a voyage of discovery buddhism buddhism. the basics a purpose of buddhism is to be enlightened about...
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The BasicsThe Basics
• A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened about that which is real
• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama • All humans are prone to suffering, born in a
state of disease• 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
• A purpose of Buddhism is to be enlightened about that which is real
• Founder: Siddhartha Gautama • All humans are prone to suffering, born in a
state of disease• 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
Siddhartha Gautama:Siddhartha Gautama:
• born about 560 BCE and died about 483 BCE• born into a Hindu warrior caste, prince• was married at 16 years old and fathered one son• at 19 he encountered four things his father had
tried to shield from him• The Great Going Forth, 29 years old• reached enlightenment by taking up meditation
on suffering and the cycle of rebirth• converted many countrymen by preaching that
moksha could be attained by the Middle Way
• born about 560 BCE and died about 483 BCE• born into a Hindu warrior caste, prince• was married at 16 years old and fathered one son• at 19 he encountered four things his father had
tried to shield from him• The Great Going Forth, 29 years old• reached enlightenment by taking up meditation
on suffering and the cycle of rebirth• converted many countrymen by preaching that
moksha could be attained by the Middle Way
The Four Passing SightsThe Four Passing Sights
The Four Sights (what Gautama’s father tried to shield from him):
• old age • illness • death• asceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a
self-disciplined life)
The Four Sights (what Gautama’s father tried to shield from him):
• old age • illness • death• asceticism (renouncing material comforts to live a
self-disciplined life)
The Middle way
A healthy spiritual life depends on a healthy physical life.• Rejects indulgences• Rejects extreme asceticism
“A violin string that is pulled to tight snaps when strummed, one that is to loose does not make a sound; It must be strung just right to make the right music”
Gautama Reaches Enlightenment
Encounters with “Mara” the god of death who sends his daughters to tempt him with fear and passion• Discontent• Delight• Desire
Gautama touches the ground, “grounds himself”. He overcomes the distractions of Mara and enters a meditative trance which brings him deep into himself• His own previous lives• The lives of others• The Four Noble Truths
Focal Elements of Buddhism
The Three Jewels:• Buddha
Acknowledge the authority of the Buddha• Sangha
Acknowledge the authority of the monastic community of monks and nuns
• Dharma Acknowledge the authority of the teachings
of Buddha on living a moral life
Comparison to Hinduism Shared cosmology
• universe is cyclical samsura moksha/nirvana Rejects the institutional aspect of Hinduism Accepts deities but holds that only the human
mind can win salvation Teachings available to everyone No “atman”
• Samsura: In Hinduism the transference of the atman, in Buddhism the transference of energy, one’s Karma
• Three Marks of Existence Anatta Anicca Dukkha
Three Marks of Existence
Anatta: There is no permanent self. There is no essence, we are constantly changing
Anicca: All existent things are constantly changing, there is an ongoing flow
Dukkha: Suffering is part of the human condition, a natural result of anatta and anicca.
Karma
As in Hinduism, is the moral law of cause and effect.
In Hinduism Karma affects the rebirth of the atman
In Buddhism Karma itself is transferred. At conception a person already has a particular status of Karma
Because of the importance of morality, Buddhism has Five Precepts
Five PreceptsFor All
Do not take life Do not take what has
not been given Do not engage in
sensuous misconduct Do not drink
intoxicants
For Monks & Nuns
Do not eat after noon Do not watch dancing
or shows Do not use garlands or
perfumes Do not use a soft or
high bed Do not accept gold or
silverIntention is important to immoral
action
The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths
Life is filled with suffering: both physical
and mental
Life is filled with suffering: both physical
and mental
The cause of suffering is desire
or attachment
The cause of suffering is desire
or attachment
To cease suffering onemust cease desiring
To cease suffering onemust cease desiring
The path to the end of suffering is the
Noble Eightfold Path
The path to the end of suffering is the
Noble Eightfold Path
RightViews
Rightintentions
RightSpeech
RightConduct
RightLivelihood
RightEffort
RightMindfulness
RightMeditation
The Eight Fold Path
Reaching Enlightenment
Following the eightfold path to its end is to reach Nirvana, the extinction of desire, suffering• Still living –arhat
Let go of individual existence No longer attached to affairs of the world Compassionate toward all living things
• Final nirvana comes with death of the body
Nirvana means “blowing out”
Divisions of Buddhism Three Rafts for Crossing the River
• Theravada Buddhism
• Mahayana Buddhism:
• Vajrayana Buddhism:
Theravada Buddhism
• Prevalent in Southeast Asia• Orthodox, follows early texts of Buddhism• Teachings are important, more than the
person• Emphasizes monastic life, hierarchy
Monks Nuns Laity
Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism:Scriptures of Theravada Buddhism:
Tripitaka“the three baskets”
(contains the wordsof the Buddha)
Tripitaka“the three baskets”
(contains the wordsof the Buddha)
Vinaya Pitaka – the code of monastic discipline for monks and nuns
Sutra Pitaka – discourses attributed to Gautama
Abidharma Pitaka – examines the Buddha’s psychological and Buddhist doctrine
Vinaya Pitaka – the code of monastic discipline for monks and nuns
Sutra Pitaka – discourses attributed to Gautama
Abidharma Pitaka – examines the Buddha’s psychological and Buddhist doctrine
Mahayana Buddhism:
• Largest division of Buddhism• Focus on Buddha himself, divine savior• Salvation comes from the grace of Buddha• Bodhisattvas- buddhas in the making
Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism:Scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism:
Tripitaka(Mahayanaversion)
Tripitaka(Mahayanaversion)
Lotus Sutrathe final teachings of the Buddha
which makes Enlightenment available to everyone
Lotus Sutrathe final teachings of the Buddha
which makes Enlightenment available to everyone
Perfection of Wisdoma treatise on how to achieve
the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattva
Perfection of Wisdoma treatise on how to achieve
the perfection of wisdom of a bodhisattva
Vajrayana BuddhismPredominately in Tibet, often called Tibetan
BuddhismAdherents can achieve nirvana nowHarness sensual energies to fight desire
Mandalas- sightMudras- movementMantras- soundTantricism- sex
Hierarchy of clergy, lamas, Dalai Lama
Dalai LamaDalai Lama
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
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
MaterialMaterial
Templesused for religious
devotions and to enshrine images of buddhas
Templesused for religious
devotions and to enshrine images of buddhas
Stupashold important relics of the Buddha
or other important figures
Stupashold important relics of the Buddha
or other important figures
Pagodaslarge stupas
Pagodaslarge stupas
ScripturesScriptures
Buddhism through a Catholic Lens Buddhism through a Catholic Lens
Similarities• Emphasis on peace and compassion• Long monastic tradition• The practice of meditation• Some parallels between the life of Jesus and
Buddha
Similarities• Emphasis on peace and compassion• Long monastic tradition• The practice of meditation• Some parallels between the life of Jesus and
Buddha
Buddhism through a Catholic Lens Buddhism through a Catholic Lens
Differences• Jesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did not• Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of
God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of suffering
• The understanding of the meaning and purpose of suffering
Differences• Jesus claimed to be divine, Buddha did not• Jesus’ message was about the Kingdom of
God, Siddhartha’s was about the cessation of suffering
• The understanding of the meaning and purpose of suffering