Buddhism

BuddhismBuddhism

I. History of BuddhismI. History of Buddhism

A.A. In 563 B.C. Prince Siddhartha Gautama In 563 B.C. Prince Siddhartha Gautama was born and it was foretold that he had was born and it was foretold that he had two possible futures.two possible futures.

1. He would unite India and be it 1. He would unite India and be it rulerruler

2. He would be a great spiritual 2. He would be a great spiritual leaderleader

B. Siddhartha’s Father wished him to B. Siddhartha’s Father wished him to become the ruler of India so he tried to become the ruler of India so he tried to hide him from all evil.hide him from all evil.


C.C. Despite his father’s efforts Despite his father’s efforts Siddhartha eventually discovers an Siddhartha eventually discovers an elderly man, someone sick with elderly man, someone sick with disease, and a corpse.disease, and a corpse.

D. Siddhartha decides to leave his D. Siddhartha decides to leave his home to find an end to all suffering home to find an end to all suffering in the world.in the world.


E.E. Siddhartha tries Siddhartha tries many different many different techniques to end techniques to end suffering including suffering including yoga and yoga and asceticism. asceticism.

I. History of BuddhismI. History of BuddhismF.F. Eventually while sitting Eventually while sitting

under the Bodhi tree, under the Bodhi tree, and resisting the and resisting the temptations of the evil temptations of the evil god Mara, Siddhartha god Mara, Siddhartha discovers the end to discovers the end to suffering, reaches the suffering, reaches the stage of enlightenment, stage of enlightenment, and becomes the and becomes the reincarnation of reincarnation of Buddha.Buddha.


G. Siddhartha is really the 24G. Siddhartha is really the 24thth reincarnation of Buddha, but none reincarnation of Buddha, but none of the other reincarnations of of the other reincarnations of Buddha (The Enlightened One) have Buddha (The Enlightened One) have been during the history of man. been during the history of man.

II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of Buddha

A. Wheel of Dharma – all human A. Wheel of Dharma – all human beings are caught in cycle of life and beings are caught in cycle of life and death which is based on their moral death which is based on their moral behavior (dharma)behavior (dharma)


B.B. The 4 Noble TruthsThe 4 Noble Truths1. 1. The Noble Truth of SufferingThe Noble Truth of Suffering-life is full of suffering, pleasure is only -life is full of suffering, pleasure is only temporarytemporary

2. 2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of The Noble Truth of the Cause of SufferingSuffering -suffering exists because of desire, -suffering exists because of desire, which is never satisfiedwhich is never satisfied


B.B. The 4 Noble TruthsThe 4 Noble Truths

3. 3. The Noble Truth of the End of SufferingThe Noble Truth of the End of Suffering

-it is possible to end suffering if you are -it is possible to end suffering if you are aware of your desires and put an end to aware of your desires and put an end to themthem

4. 4. The Noble Truth of the PathThe Noble Truth of the Path

-By changing your thought and behavior -By changing your thought and behavior (the Eightfold Path) you can reach a new (the Eightfold Path) you can reach a new awakening. awakening.

II. Teachings of BuddhaII. Teachings of BuddhaC. The Eightfold Path/Wheel of Law C. The Eightfold Path/Wheel of Law

Right Understanding

Right Speech

Right Livelihood

Right Concentration

Right Awareness

Right Effort

Right Action

Right Thought


D. The 5 Precepts – They are not D. The 5 Precepts – They are not commandments but vows to ensure commandments but vows to ensure right behavior.right behavior.

1. Do not harm any living thing.1. Do not harm any living thing.

2. Do not steal. Take only what is 2. Do not steal. Take only what is given.given.

3. Avoid over-stimulation.3. Avoid over-stimulation.

4. Do not say unkind things.4. Do not say unkind things.

5. Do not take alcohol or drugs.5. Do not take alcohol or drugs.


E.E. The Goal/ Purpose of BuddhismThe Goal/ Purpose of Buddhism

-The goal of Buddhism is to end all -The goal of Buddhism is to end all suffering, reach enlightenment, and suffering, reach enlightenment, and enter into nirvana. enter into nirvana.

III. EnlightenmentIII. Enlightenment

A.A. Reincarnation – the constant cycle Reincarnation – the constant cycle of the ‘soul’ through birth, life, and of the ‘soul’ through birth, life, and death. death.

-your next stage of reincarnation -your next stage of reincarnation depends on your actions in your depends on your actions in your previous life (Your Karma)previous life (Your Karma)


B. Karma – the B. Karma – the essence of yourselfessence of yourself

– – can be good or can be good or badbad

- this is what - this is what determines your determines your next stagenext stage

- ‘what goes around - ‘what goes around comes around’comes around’


C. Nirvana (‘extinguishing’)– a state of C. Nirvana (‘extinguishing’)– a state of mind, eternal bliss, which finally ends the mind, eternal bliss, which finally ends the cycle of reincarnationcycle of reincarnation


D.D. Meditation – focusing ones Meditation – focusing ones thoughts to thoughts to influence behavior and influence behavior and actionsactions

– – it is how one reaches it is how one reaches enlightenment.enlightenment.

-Once one is enlightened one -Once one is enlightened one can can

enter nirvana upon death.enter nirvana upon death.

Mandala – used to focus during Mandala – used to focus during meditationmeditation

Sand MandalaSand Mandala

• A man was in a small town for the A man was in a small town for the day, and needed a haircut. He day, and needed a haircut. He noticed that there were only two noticed that there were only two barbers in town, and decided to apply barbers in town, and decided to apply a bit of logical deduction to choosing a bit of logical deduction to choosing the best one. Looking at their shops, the best one. Looking at their shops, he saw that the first one was very he saw that the first one was very neat and the barber was clean neat and the barber was clean shaven with a nice haircut. The other shaven with a nice haircut. The other shop was a mess, and the barber shop was a mess, and the barber there needed a shave and had a bad there needed a shave and had a bad haircut besides. Why did the man haircut besides. Why did the man choose to go to the messy barber?choose to go to the messy barber?

• A farmer was going to town with a A farmer was going to town with a fox, a goose and a sack of corn. fox, a goose and a sack of corn. When he came to a stream, he had When he came to a stream, he had to cross in a tiny boat, and could only to cross in a tiny boat, and could only take across one thing at a time. take across one thing at a time. However, if he left the fox alone with However, if he left the fox alone with the goose, the fox would eat the the goose, the fox would eat the goose, and if he left the goose alone goose, and if he left the goose alone with the corn, the goose would eat with the corn, the goose would eat the corn. How does he get them all the corn. How does he get them all safely over the stream?safely over the stream?

• A man had twelve toothpicks in front A man had twelve toothpicks in front of him. He took one away. Now he of him. He took one away. Now he had nine in front of him. How is this had nine in front of him. How is this possible?possible?

• A man once kept a goose in a bottle. A man once kept a goose in a bottle. The goose grew larger until it could The goose grew larger until it could not escape. The man, not wishing to not escape. The man, not wishing to harm the goose, could not break the harm the goose, could not break the bottle. How would you remove the bottle. How would you remove the goose?goose?


E. Bodhisattva E. Bodhisattva 1. An 1. An enlightened being enlightened being who chooses to who chooses to forgo nirvana in forgo nirvana in order to help order to help others become others become enlightened.enlightened.

Bodhisattva of

Compassion

Avalokitesvara

Bodhisattva


D.D. BodhisattvasBodhisattvas

2. Bodhisattvas are seen as 2. Bodhisattvas are seen as reincarnations of different reincarnations of different aspects/characteristics of Buddha aspects/characteristics of Buddha (like compassion, wisdom, (like compassion, wisdom, patience…).patience…).

Reaching NirvanaReaching Nirvana1.1. Realm of DesireRealm of Desire

-innumerable hells, animals, humans, lesser -innumerable hells, animals, humans, lesser gods, a few paradisesgods, a few paradises

2.2. Realm of FormRealm of Form-no taste, touch or smell-no taste, touch or smell-use hearing, sight, and mental impressions-use hearing, sight, and mental impressions- 16-18 heavens- 16-18 heavens

3.3. Realm of Non-FormRealm of Non-Form-4 heavens-4 heavens-No sight, no hearing-No sight, no hearing

4. 4. Nirvana Nirvana

Buddhism vs. Christianity Buddhism vs. Christianity – The Prodigal Son– The Prodigal Son

• CharactersCharacters

• Meaning of the son’s departure from homeMeaning of the son’s departure from home

• The son’s miserable conditionThe son’s miserable condition

• The son’s decision to return homeThe son’s decision to return home

• Father’s attitude toward the son’s returnFather’s attitude toward the son’s return

• Who pays for the damage of the lost fortuneWho pays for the damage of the lost fortune

• The inheritanceThe inheritance

IV. Other Basic Buddhist IV. Other Basic Buddhist BeliefsBeliefs

• SalvationSalvation• AfterlifeAfterlife• CreationCreation• End timesEnd times• Gods Gods • TipitakaTipitaka• SymbolsSymbols• StupaStupa• MudraMudra

Tipitaka – Buddhist Tipitaka – Buddhist ScripturesScriptures

• Literally means “basket of law”Literally means “basket of law”

• Has three partsHas three parts

1. laws governing monks 1. laws governing monks

2. teachings of Buddha2. teachings of Buddha

3. commentary on Buddha’s 3. commentary on Buddha’s teachingsteachings

Buddhist ‘Salvation’Buddhist ‘Salvation’• ‘‘Salvation’ is up to the individual – Salvation’ is up to the individual –

you make your own karmayou make your own karma

Buddhist view of CreationBuddhist view of Creation

• There is no all powerful creator god. There is no all powerful creator god. The universe has always existed but The universe has always existed but it is not permanent. it is not permanent.

Buddhist view of the end Buddhist view of the end timestimes

• Usually seen as coinciding with the Usually seen as coinciding with the coming of the 25coming of the 25thth Buddha. But this world Buddha. But this world will only be reincarnated into a new world.will only be reincarnated into a new world.

StupaStupa

MudraMudra

Lotus FlowerLotus Flower

Bodhi TreeBodhi Tree

Wheel of LawWheel of Law

Buddhism

Education

Transcript of Buddhism