Download Buddhism concentrates on a “middle way of wisdom and compassion.”

The Essence of Buddhism
Buddhism concentrates on a “middle way of wisdom and
compassion.”
It is a 2,500 year old tradition.
It was started by a young prince
who believed everyone could
reach Nirvana, not just those in
his social caste.
(*Siddhartha was a Brahmin.)
Religions of South Asia
Estimates of the
number of Buddhists
vary, but the most
common figure today
is between 350 and
400 million.
Gautama Buddha,
Prince Siddhartha
The founder of Buddhism was Siddhartha Gautama. He was alive between 566
BCE and 480 CE perhaps in present-day Nepal ("Basics of Buddhism" 1).
Gautama's father was an Indian warrior-king. Their family lived a rich and
prestigious life, being part of the highest social class or caste, the Brahmins ("Basics of
Buddhism" 1).
His father was Hindu. Gautama, however, came to dislike the Hindu caste system
because he thought everyone to be spiritually equal ("Path of Buddhism" 5, 6).
Gautama was not allowed outside of the palace walls. Occasionally, Gautama went
anyway and discovered four disturbing scenes: an old man, a sick man, a dead
man, and a wandering beggar.
Siddhartha, Gautama Buddha
These disturbing scenes caused Prince Siddhartha to go on the Great Departure in
search of a new meaning of life for all people (Ross 6).
Gautama left when he was 29, while his wife and son were asleep ("Path of Buddhism" 5 and
Ross 7).
He shaved his head, and became an ascetic, a monk. For a time, Gautama believed
that "suffering lay at the end of all existence." However, he eventually came to the
“middle way” as the direction of life – moderation in all things.
Eventually Gautama was called The Buddha, the enlightened one, because he knew
how to free himself from suffering, and later obtain total freedom ("Basics of Buddhism" 1).
The Buddha became enlightened while sitting under the Bodhi tree ("Path of Buddhism" 5).
Throughout the rest of his life, Gautama traveled through India helping others
comprehend his discovery ("Basics of Buddhism"1-2).
The Buddha lived 80 years, they say his last words were, "Work out your salvation
with diligence" ("Path of Buddhism" 5).
Bodhi Tree
Three jewels of Buddhism
Buddha: the teacher
Dharma: the teachings
Sangha: the community
Buddha’s Doctrine
Buddha adopted some ideas from the
Hinduism of his time, notably the doctrine of
karma, but also rejected many of its doctrines
and all of its gods.
"Buddhism." Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Britannica Concise Encyclopedia. 3 Jan. 2007
<http://concise.britannica.com/ebc/article-9358217/Buddhism>.
What is the fundamental
cause of all pain and
suffering?
desire
Desire
What we want and what we desire drive us as
human beings.
We are hungry. We feel neglected. We want more
clothes, more attention, more and better
everything. We want love.
According to Buddhism, we can control our
desires, our wants. We can be “moderate” or find
the “middle way.”
The Middle Way
The Buddha referred to his teachings as the Middle
Way, avoiding the extremes of sensual indulgence and
self-mortification.
His own life, prior to attaining enlightenment,
witnessed both extremes - the luxury of his life in his
father's palace in his youth in contrast to the severe
ascetic practices he engaged in during his six-year
search for enlightenment.
Neither brought a release
from suffering.
(Majjhima patipada).
Samara Cycle: re(birth), pain &
suffering and death (separation)
Hindrances
Sensuous lust
Aversion and ill will
Sloth and torpor
Restlessness and worry
Skeptical doubt
The Four Noble Truths
1. Pain and suffering exist in the world (Dukkha)
2. Pain and suffering arise from self-centered
attachment to desires (Samudaya)
3. Pain and suffering stop when attachment to
desire stops (Nirodha)
4. Freedom from suffering is possible by
practicing the Eightfold Path (Magga)
The Eightfold Path
Right View
Right Thought
Right Speech
Right Action
Right Livelihood
Right Effort
Right Mindfulness
Right Contemplation
Or Meditation
Eightfold Path in Categories
Wisdom (panna):
Right understanding
Right motivation
Moral discipline (sila):
Right speech
Right action
Right livelihood
Mental discipline (samadhi):
Right effort
Right mindfulness
Right meditation
Eightfold Path
Following the Eightfold path will lead one out of the
Samsara cycle of pain/suffering, death and rebirth. It
is the ultimate peacefulness or bliss. Siddhartha
Gautama believed that all could attain this kind of
“salvation.”
Nirvana
Buddhist Metaphysics
Dukkha: life in this world
is filled with suffering
Anicca: everything in this
world is impermanent
Anatta: the self/soul is also
impermanent – there is no
eternal, unchanging self
(“no soul” – no atman)
Suffering is a state of mind
– achieve a balanced,
peaceful, detached state of
mind and suffering can be
extinguished (Nirvana)
One aspect of the Eightfold Path, right mindfulness,
decides on the fate of one's karma.
Karma
Buddha is reported to have said “Intention,
monks, is karma I say. Having willed, one
acts through body, speech and mind.”
(A.N. VI.63 Nibbedhika Sutta)
The five precepts are not given in the form of commands
such as "thou shalt not ...", but are training rules in order
to live a better life in which one is happy, without
worries, and can meditate well.
1. To refrain from taking life. (i.e. non-violence
towards sentient life forms)
2. To refrain from taking that which is not given (i.e.
not committing theft).
3. To refrain from sensual misconduct (abstinence
from immoral sexual behavior).
4. To refrain from lying. (i.e. speaking truth always)
5. To refrain from intoxicants which lead to loss of
mindfulness (refrain from using drugs or alcohol.)
Golden Gate Park,
San Francisco
Buddhism differs from Hinduism & Jainism
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•
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Buddhism rejects… (Hinduism)
Authority of the ancient Vedic texts
The Vedic caste system
The Vedic and Hindu deities
The efficacy of Vedic worship and ritual
The concept of Brahman
Buddhism rejects … (Jainism)
The concept of Atman
The practice of strict asceticism and withdrawal from
the world (preferring the “middle way”)
Vegetarianism, as required
What do Buddhists believe?
Rebirth (reincarnation) results from attachments
(karma)
Nirvana is a peaceful, detached state of mind
Achieving Nirvana means escape from the cycle
of rebirth
Buddhism is non-theistic: Buddha is not the
Buddhist God – he is just a revered teacher
In Buddhism, any person who has awakened from the "sleep of
ignorance" by directly realizing the true nature of reality is called
a Buddha.
The
Dalai Lama
Buddhism in America
(1999)
The greatest achievement is selflessness.
The greatest worth is self-mastery.
The greatest quality is seeking to serve others.
The greatest precept is continual awareness.
The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything.
The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways.
The greatest magic is transmuting the passions.
The greatest generosity is non-attachment.
The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind.
The greatest patience is humility.
The greatest effort is not concerned with results.
The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go.
The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.
Some Shared Beliefs:
Christianity and Buddhism
Ethic of Reciprocity
Buddhism, Christianity and all of the other major
world religions share a basic rule of behavior which
governs how they are to treat others.
Two quotations from Buddhist texts which reflect this
Ethic are "...a state that is not pleasing or delightful
to me, how could I inflict that upon another?" Samyutta
NIkaya v. 353.
Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would find
hurtful." Udana-Varga 5:18.
This compares closely to Christianity's Golden Rule,
which is seen in: "Therefore all things whatsoever ye
would that men should do to you, do ye even so to
them." Matthew 7:12.
"...and don't do what you hate...“
Gospel of Thomas 6.
Life After Death
Almost all religions teach that a person's personality continues after death.
In fact, many religious historians believe that this belief was the prime
reason that motivated people to originally create religions.
Christianity and Buddhism are no exception. However, they conceive of
life after death in very different forms: Buddhism teaches that humans are
trapped in a repetitive cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. One's goal is to
escape from this cycle and reach Nirvana. The mind experiences complete
freedom, liberation and non-attachment. Suffering ends because desire and
craving -- the causes of suffering -- are no more.
Christianity has historically taught that everyone has only a single life on
earth. After death, an eternal life awaits everyone: either in Heaven or Hell.
There is no suffering in Heaven; only joy. Suffering is eternal without any
hope of cessation for the inhabitants of Hell.
Themes of morality, justice, love
These themes are found through both the Buddha's teaching and the
Hebrew and Christian Bible.
Beliefs shared by some Buddhist traditions and Christianity: In its original
forms, Buddhism did not teach of the existence of transcendent, immanent,
or any other type of God, Gods, Goddess, and/or Goddesses. However,
many Buddhists -- particularly in Japan -- do believe in a pantheon of
deities.
Some traditions within Buddhism believe in the power of prayer; others do
not.
Some Buddhists believe in Miroku, the "future Buddha." They expect him
to be reincarnated and spread Buddhism farther.