Hmmm….

• What is it that you want above everything else?

• What do you truly desire in your life?

• Is it absolutely essential for you to have this?

• What happens if you don’t get it?

Religions of South Asia

Religions of South Asia

Indian Subcontinent

The essence of Buddhism

The essence of Buddhism

The “middle way of The “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”wisdom and compassion.”

2,500 year old tradition.2,500 year old tradition. The 3 jewels of Buddhism:The 3 jewels of Buddhism:

BuddhaBuddha, the teacher., the teacher. DharmaDharma, the teachings., the teachings. SamghaSamgha, the community , the community

of monksof monks..

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Siddhartha Gautama (563-483 BCE)

Born in NE India Born in NE India (Nepal).(Nepal).

Raised in great luxuryRaised in great luxuryto be a king.to be a king.

At 29 he rejectedAt 29 he rejectedhis luxurious life tohis luxurious life toseek enlightenmentseek enlightenmentand the source ofand the source ofsuffering. Why?suffering. Why?

Lived a strict,Lived a strict,ascetic life for 6 yrs.ascetic life for 6 yrs.

Rejecting this extreme, sat in Rejecting this extreme, sat in meditation, and found meditation, and found nirvananirvana..

Became Became “The Enlightened One,”“The Enlightened One,” at at 35.35.

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

What is the fundamental cause

of all suffering?

Desire!Desire! Therefore, extinguish the self, Therefore, extinguish the self,

don’t obsess about oneself.don’t obsess about oneself.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths1.1. There is suffering in There is suffering in

the world. To live is to the world. To live is to suffer.suffer. ( (DukkhaDukkha) )

The Buddha found The Buddha found this out when he was this out when he was young and young and experienced suffering experienced suffering and death in others.and death in others.

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

2.2. The cause of The cause of suffering is self-suffering is self-centered desire and centered desire and attachments.attachments. ((TanhaTanha))

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths

3.3. The solution is to The solution is to eliminate desire eliminate desire and attachments. and attachments. ((Nirvana = Nirvana = “extinction”“extinction”))

Reminiscent of ….

The Jedi The Jedi Warriors Warriors of Star of Star WarsWars

Jedi-Buddhism Analogy• Supposed to remain calm• Never give way to extreme emotions• Practice self-denial including never getting

married• Desire leads to Attachment• Attachment to Jealousy and Fear• Fear leads to Hate• Hate leads to the Dark Side of the Force• Jedi instead dedicated themselves to

meditation and training which they were supposed to use for selfless dedication to others.

Anakin SkywalkerLived by his passions despite his Master Obi-Won Kenobi’s teachings.

Fell in love, secretly married, and was misled by the Dark Side to using his emotions to make him more powerful

Ultimately, Anakin gives way completely to the Dark Side and becomes…

Four Noble Truths

Four Noble Truths4.4. To reach To reach nirvananirvana, one , one

must follow the must follow the Eightfold Path. Eightfold Path.

Eightfold PathEightfold Path

NirvanaNirvana The union with the The union with the ultimate ultimate spiritual reality. spiritual reality.

Escape from the cycle of Escape from the cycle of

rebirth. rebirth.

Meditation

• Part of Eightfold Path (Right Concentration)

• Use it to reach Nirvana (which means to extinguish or blow out – like blowing out a flame)

• Realization that a person is not a self but combination of materials that is part of the universe (universalization)

• All selfish desire is extinguished.

Buddhist Art and Buddhist Art and ArchitectureArchitecture

Buddha in Art

• Early images depict him as a robed monk.

• Curl of hair between eyebrows shown as a dot.

• Cranial bump (enlarged spot on top of head covered with hair)

• Large earlobes from earrings when he was Prince Siddhartha

• Sometimes, wheel (Eightfold Path) imprinted on palms and soles of feet.

Mudras – Symbolic hand gestures

• Meditation mudra– hands overlapping, palms facing upward

• Earth touching mudra – calling on the Earth to bear witness to his enlightenment

• Wheel of Law or Teaching mudra – right thumb and index finger touching

• Fear Not mudra – right hand up, palm out as gesture of protection

Scenes from Buddha’s Life

• His birth at Lumbini from the side of his mother Queen Maya

• Achieving buddhahood while meditating under a boddhi tree in Bodh Gaya, India.

• Buddha’s first sermon at Sarnath

• His attainment of nirvana

Buddha’s

head :

2c Pakist

an

Buddha’s

head :

2c Pakist

an

Standing Buddha Offering Protection

• Red sandstone image• Made in late 5th century• The serene expression

and contemplative gaze show the Buddha’s spirituality

• Embodies the qualities of inner calm and stillness, the products of supreme wisdom

• Strong youthful body with active stance represent his strength as a universal ruler

• The raised right hand is in the abhayamudra gesture, which dispenses fear and provides followers of the religion with reassurance

• Skull protuberance depicts enlightened wisdom

• Halo behind head emphasizes the religiosity of Buddha

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Buddha – 19c Thailand

Sanchi StupaBuddhist art in India

Great Stupa at Sanchi

• The Great Stupa of Sanchi is located in Sanchi, India.• Stupas are Buddhist monuments in

India, and are generally domes that cover relics of Buddha and his followers.

• The Great Stupa of Sanchi is the oldest and largest Stupa, and also one of the best preserved. It is a pilgrimage site.

• The Stupa is decorated on the outside with four gates, each adorned with elaborate symbols and scenes from the life of Buddha.

• The Southern Gate has images from Buddha’s birth.

• The Eastern Gate shows Buddha’s Journey to Nirvana.

• The Northern Gate show’s scenes from Buddha’s life with multiple incarnations.

• The Western Gate Shows Buddha undergoing temptation.

S N

E W

Diagram of a Stupa

Stupas• Buddha was cremated; his ashes

were separated into 8 reliquaries. • The Indian king Ashoka, built 8

stupas throughout his kingdom to bury the reliquaries.

• A stupa is NOT a tomb; it is a reliquary mound. People cannot enter the mound.

• People perform clockwise circumambulation around the mound to achieve harmony with the cosmos.

Stupas continued

• A stupa is a three-dimensional mandala or diagram of the universe.

• It is aligned according to the cardinal points with toranas (gateways) at N, S, E, and W sides.

• The harmika is the stone fence separating the realm of the gods.

• The yasti is the pole the represents the axis of the universe connecting the world with the dimension of the gods.

• Stone fence encloses entire structure to separate this holy area from the world.

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Mandala: Wheel of Life Motif

Buddhist AltarBuddhist Altar

Types of BuddhismTypes of

Buddhism Therevada BuddhismTherevada Buddhism

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism

Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism

Zen BuddhismZen Buddhism

Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism The oldest school of Buddhism.The oldest school of Buddhism.

Found in southern Asia.Found in southern Asia. The monastic life is the best way The monastic life is the best way

to achieve to achieve nirvananirvana.. Focus on wisdom and Focus on wisdom and

meditation.meditation. Goal is to become a Goal is to become a “Buddha“Buddha,” ,”

or or “Enlightened One.”“Enlightened One.” Over 100,000,000 followers Over 100,000,000 followers

today.today.

Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism The “Great Vehicle.”The “Great Vehicle.”

Founded in northern Asia Founded in northern Asia (China, Japan).(China, Japan).

Buddhism “for the masses.”Buddhism “for the masses.” Seek guidance from Seek guidance from

BoddhisatvasBoddhisatvas, wise beings, wise beings GoalGoal: Not just individual : Not just individual

escape from the wheel, but escape from the wheel, but the buddhahood of all the buddhahood of all humanity.humanity.

Mahayana vs. Theravada Buddhism

• Mahayana Buddhists would regard Theravadan Buddhism as too narrow in focus as it is about individuals seeking enlightenment all for themselves (private buddhas).

• Mahayana Buddhists believe that unlimited compassion must be practiced to all beings

• Bodhisattvas are enlightenment beings who help with this; unlimited in number; they exist in this world but without attachments.

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism

Seated Boddhisatva – 16c

Bhutan

Seated Boddhisatva – 16c

Bhutan

boddhisatvaboddhisatva

Tibetan BuddhismTibetan

BuddhismThe “Diamond Vehicle.” The “Diamond Vehicle.” [[VajrayanaVajrayana]]

Developed in Tibet in the Developed in Tibet in the 7c CE.7c CE.

A mix of Theravada and A mix of Theravada and Mahayana.Mahayana.

BoddhisatvasBoddhisatvas include include Lamas, like the Lamas, like the Dalai LamaDalai Lama..

The The Tibetan Book Tibetan Book of the Deadof the Dead[[Bardo ThodolBardo Thodol].].

The Dala

iLam

a

The Dala

iLam

a

Zen BuddhismZen BuddhismThe “Meditation School.”The “Meditation School.”Pure Land Buddhism Pure Land Buddhism

(Amitabha)(Amitabha)Seeks sudden enlightenment Seeks sudden enlightenment

[[satorisatori] through meditation, ] through meditation, arriving at emptiness arriving at emptiness [[sunyatasunyata].].

Use of meditation masters Use of meditation masters [[RoshiRoshi].].

Amitabha Buddha• Pure Land or Zen

Buddhists say prayers and meditate in the hope that when they die Amitabha Buddha will transport them to the Pure Land of Infinite Light and Life where Nirvana is assured.

• Why do you think Buddhism evolved in East Asia (Mahayana, Zen or Pure Land Buddhism) differently than South Asia (Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos)?

• Think of traditional religious beliefs of East Asians (Mulan and ancestors, Japan and Shinto)

Buddhism in America (1999)

Buddhism in America (1999)

Distribution of Buddhism Centers

in the US, 2001

Distribution of Buddhism Centers

in the US, 2001

Relieve Stress & Meditate:

Get a Mantra !

Relieve Stress & Meditate:

Get a Mantra !

Om...mani...padme...hum...Om...mani...padme...hum...

Hail to the jewel in the lotus!Hail to the jewel in the lotus!

10th Annual western buddhist monastic

conference

10th Annual western buddhist monastic

conference

California, 2004California, 2004