.

* She saw the bear once.

* Once upon a time the Bodhisatta was born of a lion family.

(See English Grammar In Use: unit 11, 12 and Exercises).

------

Grammar Review

Summary of SENTENCES and CLAUSES

I/ A sentence: is a group of words expressing a complete thought.

Sentences may be classified according to their purpose:

1) An affirmative statement:- Students go to school everyday.

2)An negative statement:- Horses cannot fly.

3)An interrogative sentence (a question):
- Can you speak English?
4) An imperative sentence (a request):

- Let us learn harder.

- Be careful!

- Please listen to me.

5) An exclamatory sentence: - How fine it is!

- What a good idea (it is)!

II/ 4 kinds of sentences:

A simple sentence, a compound sentence, a complex sentence and a compound - complex sentence.

1) A simple sentence is a sentence containing one main clause:

A simple sentence = 1 main clause

- A bird needs two wings in order to fly.

2) A compound sentence is a sentence containing two or

more main clauses (which are) joined by co - ordinating conjunctions: and, but, or, nor, for, so.

MAIN CLAUSES + conjunction + MAIN CLAUSES
Subj. +Verb+ Obj/ Compl / Conj + Subj. + Verb + Obj/ Compl
a) One wing is secular education, / and the other is religious education.
b) We can grow rice, / but we cannot grow wheat.
c) Hurry up, / or you will be late.
d) Religious education is necessary, / for it teaches us how to act.
e) We want to make progress, / so we do our best.

NOTE: The clause after “nor” is in inverted order (the inversion of the subject and the verb, that is, the subject follows the verb):

a) We cannot see anything, nor can we hear anything in the distance.

Conj a.v S m.V

b) He did not claim to be God, nor was he any divine messenger.

Conj verb S

c) He did not claim to be God nor did he claim to be any divine messenger.

Conj a.v S m.V

3) A complex sentence is a sentence containing a main clause and one or more subordinate clauses:

A complex sentence =
1 main clause + 1 or more subordinateclauses
MAIN CLAUSES / SUBORDINATE CLAUSES
a) We left school
b) She hopes
c) The speaker knew
d) She wanted to rest in the park
e) He clearly told us / when it stopped raining.
that everyone will come to the lecture.
that some students would come to see him,
when the meeting was over.
where flowers filled the air with sweet odour
while birds were flying around.
that we can achieve for ourselves
what he did for himself
if we listen carefully to his teaching and walk in his path.

4)A compound-complex sentence is a sentence containing two or more main clauses and one or more subordinate clauses.

A compound - complex sentence =
2 or more main clauses + 1 or more subordinate clauses.

a/ The Buddha teaches his followers to do good and he tells

(1st main clause)

conj (2nd main

them/ that his Path leads to happiness in this world and hereafter.

clause) (subordinate clause)

b/ It is true / that we must attend classes in order to study his

(m. clause) (subordinate clause, subject of “is” )

teachings, but the principal thing is to live them in our life.

conj. ( 2nd main clause)

* c/ There are many legends about the Buddha / but the Buddha

(1st main clause) conj. (2nd

was so great/that he had no need of legends.

main clause) (subordinate clause)

* d/ He was the wisest teacher / (that) the world has ever seen,

(1st main clause) (subordinate clause)

and his teachings given to men over 2500 years ago are still

conj. (2 nd main clause)

helpful to us today.

***

Grammar Review: Kinds of Clauses

I/ A clause is a group of words containing a subject and a verb.

A clause = a subject + a verb.

There are 2 kinds of clauses:

1. Main clause

2. Subordinate clause

1/ A main clause is a clause which expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a simple sentence.

A main clause = a simple sentence

Buddhism is truly a message of peace and happiness for everyone.

2/ A subordinate clause does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone. It must always follow a main clause as a part of a sentence.

II/ 3 kinds of subordinate clauses:

1) Adverb clauses.

2) Adjective clauses.

3) Noun clauses.

1/ an adverb clause is a subordinate clause (which is) used as an adverb.

2/ An adjective (relative) clause is a subordinate clause used as an adjective.

3/ A noun clause is a subordinate clause used as a noun.

III. Adverb clauses

1/ An adverb clause begins with a subordinating conjunction.

2/ Common subordinating conjunctions:

after
although/ though
as/ just as
as if/ as though, / because
before
if
now that / once
so that
such/so. . . that
...... than / since
unless
until / till
when / whenever
where
wherever
while

A. Adverb clauses of time: with “when”, “while”, “as”, “just as”, “since”, “before”, “after”, “whenever” “until”, “once”...

ADVERB CLAUSES / MAIN CLAUSES
A) Conj + S + V + (O /Compl. ), / S + V + (+O/ Compl. )
1. When the bus stopped,
2. While he was planting rice,
3. As she left her house,
4. Just as he sat down,
5. Since we left high school,
6. Whenever she comes here,
7. Before they grow rice,
8. After we finish our meal,
9. Once you understand this rule,
10. Until she stood up, / they got out.
she was planting vegetables.
she forgot her hat.
the telephone rang.
we have worked here.
she brings a lot of books.
they plough their field.
we go out of the room.
you can do exercises.
I had not noticed her.

Note: An adv. clause of time can be placed before or after a main clause.

B. Adverb clauses of place with “where”, “wherever”:

B. MAIN CLAUSES / ADVERB CLAUSES
1. We can go
2. They can stop / where we like to (go).
wherever they find a shop.

C. Adverb clauses of reason with: as, because, since