BuddhismUnderstanding Thai Buddhism for EvangelismDana Bratton & Asher Mathew 2005

The BuddhaSiddhartha Gautama(563-483 BC)Buddhism is a religion and philosophy founded in India c.525 B.C. by Siddhartha Gautama, called the Buddha. There are over 300 million Buddhists worldwide. Born a prince and raised in luxury, he left his family and possessions at the age of 29 to search for an ultimate solution to the problem of the suffering.

Basic Beliefs and PracticesThe basic doctrines of early Buddhism, which remain common to all Buddhism, include the four noble truths.

The Three Refuges(Jewels)The BuddhaThe Dharma (teachings, doctrine)The Sangha (the Order)

TripitakaThree basketsVinaya Pitakamonastic rulesSutta Pitakateachings of the BuddhaVersions of the LawOther LivesAbhidhamma Pitakasupplement to the doctrines (esoteric)

The Teachings of the Buddha The Four Noble Truths

Preface to the Four Noble Truths:The Middle PathTwo extremes to be avoided:(1) Hedonism(2) AsceticismThis Middle Path is the Noble Eightfold Path, namely, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration . . . .

By avoiding these two extremes, we discover a Middle Path, a path which opens the eyes, which bestows understanding, and which leads to peace of mind, to wisdom, to full enlightenment, to Nirvana.http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

1. The Noble Truth of Sufferinghttp://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

Birth is suffering, aging and deterioration is suffering, disease is suffering, death is suffering. The presence of hateful objects is suffering; the absence of lovable objects is suffering; not getting what we desire [i.e., getting what we dont want and not getting what we do want] is suffering. To put it briefly, the fivefold clinging [attachment] to existence [through the body, sensation, consciousness, perception, and volition -- the five skandhas or components of human personhood] is suffering.

2. The Noble Truth of the Cause of Suffering*Some traditions make (c) a craving for prosperity or for personal happiness.http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

The cause is the selfish craving [tanha, thirst, desire] that leads to rebirth and which is accompanied by lust for pleasure, seeking satisfaction now here, now there. This selfish craving takes three main forms: (a) craving for pleasure, (b) craving for [continued] existence, and (c) craving for non-existence.*

3. The Noble Truth of the Cessation of Sufferinghttp://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

Suffering ceases with the complete cessation of selfish craving a cessation which consists in the absence of every passion [nirvana, no passion, the blowing out of tanha]. Suffering ceases with the laying aside of, the giving up of, the being free from, the dwelling no longer upon this selfish craving.

4. The Noble Truth of the Path that leads to the cessation of sufferinghttp://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

It is the Noble Eightfold Path, that is to say, Right Views, Right Intent, Right Speech, Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, and Right Concentration.

Elaboration of the Noble Eightfold PathRight views (Samma ditthi)Right intent (Samma sankappa)

Right speech (Samma vaca)Right conduct (Samma kammanta)Right livelihood (Samma ajiva)

Right effort (Samma vayama)Right mindfulness (Samma sati)Right concentration (Samma samadhi)Wisdom (prajna)Morality (sila)Meditation (samadhi)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

1. Right ViewsThe Four Noble TruthsThe doctrine of no-self (anatta, anatman)Transitoriness (anicca): impermanenceThe Five Components or Aggregates (skandhas) of human personhoodInterdependent OriginationKarma & Samsara (rebirth)Nirvana (what is it?)(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

The Five Components (skandhas) of personhoodPersonBody (rupa)Mind (nama)Sensation (vedana)Consciousness (vinnana)Perception (sanna)Volition (sankhara)(No-self, contd)

The doctrine ofInterdependent Origination(Paticca Samuppada)The interdependence & relativity of all things(No-self, contd)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

The wheel of becoming

1.Ignorance12.Aging & DyingImpulse to ExistCon- scious- ness3.5.Six Senses11.Birth10.Becom- ing6.Contact7.Sensations8.Craving4.Mind- Body9.Cling- ingGreed Delusion HatredHeavenHellHuman RealmDemon RealmAnimal RealmHungry Ghost Realm2.http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

2. Right Intent(Resolution)Right intent or resolutionis the intent or resolution to live & actin accordance with right views.(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

3. Right SpeechNo lyingNo slanderNo harsh or rude talkNo profanityNo impolite or abusive languageNo idle or foolish chatterStrive to use language meaningfully & usefully

Learn to maintain noble silence(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

4. Right ConductNo harming & killingNo stealingNo lying & deceitfulnessNo sexual immoralityNo use of intoxicantsEat moderately & not after noon.Stay away from dancing, singing, & dramatic spectacles.Do not use garlands, scents, unguents, or ornaments.Do not use high or broad beds.Do not accept gold or silver (money in general?).(Eightfold Path, continued)The Five Precepts (for everybody) & the Ten Precepts (for monks & nuns)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

5. Right Livelihood(Vocation)Choose professions that promote life, peace, & spiritual progress (especially life in theSpecifically prohibited professions: poison peddler, slave trader, prostitute, butcher, manufacturer & trader of liquor & other intoxicants, weapons manufacturer & trader, tax collector, caravan trader.(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

6. Right Effort(purification of the mind)Preventing evil & unwholesome states of mind from arisingGetting rid of such states of mind that may already existBringing about good & wholesome states of mindDeveloping & perfecting good & wholesome states of mind that are already present(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

7. Right MindfulnessActivities of the body (breathing, walking, sitting, eating, heartbeat, etc.)Feelings (anger, fear, joy, pleasure, pain, etc.)States of mind (thoughts, ideas, etc.)Ways of conceptualizing things (the Four Noble Truths, the Wheel of Becoming, etc.)Focusing of attention on:(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

8. Right ConcentrationOne-pointed concentration The four absorptions:Detachment from all sense objects & from negative states of mind; thought processes accompanied by joyCessation of all mental activities; internal calm, peace of mind, joy to the point of great elationCessation of all passions & prejudices; continued sense of joyCessation of joy; total tranquillity & equanimity -- Nirvana (& arhatship)

Preliminary concentration on the Four Sublime Moods: love, compassion, cheerfulness, & impartiality(Eightfold Path, continued)http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

Four Stages of Advancementalong the Noble Eightfold Path 1 Belief in permanent self 2 Doubt 3 Belief in religious rituals 4 Sensual craving 5 Ill will 6 Desire for rebirth in worlds of form 7 Desire for rebirth in formless realms 8 Pride 9 Self-righteousness10 Ignorance of the true nature of thingshttp://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

The Historical Evolutionof Buddhism

The Major Buddhist TraditionsTheravada (The Way of the Elders) - Sri Lanka & Southeast Asia

Mahayana (The Greater Vehicle) - China, Korea, & Japan (& Tibet & Mongolia)

Vajrayana (The Way of the Diamond Thunderbolt) - Tibet & MongoliaVajrayana is a development within the Mahayana tradition.http://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

The Spread of BuddhismSpheres of InfluenceTheravadaMahayanaVajrayanaBuddhism out of India by 1000 ADhttp://www.bergen.edu/faculty/gcronk/Buddhism.ppt

Dharma (Buddhas Teaching)

Chinese Buddhist celebration

The monks come daily to each home for an offering

Coming of age to be a monk

Monks

Tiger Cave Mountain where they have a foot bone of the Buddha

Atop Tiger Cave Mountain

Atop Tiger Cave Mountain

Revering the foot of Buddha

Why havent they responded to the Gospel?Not sharing the Gospel with Thai Buddhists in an understandable WayCommunication gap between Thai Buddhists and missionariesTo be Thai is to be BuddhistLack of contextualization is partly responsible for lack of response among the Thai people

II. General approach to contextualization in Thailand

Right attitude towards Thai cultureAll that God created is goodAcknowledging Thai values which are biblical valuesUse caution in choosing Thai Buddhist words to explain Christian truthUsing Buddhist words to express Christian conceptsDesigning new vocabulary to Christian conceptsNecessity of on-going contact to produce biblical understanding among Thai BuddhistsSharing the Gospel with Buddhists, not Buddhism Necessity of loving people as they are

III. Thai concepts that may be adopted to explain the Gospel The origin of suffering (dukkha) and the attainment of true happinessHappiness is impossible because life is suffering (dukkha)True origin of Dukkha is Adam and Eves ignorance (avijja)True happiness is possible when the true source of Dukkha is identifiedDukkha, Anicca, and Anatta may be used to describe Gods relationship with manIsrael is a source of suffering (dukkha) to GodIsraels devotion to God is impermanent (anicca)Israel destroys herself by her actions and disobedience to God (anatta)

Sharing the Gospel continuedA probable misunderstanding by Thai Buddhist listeners Merit transference (pattidana) and the Cross of ChristTheravada Buddhism denies existence of merit transferenceTwo examples of merit transference as practiced by Thai Buddhists i. Cloth Offering Ceremony at a Funeral ii. Entering the Buddhist Priesthood Double transference of merit in Christ Jesus has infinite merit which is transferred to manMans guilt is transferred to Jesus Discussing merit transference with Thai Buddhists Merit transference provides an escape from Karma

IV. A Motivation to Avoid Sin: ShameShame orientation versus guilt orientationThe nature of shame in Thai Society Motivation to avoid sin because of shame V. Illustrations from Thai history used to illustrate the biblical truth of substitution and sacrifice The self Sacrifice of Queen Suriyothai. The Contest for Chiang Mai, determined by who could stay underwater the longest.

Teach ESL, Christian songs, and the Bible These two girls accepted Christ!

Tsunami devastation on Phi Phi Island A horrible tragedy, but an opportunity to help and for evangelism