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Buddhism
Buddhism
 Introduction
 History
 Tenants
Introduction
 Buddhism is regarded as a religion, but more a
collection of various philosophies. Buddhism
makes no reference to God at all.
 Although it originated in India about 2,500
years ago, it has moved into many other places
in the world including China, Japan, Vietnam
and many others
 Presently, many estimate the number of
Buddhist followers is between 250 and 500
million.
History
 Buddhism originated near
the Indian-Nepalese border
between 400-600 BC
 Siddhartha Guatama, son of
a king, was to be sheltered
from the world around him
and the unpleasant reality of
everyday life.
 However, despite his fathers
efforts, at the age of 29, he
discovered the suffering of
his people.
History (continued)
 His encounter with the “real world”
became known as “The Four Sights” (the
suffering of an elderly man, a diseased
man, a decaying corpse, and an ascetic)
 Gautama fled his palace, left his family
and began his spiritual quest.
 On his journey he discovered what is
known as “The Middle Way”
History (Continued)
 “The Middle Way” is a path of moderation, away from
the extremes of self-indulgence and self-mortification.
 After 49 days of meditation he achieved “bodhi” or
“enlightenment”
 Bodhi carries the same meaning as Nirvana, an
understanding of the true nature of reality. It also
requires a distinction of greed, hate, and delusion.
 Nirvana is the unchanging state that is reached by
enlightened beings, the ultimate state of pure being.
 Nirvana is attained by development of morality,
meditation, and wisdom.
 Once Buddha, the enlightened one, attained this, he
spent the rest of his life teaching his insights as a
Dharma.
 Life of Buddha
Tenants
 Understanding “The Four Noble Truths”
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There is suffering
There is a cause of suffering—craving/desire
There is an end (stop) to suffering
There is a way leading to the cessation of
suffering—the Noble Eightfold Path
Understanding these gives you wisdom
The Noble Eightfold Path
 Right Speech—not hurtful, truthful
 Right Actions—wholesome actions
 Right Livelihood—does not harm self or others directly
or indirectly
 Right effort/exercise—effort to improve
 Right mindfulness/awareness—see things for what
they are
 Right concentration/meditation—being aware of
present reality within self, without craving
 Right understanding
 Right thoughts
 The goal of Buddhism –
end suffering, achieve
nirvana, and escape what
is seen as a cycle of
suffering and rebirth.
 Two major branches of
Buddhism are recognized:
 Theravada (The School of
the Elders)
 Achieve nothingness
 Mahayana (The Great
Vehicle)
 Achieve nirvana or reuniting
with the Brahmin
 Both believe in Karma and
rebirth
Sila (Moral Cultivation)
 There are certain rules Buddhists follow to
have morality, ethics, and virtue
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Refrain from taking life
Refrain from taken what is not given
Refrain from sensual misconduct
Refrain from lying
Refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of
mindfulness
 Refrain from eating at the wrong time (only eat from
sunrise to noon)
 Refrain from dancing, using jewelry, going to shows
Major Celebrations
 Wesak
 The most important of the Buddhist festivals and is
celebrated on the full moon in May. It celebrates the
Buddha's birthday, and, for some Buddhists, also
marks his enlightenment and death.
 Dharma Day, or Asalha Puja
 marks the beginning of the Buddha's teaching. The word
Dharma can be translated as truth and is the term used for the
path to enlightenment, or the Buddhist teaching.
 Kathina
 The Kathina festival, which originated 2,500 years ago,
celebrates the largest alms-giving ceremony of the Buddhist
year.