Download Buddhism - Siegel Middle School

Buddhism
Chapter 8 – China
INTRODUCTION
 Buddhism is a religion to about 300 million
people around the world
 “budhi” = to awaken
 founder: Siddhartha Gotama “The Buddha”
- the enlightened one
 @ 2500 years ago
 India was home to its founding
 Some say Buddhism goes beyond being a
religion
 Is more of a philosophy (way of life)
 Buddhist path is summed up as:
1) to lead a moral life
2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts and
actions, and
3) to develop wisdom and understanding
BUDDHA (SIDDHARTHA GOTAMA)
 born into a royal family in Nepal
 at 29 came to believe that wealth and
luxury did not guarantee happiness
 he explored the different teaching
religions and philosophies of the day to
find the key to human happiness
for 6 years he studied and meditated
and finally came upon what he called
“the middle path” and he himself was
enlightened
 After his enlightenment, the Buddha
spent the rest of his life teaching the
principles of Buddhism (known as
Dhamma, or Truth)
 The Buddha died at the age of 80
TEACHINGS OF BUDDHISM
 Four Noble Truths
1) life is suffering
2) suffering is caused by craving and
aversion
3) suffering can be overcome and
happiness can be attained
4) the Noble 8-fold path leads to the end
of suffering
Noble 8 – fold Path
 Wisdom
- right view
- right
intention
 Ethical Conduct  Concentration
- right effort
- right speech
- right
- right action
- right livelihood mindfulness
- right
- right effort
concentration
THE FIVE PRECEPTS
 Not to take the life of any living thing
 not take anything not freely given
 to abstain from sexual misconduct and
sensual overindulgence
 to refrain from untrue speech
 to avoid intoxication (losing mindfulness)
KARMA
 is the law that every cause has an
effect, (our actions have results)
 Karma underlines the importance of
all individuals being responsible for
their past and present actions
How can we test the karmic effect of
our actions? The answer is summed up
by looking at
(1) the intention behind the action,
(2) effects of the action on oneself,
and
(3) the effects on others
MISC.
1. Was Buddha a god?
- no and he did not claim to be
- He was a man who taught a path
to enlightenment from his own
experience
2. DO BUDDHISTS WORSHIP IDOLS?
 They respect to the images of Buddha
- not in worship
- they do not ask for favors
- a Buddha statue reminds them to strive
to develop peace and love within themselves
- in bowing to the statue they offer
gratitude for the teaching of the Buddha
SKINNY BUDDHA VS. FAT BUDDHA
WHY BUDDHISM SPREAD IN CHINA
 Traders and Missionaries from India brought
Buddhism to China
 It was a time in China of decline and despair
as civil war broke out
 Many died
 Buddhism taught that people could escape
suffering by following the teachings of the
Buddha
HOW DID THE TANG RULERS
VIEW BUDDHISM ?
The early Tang rulers did not practice
Buddhism, but they did not interfere with
those who followed it
 They approved the building of temples and
shrines
 The Buddhist monks and nuns helped local
people by running schools and providing
food and shelters
 Many people opposed the religion
 They thought the Buddhists had become
too wealthy with the donations they had
used to build their buildings
 Some felt they weakened respect for family
life, due to the monks and nuns not being
allowed to marry
 Tang officials feared the growing influence;
being an enemy of Confucius
 Tang officials began to destroy many of the
Buddhist monasteries and temples
 Buddhism never fully recovered from the
attacks in China
Buddhism in Korea
 The Chinese Buddhist took their religion to
Korea
 The Korean leaders approved it
 Then it was spread to Japan