Download File - Year 11-12 Studies of Religion 2Unit 2013-4

Temple Excursion - 29th May 2007
Vesak
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Celebration of three events in the life of Buddha
o Birth of Buddha
o Enlightenment – through effort and enlightenment became Buddha
o Entering Nirvana
Occurs on the 1st full moon day in the fourth month of the solar year/calendar
2007 – 1st June
Vesak – menas 4th month in Chinses/solar calendar
Significant for Buddhists & is now recognized as a religious day throughout the world for all
Buddhists.
2007 – centralized celebrations for all Buddhists were conducted in Thailand, representatives from all
Buddhist countries were present for this international celebration of Vesak
Also used internationally to support the movement for peace in the world. E.g Vesak celebrations, 31st May 2007 – Sydney Town Hall,
advocated by the UN
Vesak – celebrates the life of Buddha
Each significant event in the life of the Buddha happened in the 4th Month on the 1st full moon.
Celebration involves:
o Reciting the name of Buddha
 Chanting
 Praise of Buddha
 Refocusing on Buddha & his teachings in order to re-a-line one’s life to with the
teachings of Buddha, follow the eight-fold path and abide by the 5 precepts. In doing so
working towards achieving enlightenment and achieving Buddha-hood
 Acknowledging Buddha enabling everybody, through effort can to achieve Buddhahood, like Buddha himself.
 Acknowledging the life and efforts of the Buddha (see below)
o Renew Vows
 To follow the 5 precepts
 Acknowledge the beginning of the new Buddhist year, new beginning to recommit
towards following the teachings of Buddha
o Cultural Activities
 Adapted by Buddhist as moved into new countries
 Celebrate the New Buddhist year
 Celebrate the life of Buddha
 Share meals/food
o Time for refocusing efforts
Roots of his teachings, grow out of the teachings & philosophies
o Loving kindness
o Compassion
o Respect for life
Vesak – renew vows to Buddhism, to follow Buddha’s teachings & refocus on 5 precepts, to respect
life, fill life with loving kindness & live a life showing compassion for others.
5 precepts – protection of life – respect for humans & all living beings
The Five Precepts
- not to destroy life (respect & dignity for life)
- not to steal (restraint over material things)
- not to engage in sexual immorality (restraint over sexual desires)
- not to tell untruths (positive communication, build up others & own karma)
- not to drink alcohol (constraint from harmful stimulants)
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Practical way of living out the essence of the Three Jewels
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Point the direction of life
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Buddha’s life is celebrated during Vesak and the life of others. This reinforces the need to follow the 5
precepts and protect life, do nothing that contradicts the 5 precepts.
Significance
o If Buddha wasn’t born/enlightened/entered nirvana – then wouldn’t have the Buddha or
Buddhism
o There was no Buddhism before the enlightenment of Buddha
o Celebration of a universal/international religion
o Common celebration of the events in Buddha’s life as one throughout the world.
The Life of the Buddha
Acknowledging the life and efforts of the Buddha
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Buddha gave all Buddhist Three Jewels - each is celebrated during Vesak
Buddha – ideal of Buddha-hood that is open to all
Dhamma – totality of Buddha’s teachings (The four Noble Truths) (doctrine)
Sangha – all Buddhists in the world and those past & present (broadest understanding), society of monks
o Buddha – his life & buddha-hood celebrated
o Dhamma – The Teachings of the Buddha are made more centralized in the life of each
Buddhist by taking part in the Vesak celebrations
o Sangha – the practice of Buddha & centre of celebrations for Vesak. Renewal of vows to
follow the Buddha, his teachings, practices, including the 5 precepts. Sangha also reinforces
the practices of Buddhists to achieve enlightenment – meditation/prayer/etc.
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Taking refugee in the Three Jewels of Buddha, dhamma & Sangha
Reaffirms person’s commitment to the Buddhist path
Buddhist know how to take refugee (even if do not know other forms of prayer)
Refugee performed with few offerings, bodily prostration (lying prone or stretched out
with the face downwards, for example in worship or submission)
Flowers placed in front of the Buddha, bathed in special water when blooming,
symbolic of Buddha’s attainment of enlightenment.
Oil lamps, bring symbolism of the removal of ignorance, set on altar, flame symbolizes
Buddha’s capacity as dispeller (rid somebody’s mind of a particular thought or idea) of
light.
Designed to acquire good karma (merit) & prevent evil influences entering the home
Natural & appropriate expression of genuine human feeling.
Outward acts of inner affirmation & recollection
Devotional texts are recited as meditations (not prayers)
Ritual devotion with an inspiring visualization of the Buddha & with contemplations of
his noble qualities
Joy produces calm, calm leads to ease, ease increases concentration, true concentration
is basis of liberating insight
Buddha is the enlightened person
o Buddhists seek to find the truth
The Noble Truths
1) Life is Dukka – life is full of pain, suffering & unhappiness. Realistic view; resigning to the
fact.
2) Life is Tanha – life is full of seeking for pleasure. People strive for happiness in flesh, in
material things, in things they are not.
3) To Overcome Dukkha, One Must Overcome Tanha – One cannot find pure pleasure in a world
of pain. Overcome craving for pleasure, then overcome real cause of suffering. In resignation,
one will find peace.
4) One Will Overcome Tanha by Following the Eightfold Path – practical way an individual can
overcome causes of personal suffering & unhappiness.
o Buddhists seek to emulate Buddha in their lives, through their actions & thoughts – by
following the eightfold path
The Eight Fold Path
Wisdom
 Right Views/Understanding – thinking good & positive things
 Right Resolve/Thought – intending always good & positive
Conduct
 Right Speech – speaking only good & positive
 Right Conduct/Action – acting always in a good & positive way
 Right Livelihood – working always at what is good & positive
Meditation
 Right Efforts – energies always directed at what is good & positive
 Right Mindfulness – set one’s mind towards good & positive
 Right Concentration – contemplating only good & positive
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Sequential set of stepping-stones to attaining Nirvana
Right thoughts, intentions, etc will direct towards what is right & thus a life where one’s mind
& total concentration is directed to what is right
Buddhist’s ways of achieving total self-control
Path towards self-annihilation
Object of selfishness & self-seeking pleasure is put away
At the end there is no obstacle to complete happiness & perfect peace
o Buddhist seek to find meaning in their life
 Dhamma is about the universal truth or insight that life is full of suffering caused by
self-seeking
The Marks of Existence
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Three marks of existence: Anicca, Dukkha & Anatta (related)
Anicca – impermanence – nothing in life stays the same, things will change, one cannot
rely on the world in which we live to find final security & peace
Dukkha – painful – inadequacy/incompleteness about the world. Struggle with selfishness,
when let go of the selfish urge can over come this pain
Anatta – letting go – individual overcomes the selfish, ego driven urge for permanence.
Sees impermanence extends oneself. Nothing to gain in being selfish as there is no self.
Accepting impermanence in this ways, pain of incompleteness is accepted, one can find
peace.
Anicca, Dukkha & Anatta capture the true Heart of Buddhist awakening.