A short presentation by Arvid & Sascha

Structure

Short information Map of different religions Cause and effect : Karma Samsara – circle of life Reincarnation Dharma Bhodi Nirvana World-view

350 - 500 millions of followers China, Bhutan, Japan, Kambodscha,

Laos, Mongolei Foundation in Siddhartha Gautama, the

historical Buddha, which had been living in North-India

Karma (Sanskrit: karman ; Pali : kamma = deed, operation) is a spiritual concept whereby every action( physical and mental) has inevitably a consequence

can concern the current life as well as the lives after it

closely connected to Samsara, which is belief in the cycle of new births

every act and mental activity produces Karma and further ensnarements

Buddhists try to stop the production of Karma to interrupt the circular flow

the three ways to a positive Karma : modesty , goodness , understanding

A continuous circle of life, death, rebirth

Target: break out of this circle

Reincarnation (Pali : Punabbhava) means new birth, was already known in the Indian philosophie before Buddha's appearance

Buddha denied the idea of the “self” (Sanskrit : atman ; Pali : atta), presented it as an illusion of the character of the world

personality evolves from five acquisition groups : body, perception, apperception, mental inspiration, consciousness

no constant unit => no rebirth as such impulse emerging from the Karma

Dharma has two different meanings Basis of the „Dharma“ are the four noble

truths. These truths are building one of the

three jewels and serve for a „resort object“

The common ground of all phenomenon which are earthly ( nature and their legality )

Bodhi is the process of the awakening, the enlightenment

Requirements: the comprehension of the four noble

thruths The overcoming of all needs which are

requiered for life Bodhi affords the breakthrough of

Samsara and getting the Nirvana

Target: leaving Samsara You can‘t describe Nirvana with words,

it can just be experienced through methods like meditation and awareness

Nirvana describes the end-state, no rebirth in another sphere

State of statelessness

religion, but also philosophie no exclusion of other religions/world-views important aspects : Karma doctrine, the four

noble verities of Buddha contradictory to most other religions much different interpretations of Buddhism religion as definition sometimes insufficient