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Buddhism
Buddhism
Siddharta Gautama was born into the warrior class of the Sakya
clan in the capital city now called Lumbini, about 2,500 years ago.
Stories of his birth and life have been greatly imbellished.
Born a Hindu, (spoke Pali-an Indian dialect) ( indoctrinated in
Classic Hinduism) his Mother Queen Maya, had a dream in which
she was told that her unborn son would be a great world leader-his
mother died soon after his birth. His aunt married his father and
raised him.
His father-Suddhodnana was told by a seer that his son would
abandon his princely world after seeing 4 signs-his father vowed to
protect his son to continue the family line.
Great riches-palace, servants, fine horses, splendid clothes,
beautiful wife and baby boy, but still not satisfied-had been
shielded from the outside world by his father-He saw the luxuries
as worthless window dressing.
Age 29 slipped out of the palace on 4 occasions saw:
Old man, sick man, corpse, holy man (intrigued by his
contentment) horrified by the suffering and death he saw.
Left home, wife and son to become a wandering ascetic-conculted
Brahmins, tried fasting-became emaciated-rejected this tact-search
continued-one day he sat under an Indian Fig or Bo tree on the
banks of the Gaya River-Bodh Gaya – after 4 weeks (maybe 7) of
deep meditation he became the Buddha or enlightened one.
As the “Enlightened One” he founded what some call a religion,
others call it a philosophy.
About 500 BC (same time as Golden Age of Ancient Greece)
Gave his first sermon at Deer Park (Sarnath) where he first taught
the Four Noble Truths and the Eight-Fold Path near Varanasi-his
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Buddhism
messages were committed to oral traditions-only written down
centuries later.
His ideas must have sounded radical and exciting to those used to
Hindu elitism
A Gifted orator-his crystal-clear vision about life and the way it
should be lived-won immediate favor with his audience.
He taught that nothing is permanent-everything depends on
something else for existence-everything is connected. All things
are composed of basic building blocks called dharmas
Taught Buddhism to willing followers for 45 years until his death.
Yet he is NOT a god, nor is he the object of worship-he is held in
high esteem as a teacher.
Four Noble Truths
1. Suffering exists
2. There is a reason for suffering
3. There is a way to end suffering
4. The way to end suffering is found in the Eight-Fold Path
The Eight-Fold Path
Discipline of thought & action must be achieved with the
help of a guide or teacher-Theravada Buddhism emphasizes
the need for a teacher or guide
1. Right views
2. Right thoughts-get rid of desire
3. Right speech
4. Right action
5. Right livelihood-cause no harm in occupation
6. Right effort
7. Right mindfulness-awareness of thoughts & actions
8. Right concentration
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Buddhism
In addition to 4 Noble Truths and 8 Fold Path
Five Precepts-key words sympathy and empathy
1. Be compassionate-do not harm people or animals
2. Do not steal or take what has not been give-be generous to
those in need.
3. Avoid drugs & alcohol because they inhibit meditation
4. Do not speak ill of other people
5. Respect other and avoid sexually immorality
Three other Precepts-only the most devout choose to abide by
them1. No eating after midday
2. No dancing or singing
3. no garlands or make up
Four Noble Truths, Eight-Fold Path and Three Precepts combine to
become the Middle Way (similar to Taoism)
Buddha supposedly was capable of supernatural powers-but chose
not to use them-he believed that the route to enlightenment was the
greatest miracle of all.
Gathered a following called the Sangha. Lived frugally, preaching
to his supporters-traveled the land, including some time spent on
the shores of Lake Amritsar.
Theravada
The teachings of Buddha and traditions of this early stage are most
closely followed by Theravada (“Teaching of the Elders”)
Buddhists of Southeast Asia.
Died in 483 BCE at Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh surrounded by his
disciples.
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Buddhism
Nirvana-the final release or liberation from samsara (wandering or
the cycle of rebirth and death-a state of supreme happiness &
peace.
Karma-the law of cause & effect. Buddha saw all actions,
thoughts, words & deeds as seeds that will grow and bear fruit in
this or a future life. Accumulation of karma causes one to be
reborn into a cycle of life & death.
Positive action builds up merit
Negative actions create negative karma
Buddhists try to free themselves from negative karma by living a
morally good life and by actions-meditation and offerings.
Mayayana (The Great Vehicle) Buddhism evolved in the 1st Cent.
CE
They reinterpreted early teachings so they could spread beyond
India-developed the idea of a bodhisattva “one how possessed
enlightenment” a term for one who is destined to become a
Buddha. They delay entry into Nirvana in order to help others
achieve enlightenment.
Sacred Scripture
Each Sect-Theraveda (written in Pali language of Buddha) and
Mayayana (written in Sanskrit) have their own set of sacred
scriptures.
1st cent. BCE the Pali Canon were first written down in Sri Lankaprior to this all of Buddha’s teachings were passed down orally by
the Sangha or community. It was called the Tripitaka (means 3
baskets) since it was written on palm leaf manuscripts kept in 3
baskets.
Mayayana Buddhism spread to China, Japan and Tibet-the
scriptures were translated and new ones were written by sages and
scholars.-main source of Mayayana scriptures are the Buddhist
canons of Tibet and China.
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Buddhism
Where Buddhism is a majority religion the devotion to a Buddha
or bodhisattva is a natural part of everyday life. Shrines, temples
and monasteries are a familiar part of the landscape.
Buddhists try to follow Buddha’s teachings in diet, trades chosen,
meditation, giving alms or making offerings at shrines.
Mahayana Buddhists often make their devotions to popular
buddhas or bodhisattvas-usually bow 3 times before a holy image
or object before making offerings and chanting.
Monasteries are common-a community of monks or nuns live there
permanently-they welcome visitors, especially on festival days.
Study an important part of monastic life-young novices are guided
and taught by older members of the Sangha.
The Sangha is the community of the first monks and nuns who
followed Sakyamuni Buddha, it also includes the bodhisattvas,
teachers, scholars and other non-ordained Buddhists.
Tibetan and Chinese Buddhism-various objects are places before
the shrine:
Candle Light=understanding
Shell = sound
Food = taste
Flowers = sight
Incense = smell
Water = touch, healing & purification
Zen Buddhism in Japan is one of the oldest traditions-arrived from
China in the form of Ch’an Buddhism-emphasis is on meditation.
Zen Buddhism teaches peope that words are only the surface of
things. Zen Monks may spend years meditating on a single phrase
or sentence. E.g. “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”
They create beautiful, tranquil settings for meditation-gardens or
other natural settings. Zen Buddhism also incorporates traditional
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Buddhism
Japanese skills such as archery, flower arranging and the tea
ceremony as a part of meditation.
Meditation is used to free the mind from passion, aggression,
ignorance, jealousy, pride, etc., and allow natural wisdom to
surface. Normally done sitting in a quiet place with legs crossed
(the lotus position). Samatha Meditation-concentrating the mind
on a single object or sensation; e.g. candle flame or a flower.
Vipassana Meditation increases one’s knowledge of self by
carefully analyzing all thoughts and feelings. Many branches of
Buddhism have their own variation of meditation. Pure Land
Buddhism involves creating a vivid mental picture of buddhas or
bodhisattvas-may use a painting or statue for concentration.
Tibetan Buddhism also used this method with chanting or ritual
gestures.
Chanting-phrases, verses or passages from Buddhist scripture is
chanted to focus the mind. It is a vital part of festivals and
ceremonies. Pure Land Buddhism and Nichiren Buddhism
consider chanting to be the most important aspect of Buddhist
practice.
Paritta-a chanting ceremony performed for protection from
negative influences or to ward off danger. It is performed for lay
people and can take several hours or several days. It involves a
relic, chairs connected by cloth thread and pots of water. After the
thread is cut it is tied around the wrists or necks of the lay people
and the water is sprinkled over them.
Rituals-monks & nuns play a minor role in the rites of ordinary
Buddhists. Monks generally attend celebrations of births,
wedding, etc., but normally just receive gifts and offer sermons.
The exception is the death ritual-In China Buddhism exists side by
side with Confucianism and Taoism. Buddhist temples are
especially important for funerals and the anniversaries of deaths.
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Buddhism
In Theravada Buddhist countries of SE Asia, the funeral is an
especially important Buddhist rite. Tibetan Buddhism also
emphasizes the death ritual in the Tibetan Book of the Dead.
Pilgrimage-Major sites:
Lumbini Grove-Buddha’s birth place
Bodh Gaya-Buddha’s place of enlightenment
Sarnath-location of first sermon of 4 Noble Truths
Kusingara Buddha’s death
Siripada in Sri Lanka (Adam’s Peak) Buddha’s
Left foot print
China has 4 sacred shan or mountains connected with a particular
bodhisattva
Buddhist Festivals
Varies with the traditions of the country-many celebrate Buddha’s life,
enlightenment and teachings. Some are very local and rooted in
agriculture, ancestors or popular deities. Festivals are often marked by
temple fairs, visits, alms-giving and shrine offerings.
Birth of Buddha-8th day of the 4th Lunar month (April in Japan) images
of Buddha as a child are bathed in scented water or milk.
New Year Festival (early April on Lunar Calendar, New Moon in
Februrary in Tibet) Images of Buddha are washed with scented water,
Stupas are built on river banks or on temple grounds-then destroyed with
the coming of the new year.
Versakh (southern Buddhism) marks Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and
passing into Nirvana. In Tibet and Eastern Buddhism it is celebrateda at
a different time.
Celebrations vary from walking around the temple 3 times (for the 3
Jewels) to watering bodhi trees with scented water, decorating houses,
lighting lanterns and so forth. A variety of festivals found in Southern
Buddhism, Eastern Buddhism and Northern Buddhism.
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