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The fourth largest religion in the world
Over 370 million believers (6% of global population)
Found in 129 countries in the world
Founded by the Buddha, which means "the awakened
one", or "the one who knows"
563BC:
– Birth of the Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama) in
Lumbini, Nepal, near the present border of
Northern India
– His life can be separated into three sections:
1. The early years as a prince,
2. His search for the truth
3. The years spreading his teaching
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• Siddhartha born the prince of a small feudal
kingdom of the Sakya clan, son of a high caste Hindu
• His mother died seven days after his birth; raised by
his aunt, the King’s second wife
• Holy men announced he would become either a
great political leader or a great religious leader
• The king wanted his son to succeed him; provided a
life of luxury without any hardships:
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Siddhartha wore clothes made of silk
Grew up in palaces and gardens
Musicians and dancers were there to amuse him
Shielded from contact with ugliness, sickness, old age and
death
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• In his early twenties, Siddhartha became discontent
and left the palace walls for the first time
• Siddhartha saw:
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An old man: discovered old age
A sick man: discovered disease
A corpse: discovered death
An ascetic monk: discovered poverty and inner tranquillity
• The night of his 29th birthday, Siddhartha renounced
regal living, left his sleeping wife and son, and set out
with a servant:
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Cut off his long black hair
Exchanged his fine clothes for simple cloth
Sent back his servant and horse
Sought to discover the origin of suffering and how to
overcome it
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• Siddhartha learned of deep meditation and followed
yogic practices
• For six years, starved and punished his body, living
the most austere life imaginable
• At the point of near death, he saw a three stringed
instrument and realised:
– If the string is too loose, no sound is produced
– Too tight and it breaks
– Tuned just right it produces a pleasant sound
• Sat beneath a Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya to meditate
• After a very long time, complete enlightenment
came to him; he understood his true nature and that
of all living beings
• Reached the end of his spiritual journey and became
the Buddha
• Siddhartha discovered:
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– The Four Noble Truths:
1. Dukkha: The Noble Truth of Suffering
• Life is full of suffering, sickness and unhappiness. Although there
are passing pleasures, they vanish in time.
2. Samudaya: The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering
• The cause of suffering is desire and craving
3. Nirodha: The Noble Truth of the End of Suffering
• It is possible to end suffering if one is aware of one’s own desires
and puts an end to them. This awareness will open the door to
the lasting peace of Nirvana.
4. Magga: The Noble Truth of the Path
• By changing one’s thinking and behaviour, a new awakening can
be reached. This is called the Middle Way which constitutes the
Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment.
– The Noble Eightfold Path to Enlightenment
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1. Right Views: thinking good and positive things, especially
about the Four Noble Truths
2. Right Resolve: intending only what is good and positive,
especially being resolved towards achieving enlightenment
3. Right Speech: speaking only of the good and positive,
avoiding falsity and obscene language
4. Right Conduct: acting only in a good and positive way,
especially avoiding killing, stealing, illicit sexual acts and the
consumption of alcohol
5. Right Livelihood: working only at what is good and
positive, avoiding any career which is demeaning to self
and others, such as slave dealing, prostitution, trading in
weapons, etc.
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6. Right Efforts: one’s energies being directed only at what
is good and positive, especially curbing dangerous desires
7. Right Mindfulness: setting one’s mind towards the good
and positive, especially mindful of what it takes to be
virtuous
8. Right Concentration: contemplating only the good and
positive, in particular meditating in the way the Buddha
recommended in order to obtain enlightenment
– The Five Precepts to Abide by the Noble Path:
1. Do not harm any living thing.
2. Do not steal. Take only what is given.
3. Avoid over-stimulation.
4. Do not say unkind things; avoid falsehoods.
5. Do not take alcohol or drugs.
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Monastic Buddhists live by the Vinaya (Ten Precepts):
6. Not to eat after noon each day
7. Not to dance, sing or go to the theatre
8. Not to adorn oneself with extravagant clothes, ornaments or perfume
9. Not to sleep on comfortable beds
10. Not to have money
An even more explicit code for monastic Buddhists is the Patimokha,
which has 227 rules that cover every conceivable aspect of morality.
The Three Jewels (Triratna) of Buddhism
The Buddhist convert says:
“I take refuge in the Buddha.
I take refuge in the Dharma (doctrine).
I take refuge in the Sangha (society of monks).”
The Three Marks of Existence:
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1. Anicca (impermanence):
– Nothing in life stays the same
– Final security and peace not found in worldly pleasures
2. Dukkha (inadequacy):
– There is a permanent incompleteness about the world
– Life is painful when we strive for worldly completeness
– Pain ends when we let go of selfish urges to cling to the worldly
3. Anatta (letting go):
– Overcoming selfish, ego driven urge for permanence
– One does not truly exist: selfishness pointless as there is no self
– Peace found in being non-self
Together, Anicca, Dukkha and Anatta capture the true heart of
Buddhist awakening.
Sacred Texts and Writings:
1. Tripitaka
– Sutra: the sayings of the Buddha (sermons, stories, parables)
– Vinaya: the rules for the sangha
– Abidhamma: scholarly elaboration of Buddhist doctrine
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2. Lotus of the Good Law
– Buddhism equated to the lotus flower:
• Inherently beautiful
• Can take many forms and thrive in different exotic places
3. Tibetan Book of the Dead
– For the living
– About the feelings and experiences common to the end of life
– Descriptive of reincarnation experience
– Dying to self and being re-born as non-self
– An obscure text intended for the monastic person in an advanced state
of mysticism
Theravada Buddhism
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‘The doctrine of the elders’
Southern Asia: Burma, Thailand, Laos, Sri Lanka, Cambodia
Individuals responsible for their own salvation
No god or image can bring enlightenment
The chain of samsara only broken through following the
Buddha’s example and teachings
• No priests but monks teach other Buddhists
• Monastic living: study the words and deeds of Buddha, striving
to live pure lives
Mahayana Buddhism
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Most common branch; ‘the great vehicle’
Northern Asia: Tibet, Nepal, China, Korea and Japan
Tibetan Buddhism and Zen Buddhism stem from Mahayana
Monasteries, temples and gods established as faith spread
Spiritual growth nurtured through the help of others, especially
bodhisattvas, those who have achieved enlightenment but
vowed to remain on an earthly plane to save others; they will
not enter into a state of Nirvana until others can enter with
them
• All sentient beings part of a network, not isolated individuals
• The spirit of Buddha is universal and timeless, discovered by
Siddhartha but accessible to all; arrival of Maitreya awaited, the
Buddha of the coming age