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Buddhism
The Middle Way of
Wisdom &
Compassion
Siddhartha Gautama (563-483
BC)
Born in Nepal (NE India) and
raised in great luxury to be a king
At age 29 he rejected his luxurious life
to seek enlightenment and the source of
suffering
Lived a strict, ascetic life for 6 years
Eventually rejected this extreme
lifestyle and sat in meditation
Found nirvana and became “The
Enlightened One” at age 35.
Nirvana
“No suffering for him
Who is free from sorrow
Free from the fetters of life
Free in everything he does
He has reached the end of his road…
Like a bird invisibly flying in the sky
He lives without possessions
Knowledge his food, freedom his world
While others wonder…
He has found freedom –
Peaceful his thinking, peaceful his speech
Peaceful his deed, tranquil his mind.”
What is the fundamental cause of
all suffering?
Therefore, extinguish the self, and don’t
obsess about yourself, you will reach nirvana
Nirvana: lasting peace and enlightenment
The “Three Jewels” of
Buddhism
1. Buddha – the teacher
2. Dharma – the teachings
3. Sangha – the community
The Four Noble Truths
1. There is suffering in
the world; to live is to
suffer. (Dukkha)
Imperfection
Illness
Hatefulness
Separation
The Four Noble Truths
2. The cause of suffering is
self-centered desire and
attachments to worldly
things. (Samudaya)
Grasping for pleasure
Grasping for becoming
Grasping for sensual
delight
Grasping for what we
don’t have
The Four Noble Truths
3. Suffering will
stop when
desires are
stopped
(Nirodha)
When the
‘grasping’ stops
Elimination of
passions
The Four Noble Truths
4. There is a way
to get to this
point: by
following the
Middle Way or
the Eightfold
Path
The Middle Way: The Eightfold Path
Wisdom:
1. Right understanding:
have faith in Buddha’s
view of the universe
2. Right motives and
thoughts: uncover
‘unwholesome’
emotional roots that
guide our thinking
The Middle Way: The Eightfold Path
Moral Discipline:
3. Right speech: do not
participate in vain talk, gossip,
harsh words, or lying
4. Right actions: do not kill, steal,
participate in immorality, do not
lie or use intoxicants
5. Right livelihood: do not work
jobs that go against the
teaching of Buddha
The Middle Way: The Eightfold Path
Mental Discipline:
6. Right effort: have a good attitude
toward achieving all Buddhist
goals
7. Right mindfulness: being in touch
with your mental and physical
health
8. Right meditation: focus the mind
inward in order to find spiritual
awareness
So what exactly do Buddhists believe?
• Rebirth (reincarnation)
results from attachments
(karma)to this earth
• 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
Yoga
• A physical, mental, and spiritual
discipline, originating in ancient India.
• Goal of yoga is the attainment of a
state of perfect spiritual insight and
tranquility.
• The Sanskrit word yoga has the
literal meaning of "yoke", meaning to
join, to unite, or to attach.