Exploring the Religions of Our WorldChapter 6 Buddhism

Chapter 6 BuddhismThe BasicsA purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened about that which is realFounder: Siddhartha Gautama The goal of Buddhism is attaining Nirvana (the extinction of suffering, impermanence, delusion, and all that keeps the life cycle going)Two main branches: Theravada Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism

Chapter 6 BuddhismPeriods of Hindu HistoryPage 234

Chapter 6 BuddhismHistory Facts about Siddhartha Gautama:born about 560 BCE and died about 483born into a Hindu warrior castewas married at 16 years old and fathered one sonat 19 he encountered four things his father had tried to shield from himreached enlightenment by taking up meditation on suffering and the cycle of rebirthconverted many countrymen by preaching that moksha could be attained by the Middle Way

Chapter 6 BuddhismHistory (continued)The Four Sights (what Gautamas father tried to shield from him): old age illness deathasceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a self-disciplined life)

Chapter 6 BuddhismHistory (continued)Who is the Dalai Lama?A bodhisattva (someone who compassionately refrains from entering nirvana in order to save others and is worshiped as a deity in Mahayana Buddhism)The head Tibetan Buddhist monastic leader The political leader of Tibet until the Chinese communist government forced them out of Tibet in 1959

Chapter 6 BuddhismSacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism:Tripitakathe three baskets(contains the wordsof the Buddha) Vinaya Pitaka the code of monastic discipline for monks and nunsSutra Pitaka discourses attributed to Gautama Abidharma Pitaka examines the Buddhas psychological and Buddhist doctrine

Chapter 6 BuddhismSacred Stories and Sacred Scriptures (continued) Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism:Tripitaka(Mahayanaversion) Lotus Sutrathe final teachings of the Buddhawhich makes Enlightenment available to everyonePerfection of Wisdoma treatise on how to achieve the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattva

Chapter 6 BuddhismBeliefs and PracticesThe Four Noble TruthsLife is filled with suffering: both physical and mental The cause of suffering is desire To cease suffering onemust cease desiringThe path to the end of suffering is the Noble Eightfold Path

Chapter 6 BuddhismBeliefs and Practices (continued)The Noble Eightfold PathRightUnderstandingRightThoughtRightSpeechRightConductRightLivelihoodRightEffortRightMindfulnessRightConcentration

Chapter 6 BuddhismSacred Time

Offerings toBuddhaMeditationPujaVisakhaBuddha Day Celebrating sanghaCelebratingthe Buddhistlifecycle

Chapter 6 BuddhismSacred Places and Sacred SpacesTemplesused for religious devotions and to enshrine images of buddhas Stupashold important relics of the Buddhaor other important figuresPagodaslarge stupas

Chapter 6 BuddhismSacred Places and Sacred Spaces (continued) Places of Pilgrimage:Lumbini Gardens traditional site of the birth of Siddhartha Gautama near NepalBodh Gaya the place Gautama became enlightened Sarnath where Gautama preached his first sermon about the Four Noble TruthsKushinara traditional place of the death of Gautama

Chapter 6 BuddhismBuddhism through a Catholic Lens

SimilaritiesEmphasis on peace and compassionLong monastic traditionThe practice of meditationSome parallels between the life of Jesus and Buddha

Chapter 6 BuddhismBuddhism through a Catholic Lens DifferencesJesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did notJesus message was about the Kingdom of God, Siddharthas was about the cessation of sufferingThe understanding of the meaning and purpose of suffering

Chapter 6 BuddhismNirvanaasceticMiddle WaysangharelicsDharmabodhisattvalamasTripitakaThe Lotus of the True LawPerfection of Wisdomtantricmandalamantraanatmasamsaraarhatpujastupapagodas

Vocabulary