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Buddhism
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Siddartha Gautama
Prince, lived a protected life
Himalayan foothills, what is today Nepal
“Vesak” day – celebrates Buddha’s birth
Around 560 BC (Israel during the Babylonian exile)
Buddha means “awakened one” or “enlightened one”
Went on an outing one day, saw old man, sick man, corpse
and an ascetic (monk)
Left his life of comfort and started meditating
Bodhi tree
Tempted by Mara (demon) with visions of beautiful women
Achieved enlightenment
6%
56%
38%
Shwemawdaw Paya in Bago, the tallest pagoda in Burma
Samye Monastery, Tibet
Richard Gere (Tibetan Buddhist)
George Lucas
http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,232499,00.html
Steve Jobs (Zen Buddhist)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andrew-lam/buddhism-in-america-bill-clinton-meditation_b_1813179.html
http://rcms2010.org/maps2010.php
New Jersey Buddhist Vihara and Meditation Center
Fanwood Meditation Center (Dhammakaya Interntional Meditation Center) is a non-profit
organization, whose primary purpose is to teach meditation. It is our belief that if we can have
inner peace, then we can have world peace.
What did the Buddha Teach?
The Buddha taught many things, but the basic
concepts in Buddhism can be summed up by
the Four Noble Truths and the Noble Eightfold
Path.
Teachings: The Buddha taught that four basic principles
were necessary to be understood and accepted by
anyone wishing to end dissatisfaction and suffering.
Four Noble Truths
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The Truth of Suffering
The Truth of the Cause of Suffering
The Truth of the End of Suffering
The Truth of the Path to Liberation from Suffering
Ref.: http://www.defenseofreason.com/an-intro-to-buddhism/
Noble Eightfold Path
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Right view
Right intentions
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right meditation
The Five Precepts (the ethical code of
Buddhism)
1. Refrain from destroying life.
2. Refrain from taking what is not given.
3. Refrain from overindulgence of
sensual pleasures.
4. Refrain from untrue speech.
5. Refrain from what causes intoxication.
The Three Poisons
There are considered to be three main causes of
suffering, called the Three Poisons:
• Delusion (Ignorance, Misperception)
• Attachment (Greed, Craving)
• Aversion (Anger, Hate)
Karma, literally means “action” or
“doing” – whatever we do has a result
“A man reaps what he sows” Gal. 6:7
Rebirth/Reincarnation
Nirvana, literally means “blowing out” or
“extinguishing” – ends the cycle of
rebirth
How is the Noble Eightfold Path different from the
Christian’s view of salvation and sanctification?
Rom. 2:13 “For it is not those who hear the law who are
righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the
law who will be declared righteous.”
Rom 3:20 “Therefore no one will be declared righteous
in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through
the law we become conscious of our sin.”
Rom. 3:21-22 “But now apart from the law the
righteousness of God has been made known, to which
the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is
given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.”
Bottom line – We cannot save ourselves.
How does Buddhism address sin?
The teachings of historical Gautama became
overlaid with increasing levels of divine beings,
rituals, and speculations.
2 Pet. 1:16 “For we did not follow cleverly
devised stories when we told you about the
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power,
but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty”.”
“But in your hearts set apart Christ as
Lord. Always be prepared to give an
answer to everyone who asks you to
give the reason for the hope that you
have. But do this with gentleness and
respect”.”
1 Peter 3:15