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Buddhism
Key Elements and
Beliefs
Part 1
Buddhism –Hindu Origins!
Accepts
Reincarnation
Samsara
Karma
Dharma
Nirvana
Pali
Rejects
Caste system (Brahmins)
 Ritual (offerings / Chants)
 Gods
Creation myths (futile)
Attainment of nirvana only after
thousands of lifetimes – making
moksha impossible to most
Hindus
Sanskrit
Buddhism throughout the World

200 million to 600 million +
adherents

predominant faith in Burma,
Ceylon, Thailand and IndoChina.

followers also in China,
Korea, Mongolia and Japan.

10, 000 + Buddhists in
Canada

2 principal schools are
Mahayana and Theravada
(or Hinayana) Buddhism
Buddhism
v.
Other Great Religions

Insights of a man
revelation from the
divine

Wisdom
Faith

Direct inward
observation of the
human condition
Sacrificial rituals
designed to offer
devotion to the gods
Buddhism view of Women

more equal in stance
compared to
Hinduism

women may endure
more “suffering” (ie.
childbirth)

Buddha allowed
either men or women
from any caste to
become monks or
nuns and join the
Sangha (brotherhood)
The Buddha’s Buddhism

Emphasis on “things to do” rather than “things to believe”

People are responsible for seeking their own spiritual fulfillment
rather than being dictated to by a priest

Ritual is insignificant – Buddhism is to be free of
meaningless rituals which usually involve paying a priest to
perform

Avoid speculative questions (creation, Supreme power,
afterlife) since there was little possibility of definitive
answers = instead spend time attempting to deal with the
harsh realities presented by life here and now

Practical and free of mystical obsessions - questions about
cosmology (creation / heaven) cannot be answer – therefore pointless
The Buddha’s Buddhism continued
4.
5.
6.
Pali – language commonly used - accessible to all
Through self-effort, enlightenment could be
achieved in 1 lifetime – regardless of one’s position
in society
Gender is part of the illusion – Buddha’s Buddhism
acknowledges equality between men and women
and children
The Buddha - Enlightenment

NIRVANA




state of supreme realization
and enlightenment
understand truth of life and
freedom from ignorance
state of total liberation,
truth, tranquility, peace
Setting in Motion the
Wheel of the Dharma –
Sermon in the Deer Park
Sermon in the Deer Park

Setting in Motion the
Wheel of the Dharma






The Middle Way
The 4 Noble Truths
The Noble Eight-fold
Path
The 3 Marks of
Existence
The 3 Refuges / Jewels
The 5 Precepts
Buddhism - The Middle Way
Buddhism – the 4 Noble Truths
Diagnose of the disease
all life consists of
suffering (dukkha)
1. Suffering
4. Path to the
Extinction of
Suffering
The 4 Noble Truths
Determination of
cause of the disease
2. Origin of
Suffering
root of suffering
is desire (tanha)
to overcome desire,
one must follow the
Middle Way and
3. Extinction
of Suffering
8 fold Path
way to end suffering
is by overcoming Prognosis of the disease
desire
Prescription
Fundamental Ethics
of Buddhism is the
Eightfold Path.
Buddhist scriptures
are filled with stories
illustrating compassion,
Charity and non-violence
3 Marks of Existence
All things outside of nirvana have 3 fundamental characteristics
1.
2.
Anicca (impermanence)
Dukkha (dissatisfaction)

3.
Experience of suffering (continuous happiness only lasts for a limited
amount of time)
Anatta (no-self)




Cannot point to any one thing in ourselves and say it is the self
All the parts make the person (arms / leg / eye / mood / state of mind
No permanent independent self, only changing parts we that we
designate as the self
The I, me, my, does not exist
3 Refuges / 3 Jewels

I take refuge in the
Buddha

I take refuge in the
Dharma

I take refuge in the
Sangha
The 5 Precepts – Rules followed by all Buddhists
(monk and laypersons)
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Abstain for killing or harming living beings
(ahimsa)
Abstain from stealing
Abstain from improper sexual conduct
Abstain from false speech (telling lies,
setting people against each other, gossiping)
Abstain from taking alcohol and harmful
drugs
Additional precepts (monks)
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Abstain from eating after noon
Abstain from looking a dancing, singing, or
drama
Abstain fro the use of perfumes and things
that tend to beautify and adorn a person
Abstain from using comfortable beds
Abstain from accepting gold or silver