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DharmaAvenue
INTEGRATED SYLLABUS
for
TERTIARY GROUP
COLLEGES & UNIVERSITIES
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DharmaAvenue.com
Integrated Syllabus
© www.dharmaavenue.com
Characteristics
And
Contributions Of
Buddhism
TERTIARY GROUP
Level
3B / TG
Lesson
04
Ref : 3B / TG / 04
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Lesson Plan
Module 01
INTRODUCTION
TO BUDDHISM
DAIS-TG
Sub Module
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04
CHARACTERISTICS AND CONTRIBUTIONS OF
BUDDHISM
• Characteristics – Comprehensive Content
• Characteristics – Graceful Approach
• Agreement By Great Personalities
• Buddhist Contributions to the World
• Showcase of Contemporary Contributions
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Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 01-22
DAIS-TG
Characteristics – Comprehensive Content
Excerpts : Buddha & His Teachings – Bhikkhu Narada
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Obvious And Irrefutable
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Universal And Scientific
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Accessible And Verifiable
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Realistic And Sensible
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Practical And Effective
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Gradual And Measured
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Open And Transparent
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Assuring And Joyful
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DAIS-TG
Characteristics – Graceful Approach
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Harmless And Peaceful
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Tolerant And Persuasive
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Compassionate And Liberating
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Honorable And Equitable
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Just And Supportive
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 02-22
Excerpts : Buddha & His Teachings – Bhikkhu Narada
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Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 03-22
DAIS-TG
Admiration by Great Personalities
Excerpt : Great Personalities On Buddhism – Ven. K. Sri Dhammananda
On Philosophy
●
Albert Einstein, renown scientist. The religion of the
future will be a cosmic religion. It should transcend a personal
God and avoid dogmas and theology. Covering both the
natural and the spiritual, it should be based on a religious
sense arising from the experience of all things, natural and
spiritual, as a meaningful unity. Buddhism answers this
description.
●
Bishop Gore. It is Buddhism as we find it actually recorded,
not a hypothetical primitive system, which still forms a
challenge to other religions.
●
Prof. Carl Gustay Jung, a leading psychologist.
As a student of comparative religions, I believe that Buddhism
is the most perfect one the world has ever seen. The
philosophy of the Buddha, the theory of evolution and the law
of Karma were far superior to any other creed.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 04-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
H. G. Wells, science fiction writer. Over great areas of
the world it still survives. It is possible that in contact with
Western science, and inspired by the spirit of history, the original
teaching of Gotama, revived and purified, may yet play a large
part in the direction of human destiny.
●
H. G. Wells. Buddhism has done more for the advance of
world civilization and true culture than any other influence in the
chronicles of mankind.
●
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Muslim scholar. The mission of
the Buddha was quite unique in its character, and therefore it
stands quite apart from the many other religions of the world. His
mission was to bring the birds of idealism flying in the air nearer
to the earth, because the food for their bodies belonged to the
earth.
●
Arthur Schopenhauer, German philosopher. If I am
to take the results of my philosophy as the standard of truth I
should be obliged to concede to Buddhism the pre-eminence
over the rest.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 05-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Sir Edwin Arnold, writer. I have often said, and I shall
say again and again, that between Buddhism and modern
Science there exists a close intellectual bond.
●
Hazrat Inayat Khan, Muslim scholar. The Buddha
taught in the form of religion, and today the thinkers of the
modern world are beginning to find the same solution which
Buddha found over 2500 years ago; they call it psychoanalysis.
It is the beginning of that which had already reached its summit
in the highest idealism.
●
Jawarhalal Nehru, former Prime Minister of India.
His message was one of universal benevolence, of love for all. It
was an ideal of righteousness and self-discipline. Buddha relies
on reason and logic and experience and asks people to seek
the truth in their own minds. It is remarkable how near this
philosophy of the Buddha brings us to some of the concepts of
modern physics and modern philosophic thought. Buddha's
method was one of psychological analysis and, again, it is
surprising to find how deep was his insight into this latest of
modem science.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 06-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Prof. Max Muller, German scholar. Buddhism is the
highest expression of philosophic thought. The highest spiritual
conceptions are to be found therein.
●
Dr. S.N. Dasgupta, Principal, Sanskrit College, Calcuta. The
contributions of the Buddhist thought seem at the same time to be the most
ancient as well as the most modern; its theory of causation, its relativism, its
doctrine of sense-data, its pragmatism, its emphasis on morals, its disbelief
in any permanent soul and its unconcern about God and its denial of the
validity of scriptures and denial of rituals and its anti-metaphysical character
and its appeal to experience all tend to establish its superior claim to
modernity.
●
George Grimm, German Philosopher. Unlike anyone else,
Buddha not only laid bare the great practical problem of how we can make
ourselves perfectly free from sorrow and absolutely full of bliss, but he has
referred his essential problem directly to the primary problem of our deepest
nature. What wholly unique is that he has referred it to a simple syllogism of
such simplicity that, with goodwill, even an intelligent shepherd can in the
end experience it in all its overwhelming certainty.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 07-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Swami Vivekananda. Of all the teachers of the world, the
Buddha was the one who taught us most to be self-reliant, who
freed us not only from the bondage of four false values but from
dependence on the invisible beings called God or Gods. He
invited everyone into the state of freedom which he called
Nirvana. All must attain it, one day, and the attainment is the
complete fulfillment of man.
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Rabindranath Tagore, famous poet. Buddhism was
the first spiritual force, known to us in history, which drew close
together such a large number of races separated by most
difficult barriers of distance, by difference of language and
custom, by various degrees and divergent types of civilization.
It had its motive power, neither in international commerce, nor
in empire building, nor in scientific curiosity, nor in a migrative
impulse to occupy fresh territory. It was a purely disinterested
effort to help mankind forward to its final goal.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 08-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Prof. Huxley, scientist. Gautama got rid of even that
shade of a shadow of permanent existence by a metaphysical
tour de force of great interest to the student of philosophy
seeing that it supplies the wanting half of Bishop Berkeley's
well-known idealist argument. It is a remarkable indication of
the subtlety of Indian speculation that Gautama should have
seen deeper than the greatest of modern idealist'. The
tendency of enlightened thought of all today all the world over
is not towards theology, but philosophy and psychology. The
bark of theological dualism is drifting into danger. The
fundamental principles of evolution and monism are being
accepted by the thoughtful.
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DAIS-TG
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 09-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
On Morality
●
Prof. Max Muller. Buddha was the embodiment of all the virtues he
preached. During his successful and eventful ministry of 45 years he
translated all his words into action; and in no place did he give vent to any
human frailty, or any base passion. The Buddha's moral code is the most
perfect which the world has ever known.
●
Prof. Max Muller. The most important element of the Buddhist reform
has always been its social and moral code. That moral code taken by itself
is one of the most perfect which the world has ever known. On this point all
testimonials from hostile and friendly quarters agree; philosophers there
may have been, religious preachers, subtle metaphysists, disputants there
may have been, but where shall we find such an incarnation of love, love
that knows no distinction of caste and creed or colour, a love that overflowed even the bound of humanity, that embraced the whole of sentient
beings in its sweep, a love that embodied as the gospel of universal 'Maitri'
and Ahimsa.
●
Rev. Adolph Thomas. The moral code of Buddhism has given a pure
expression to natural morality.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 10-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Prof. Von Glasenapp, A German Philosopher.
As I understand it, Buddhism is, all throughout a doctrine of
salvation for the individual; the idea of human collectivity
which has sinned and can be redeemed, is alien to it.
Therefore it has no central authority which claims the right of
issuing orders or proclaiming dogmas binding on all the
Buddhists of the world.
●
Prof. Rhys Davids. It is not too much to say that almost
the whole of the moral teachings of the Gospels as distinct
from the dogmatic teaching will be found in Buddhist writings
several centuries older than the Gospels.
●
Albert Schweitzer, Western philosopher. In this
sphere He gave expression to truths of everlasting value
and advanced the ethics not of India alone but of humanity.
Buddha was one of the greatest ethical men of genius ever
bestowed upon the world.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 11-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Bishop Bigendet. Most of the moral truths prescribed by the gospel
are to be met within the Buddhist scriptures --in reading the particulars of
the life of the last Buddha Gotama, it is impossible not to feel reminded of
many circumstances relating to our Saviour's life, such as it has been
sketched by the Evangelists.
●
Rev. Joseph Wain. Buddhism taught a life not by rule, but by
principle, a life of beauty; and as a consequence, it was a religion of
tolerance. It was the most charitable system under the sun.
●
Anagarika B. Govinda, A German Scholar. Buddhist morality
is based on freedom, i.e. on individual development. It is therefore relative.
In fact there cannot be any morality nor any ethical principle it there is
compulsion or determination from an agent outside ourselves. Therefore
the idea of a Creator and ruler of this world takes away the very foundation
of morality and ethics; for how can we be made responsible for our faults if
we have been created with them or in such a weak form that we cannot
resist the evil.
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DAIS-TG
●
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 12-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
Prof. Rhys Davids, Scholar. Buddhist or not Buddhist, I have
examined every one of the great religious systems of the world, and in
none of them have I found anything to surpass, in beauty and
comprehensiveness, the Noble Eightfold Path and the Four Noble Truths
of the Buddha. I am content to shape my life according to that path.
●
Dr. S Radhakrishnan, former President of
India. When we read Buddha's discourses, we are
impressed by his spirit of reason. His ethical path has for its
first step right views, a rational outlook. He endeavors to
brush aside all cobwebs that interfere with mankind's vision
of itself and its destiny.
●
Dr. S Radhakrishnan. The Buddha gave an ethical
twist to the thought of His time. We find in the early teaching
of Buddhism three marked characteristics, an ethical
earnestness, an absence of any theological tendency and
an aversion to metaphysical speculation.
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DAIS-TG
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 13-22
Admiration By Great Personalities
On Method And Approach
●
Aldous Huxley, essayist and novelist. Alone of all the
great world religions Buddhism made its way without persecution,
censorship or inquisition. In all these respects its record is
enormously superior to that of Christianity, which made its way
among people wedded to materialism and which was able to
justify the bloodthirsty tendencies of its adherents by an appeal
to savage bronze-age literature of the Old Testament.
●
Jawarhalal Nehru, Prime Minister of India. If any question has
to be considered, it has to be considered peacefully and democratically in
the way taught by the Buddha.
●
Dr. Cunningham, Archaeologist. Buddhists propagated their
religion by the persuasive voice of the missionary, many others by the
merciless edge of the sword. The sanguinary career of others was lighted
by lurid flames of burning cities; the peaceful progress of the Buddhist 46
was illuminated by the cheerful faces of the sick in monastic hospitals, by
the happy smiles of travellers reposing in rest houses by the road-side".
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Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 14-22
DAIS-TG
Buddhist Contributions to the World
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Excerpts : DharmaAvenue Resources
Philosophy And Science
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Philosophy
Health Science
Other Sciences
Education
•
Knowledge and Education
Ethics And Morality
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Value System
Human Rights
Governance
Social And Welfare
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Arts & Architecture
Culture & Civilization
Services & Welfare
Environment & Peace
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Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 15-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
DAIS-TG
Philosophy
Philosophy
And Science
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Introduce 4 Noble Truths (as against theo-centric teaching)
Introduce ethics without God
Introduce comprehensive meditation system
Introduce universal orders and law of causation
Introduce doctrine of Dependent Origination
Introduce doctrine of Kamma and Rebirth
Introduce classification of philosophical thoughts
Introduce system of logic, dialogues, etc
Health Science
● Introduce behavioral medicine
● Introduce mental health with meditation
Other Sciences
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Introduce studies on energy as primary ‘particles’
Introduce studies on extra sensory faculties
Introduce studies on the mind and its development
Introduce studies on human and social evolution
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DAIS-TG
Education
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 16-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
Knowledge and Education
● Establish knowledge as a foundation for practise
and realization (pariyatti, patipatti, pativedha)
● Establish code of conduct and responsibilities for
various positions and roles in life – e.g.,
Sigalovada Sutta
● Establish code of conduct, responsibilities and
discipline for the Monastic Order – the Vinaya
● Establish mentorship in the training of monks
● Establish clear methodology to develop personal
qualities and values
● Establish meditation as a method to access
supramundane knowledge
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Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 17-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
DAIS-TG
Ethics
Value System
And
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Morality
Establish high standard of ethical behavior
Establish openness and transparency
Establish religious tolerance and harmlessness
Establish equitability and equal opportunity
Establish freedom of choice and meritocracy
Establish respect for all forms of life
Establish moderation, denounce extremism
Human Rights
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Establish Freedom of Religious Practice
Establish Freedom of Speech
Uplift Status of Women in Society
Admit Women in Monastic Order
Denounce the Caste System
Governance
● Establish code of discipline in the Monastic Order
● Establish democracy in the Monastic Order
● Establish code of ethics of governing
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Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 18-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
DAIS-TG
Social
And
Welfare
Arts And Architecture
See Next Slide
● Art: Japan (Ikebana, tea offering, zen garden), China
(Shaolin), Tibet (Thangkas, Mandala)
● Architecture: Potala (Tibet), Borobudur (Indonesia),
Sanchi Stupa (India), Mahabodhi Temple (India),
Shwe Dagon (Burma), Emerald and Ayutthaya Temple
(Thailand)
● Stone Sculptures and cave temples: India (Ajanta,
Udaigiri, Ellora, Karle), Srilanka (Dambulla, Gal
Vihara), Afghanistan (Bamiyam), China (Magao
Caves, Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes)
Culture And Civilization
● Contribution of King Asoka
● Contributions of Fa-hsien and Hsuan-tsang
Services And Welfare See Next Slide
Environment And Peace See Next Slide
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DAIS-TG
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 19-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
Social And Welfare - Architecture
Top to bottom, left to right:
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Potala, Tibet
Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Borobudur, Indonesia
Shwe Dagon, Burma
Jetawana Dagoba, Sri Lanka
Mahabodhi Temple, India
Abhayagiri Dagoba, Sri Lanka
Wat Phra Pathom, Thailand
Kek Lok Si, Malaysia
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DAIS-TG
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 20-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
Social And Welfare – Stone Sculpture & Cave Temples
Top to bottom, left to right:
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Ajanta & Ellora, India (4)
•
Yungang & Longmen, China (4)
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Sukhotai & Ayutthaya, Thailand (5)
•
Dambulla, Anadhapura & Polonnaruwa,
Sri Lanka (6 pics)
•
Bamiyam, Afghanistan (1)
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DAIS-TG
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 21-22
Buddhist Contributions To The World
Social And Welfare – Art & Culture
Top to bottom, left to right:
•
Shaolin martial arts – China
•
Zen Garden, Ikebana (flower
arrangement), Tea Offering –
Japan
•
Mandala, Thangkas painting –
Tibet
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DAIS-TG
Lesson : 3B / TG / 04 / PG 22-22
Showcase of Contemporary Contributions
●
Collated : DharmaAVenue
Tibet. The Dalai Lama and the non-violence peace
movement
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Vietnam. Venerable Thich Nhat Hanh, interbeing
and peace movement
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Taiwan. Buddhist model of international welfare
work – the experience of Tzu Chi Buddhist Society
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Sri Lanka. Sharing resources, seeking peace –
the experience of Sarvodaya Shramadana
Movement
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Thailand-Europe. Harmony of cross cultural
integration – Ajahn Chah and the Western
Monastic Order
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Burma. Disseminating Treasures by the Burmese
Masters
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India. Kiran Bedi and the reformation of prisoners
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About Us
Bibliography
Welcome to DharmaAvenue.com. We are an independent, nonsectarian and not-for-profit Buddhist e-library and educational
resource center based in Malaysia. All sects of Buddhism are
respected and represented on this website. It was founded in 2004
and is committed to outreach learning. We are dedicated to
sourcing, structuring and sharing resources to avail Buddhist
knowledge to individuals interested in self-learning and Buddhist
organizations interested in learning resources. While we hope to
nurture a structured, systematic and integrated approach to learning
about the Buddha’s Teaching we also hope to project the relevancy
and immediacy of this beautiful ancient religion.
• Buddha And His Teachings. Bhikkhu Narada, Buddhist
Missionary Society
Copyright. For free distribution only. You may print copies of this
work for your personal use. You may re-format and redistribute this
work for use on computers and computer networks, provided that
you charge no fees for its distribution or use. Otherwise, all rights
reserved. Please give acknowledgment to dharmaavenue.com .
• Great Personalities On Buddhism. Ven. Dr. K. Sri
Dhammananda, Buddhist Missionary Society
Further Reading
• Contribution Of Buddhism To World Culture. Ven. Soma
Thera, Wheel 44, Buddhist Publication Society
• Knowledge And Conduct. Buddhist Contribution To
Philosophy And Ethics, Wheel 50, Buddhist Publication
Society
• Contribution Of Buddhism To World Civilization And
Other Modules
Culture, P.N. Chopra (Co.Ee.), Tokan Sum (Ed.), S.Chand
& Co
in College & University Series
• Buddhism. The Religion And Its Culture. Ananda Guruge,
World Fellowship of Buddhist
• Introduction To Buddhism
• Four Noble Truths
• Development Of Ethics
• Development Of Tranquility
• Development Of Insight
•
•
•
•
•
•
Path Of Purification
Dependent Origination
Kamma And Rebirth
History Of Buddhism
Traditions In Buddhism
Scriptural Studies
Credits
• Collated and Edited by: K.L. Hor, including cover design and layout
• Sub-editor: Fong Hong Wai
• Photo credits: Various sources across the Net. May owners of these photos be
blessed with merits of this non-profit Project.
• Copyright © dharmaavenue.com May 2005
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