BUDDHISM

All know the Way, but few

actually walk it.

Don’t believe anything

because a teacher said it,

you must experience it.

Some Facts About Buddhism 4th largest religion (488

million)

The Buddha is not chubby

Buddha is not a god

Buddhism enters Asia in 150

CE

Buddhism is not a major

religion in India today

Objectives– The Three Gems

The Buddha

Life story of the Buddha

The Dharma

The Law and Teachings of Buddha

4 Noble Truths

Samsara and Karma

The Sangha

Monastic tradition

Mahayana

Buddhism in Asia

The Dharma

The Second Gem:

Teachings of the Buddha:

Buddha’s First Sermon

All of the Dharma is based on Buddha's

discovery that suffering is unnecessary:

Like a disease, once we really face the

fact that suffering exists, we can look

more deeply and discover it's cause;

and when we discover that the cause

is dependent on certain conditions, we

can explore the possibility of removing

those conditions.

The First Sermon at Sarnarth

Emphasis is not metaphysical

Goal is liberation from rebirth

1st Sermon– Four Noble Truths and The Middle Way

Suffering Exists (Dukkha)

Suffering is caused by craving caused by ignorance

(Tanha)

Suffering will cease

The way to this state is the Noble Eightfold Path

Result is Nirvana

Three Marks of Existence

“All of life is marked by three experiences:

All things Suffer (Dukkha)

All things are impermanent (Anicca)

All things are interdependent

There is no Soul, there is only what is”

Noble Eightfold Path

Purify the mind and help us avoid

unwholesome activities

Divided into Three Qualities Wisdom

Ethics (Sila)

Meditation or a

Disciplined Mind

(Skillful Means)

The Five Precepts (for all

Buddhists)

Do not lie

Do not steal

No sexual misconduct

No intoxicants

No harm or injury to living creatures (vegetarianism, pacifism)

Additional rules for monks and nuns

Humans: Anatman or No Soul

Doctrine

Humans are psychological and physiological

As such, we have the characteristic of impermanence/emptiness

Humans are comprised of Aggregates (Skandhas) Form, Feeling, Perceptions, Volition, Consciousness

All these things are temporary and dependent upon conditions (interdependence) .

Thus Buddhism does deny the existence of a permanent self that transmigrates from one existence to the next, but not an identity

Samsara and Karma Reality of the universe, a

cycle of existence

No soul… what is reborn?

Karma; cause and effect

Seed Metaphor

Karma keeps us tethered to

the world through our

ignorance and cravings.

Attachment, Aversion and

delusion (Generosity,

compassion, insight)

Heavenly Realm: Realm of Bliss and Pride

Jealous gods: jealousy, struggle, combat or rationalization of the world.

Human Realm: Passion, Desire and Doubt

Animal Realm: Stupidity and prejudice

Hungry Ghost Realm: possessiveness and desire

Hell Realm: Hatred

6 Realms of Existence

On the way to Nirvana: 7 factors

Mindfulness

Investigation

Energy/effort

Happiness

Tranquility

Concentration

Equanimity

Free yourself from Egocentrism---Be Self-less

Avoid the 10 hindrances

Vocabulary

Dharma

Nirvana

Dukkha

Tanha

Anitya/Anicca

Anatman/Anatta

Dhammapada

Karma

Bodhisattva

Samsara

Arhant

Power of Buddha’s teaching

Message was clear/accessible; no arcane scriptures; given in the vernacular language

Favored introspection and self-mastery over externalized ritual

Rank/sex did not matter

Disciplined monastic organization (sangha) provided an alternative to militarism (peace army vs. war army)