Download Chapter 6: Buddhism in Its First Phase Chapter Objectives After

Chapter 6: Buddhism in Its First Phase
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter, the student should be able to:
 Compare the theological similarities of Buddhism and Jainism, and understand their different
paths to knowledge.
 Recall the historical background of Prince Siddhartha and its impact on his journey to
become Gautama Buddha.
 Discuss the Buddha’s adoption of a “middle way” between the sacred texts of the Brahmins
and the extreme asceticism of Jainism.
 Describe the psychological focus of the Buddha’s Great Enlightenment and his rejection of
speculative philosophy and religious devotion.
 Analyze the Buddha’s modifications to the Hindu concepts of rebirth and the Law of Karma.
 Explain the Buddha’s teaching on the Chain of Causation and its role in human suffering.
 List the Buddhist ethical applications for human liberation from rebirth.
Chapter Summary
The term Buddhism signifies a unity of religion that exists only in Western perceptions.
Though its origins share a commonality with Jainism’s rejection of Hinduism, it diverges
strongly from Jainism’s embrace of severe asceticism. The teachings and moral injunctions of
Gautama Buddha are the basis for Buddhism. However, much that is known is a result of oral
traditions and the historical written record is sparse and in several languages, though Sanskrit is
the predominant form.
Gautama rejected the trappings of his family’s well-to-do status and his wife and son to
seek answers to salvation and enlightenment. A number of legends surround his reasons for
doing so and also provide a justification for followers to understand why he would not “accept
life as everyone should live it whether prince or pauper.” The culmination of the quests of
Gautama was the ‘conquering’ of earthly desires and the attainment of enlightenment and thus
the earthly taste of Nirvana. The communication of this saving truth was henceforth his mission.
The teachings of the Buddha were firmly anchored in the practicalities of the human
condition and thus speculative philosophy and religious devotion (e.g. prayer) had little place
and were firmly rejected. A belief in karma and rebirth remained though modified. The four
Noble truths were identified and provided a basis for the ethical system of the Eightfold Path that
expounds on how to live. Though suffused with the notion of love—“the selfless selfidentification with others”—a hallmark of Buddhist philosophy, would have to wait for later
stages of Buddhism.
Chapter Outline
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I.
II.
III.
Introduction
Life of the Founder
A.
A Note about Sources
B.
Parallel Accounts
C.
Prince Siddhartha
D.
The Four Passing Sights
E.
The Great Renunciation
F.
The Six Years of Quest
G.
Abandoning Ascetic Extremes
H.
The Great Enlightenment
I.
A Cosmic Interpretation
J.
A Foretaste of Nirvana
K.
A Doctrine to Be Shared
L.
The Deer Park Discourse: A Middle Path
M.
The Establishment of the Buddhist Order
N.
Three refuges, Precepts for Monks and Laity
O.
Women Accepted as Nuns
P.
The Last Hours: Parinirvana
The Teachings of the Buddha
A.
Rejection of Speculative Philosophy
B.
Rejection of Religious Devotion
C.
Old Karma and New Karma
D.
Rebirth without Transmigration
E.
Causal Continuity
F.
Dependent Origination
G.
The Three Marks of Existence: Anicca, Anatta, and Dukkha
H.
The Four Noble Truths
I.
The Dharma as Ethics
1. The Negative: Avoid Attachment
2. The Positive: Living Toward Transcendent Bliss
Discussion Questions
1. In the teachings of the Buddha there is a striking lack of emphasis on metaphysical
philosophy. What factors or conditions pushed inquiry away from the metaphysical and
more to the individual’s psychological or personal predicament? What would influence
the Buddhists’ concern with how to contend with the psychology of desire as a way to
liberation? How do you think this focus affected the spread of Buddhism throughout
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India and the world? Are there any parts of the world or social strata where this message
would be less well received? Why or why not?
2. Affluence may not impede the embrace of Buddhist thinking if the practice of
“Hollywood personalities” (e.g. Steven Segal, Uma Thurman, Orlando Bloom-Pirates of
the Caribbean- Richard Gere) are to be believed. What is offered to those with
“everything” by the Buddhist way? What does this suggest about the needs of human
beings to achieve happiness?
3. The Buddha didn’t believe in the immortal soul passing from existence to existence. He
held that rebirth takes place without any actual soul substance passing over from one
impermanent state to another. This is one of the most obscure and profound points in
Buddhist doctrine. What do you think about rebirth without transmigration? Discuss the
concept of skandhas and what you think happens to these states of being upon entering
Nirvana.
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