BuddhismBuddhism

Life of Siddhartha Life of Siddhartha GautamaGautama

• Born in the 5th century BCE in northern India• Kshatriya• Important people in his family:

Father – Sudhodana, ruler of Kapilavastu Aunt and step-mother – Maha Prajapati Wife – Yashodhara Son – Rahula

• The Four Passing Sites: An old man An ill person A corpse A sannyasin

Leaves home at the age of 29; achieves Enlightenment at the age of 35 while meditating under a bodhi tree

• First sermon – in the Deer Park at Benares• Sangha – community of Buddhist monks and

nuns• Siddhartha’s aunt, wife and son all became

Buddhists monks or nuns• Died at the age of 80; body cremated and

ashes divided among various sites

• Stupa – the burial place of the Buddhist saint

Buddhist TeachingsBuddhist Teachings

Three Marks of ExistenceThree Marks of Existence

1. Anatta – “no self”; there is nothing that makes me uniquely “me”

2. Anicca – impermanence; nothing remains the same

3. Dukkha – suffering; we suffer because we do not understand anatta and anicca

The Four Noble TruthsThe Four Noble Truths1. Life is suffering

Suffering is the result of anatta and anicca – we suffer because things r constantly changing

2. Suffering is caused by selfish desireWe suffer because we are constantly wanting things – relationships, objects, accomplishments. Greed and self-centeredness bring about desire.

3. Suffering can be brought to an endIf we are aware of the cause of suffering, we can end it

4. Suffering can be ended by following the Middle Way and Eight Fold Path

The Eight-Fold PathThe Eight-Fold Path1. Right Understand; Right Views

Learn the Buddha's teachingsSee things as they really are; not as we would like them to beRecognize those thought that come from desire

2. Right IntentionsAvoid evil thoughts and get rid of evil attitudesNurture good attitudesAvoid dwelling on the past or the future

3. Right SpeechRecognize that what we say can cause a great deal of harm to othersAvoid gossip, lying, abusive talk; speak kindly and truthfully

4. Right Conduct or ActionAct kindly towards all living thingsObey the Five PreceptsDo not be attached to the results of your actions

The Eight-Fold PathThe Eight-Fold Path5. Right Livelihood

Do not have a job that hurts others – people, animals or the environment

6. Right EffortCleanse your mind and control your sensesMake an effort to follow the Buddha and give up your attachment to things that cause suffering

7. Right MindfulnessAlways be aware of what you are doing and whyDevelop mental focus

8. Right Concentration; Right MeditationLearn to meditate without losing concentrationIt is usually through meditation that a Buddhist attains Enlightenment

The Five PreceptsThe Five Precepts1. Do not take life 2. Do not take what is not given3. Do not engage in sensuous misconduct4. Do not use false speech5. Do not drink intoxicants

Other Buddhist Teachings:Other Buddhist Teachings:• Samsara – Buddhists do not believe in the

Atman (soul) – what is reincarnated is karmic energy (analogy of a flame – if you light one candle from another, then blow out the first, is the second candle flame the same as the first?)

• Karma – same as in Hinduism• Nirvana – awakening or enlightenment; final

Nirvana happens at the death of an Enlightened One but Buddhism does not describe what it is like

• Compassion – one of Buddhism’s most important teachings

• Dharma – in Buddhism, dharma refers to the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, The Buddha

Divisions in BuddhismDivisions in Buddhism

• After the death of Siddhartha, disputes arose over exactly how to follow his teachings

• Many different schools –or denominations – of Buddhism developed

• Today, the two main denominations are Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism

Theravada BuddhismTheravada Buddhism

• The original; it’s teachings are the closest to those of The Buddha

• “Doctrine of the Elders” or “The Lesser Way”

• Smaller than other denominations because its disciplines are more difficult

Teachings:Teachings:• Not much emphasis

on the Divine – more on how to achieve Enlightenment

• Reveres the idea of renunciation as a path to Enlightenment

• Emphasis on monasticism

• Belief in arhats = saints; holy men and women who serve as examples

Monastery and temple in Bangladesh

• Sacred texts include the Tripitaka (“Three Baskets”)o Vianaya Pitaka – monastic regulationso Sutta Pitaka which includes the Dhamapada – teachings of

Siddharthao Adhidamma Pitaka – ethical discussions

• Today, most Theravada Buddhists live in Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Laos and Cambodia

Mahayana BuddhismMahayana Buddhism• “The Greater Way” – because it is larger• First developed during the first century BCE• Found mostly in Tibet, Nepal, China, Korea

and Japan• Establishment of a priesthood with temples;

less emphasis on monasticism• Monasticism – becoming a monk or nun – is an important option

Buddhist nuns in Vietnam

Teachings:Teachings:• Belief in The Divine (may be monotheistic or

polytheistic, depending on the branch)• All beings are part of the Supreme Reality –

they just do not realize it• Belief in bodhisattvas who can help us

attain Enlightenmento Enlightened beings who have put off entering Nirvana in order to help others attain Enlightenmento Most important is Avalokitesvara – the Buddha of Compassion

• Worship of The Divine • Sacred texts include:

o The Lotus Sutra –o The Diamond Sutrao The Heart Sutra

Tibetan BuddhismTibetan Buddhism• A form of Mahayana that developed in the

Himalayan region around 700 CE• Led by the Dalai Lama – who is believed to be a

reincarnation of the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara

• The first Dalai Lama was Gendon Drub, the abbot of a monastery in central Tibet

• The current Dalai Lama, Tenzin Gyatso, is the 14th Dalai Lama

• Between 1642 and 1959, the Dalai Lama was both the spiritual and political leader of Tibet

• In 1959, the Chinese invaded and took over Tibet and the Dalai Lama fled into India for safety

The 14The 14thth Dalai Lama Dalai Lama

Age 18; in Tibet Contemporary

TeachingsTeachings• Incorporates Buddhism into indigenous

beliefs of Tibet – so worship of many bodhisattvas, Buddhas, and Dharma Protectors (mythic figures incorporated from the ancient Bohn religion of Tibet and Hinduism)

• Sacred books include the Bardo Thodol – The Tibetan Book of the Dead

• Use of mandalas and prayer wheels• Use of sacred dance• Strong emphasis on monasticism

BodhisattvasBodhisattvas

• In Mahayana Buddhism a bodhisattva is someone who has achieved Enlightenment but chooses to delay entering Nirvana in order to help others

• “Celestial Bodhisattvas” are those who live in “heaven” and help those who pray to them

• There are many hundreds of Bodhisattvas worshipped throughout Asia. Many are primarily local. The following are worshipped by all Mahayana Buddhists (although sometimes under different names.)

The Buddha of The Buddha of CompassionCompassion

• Avalokiteshvara – a companion of Siddhartha

• Postpones entering Nirvana to help others

• Earthly manifestation of Amitabha Buddha, who represents mercy and wisdom. The bodhisattva is said to appear anywhere to help all beings in danger and distress.

• Worshipped in all branches of Mahayana Buddhism

Guan YinGuan Yin

In the Far East, especially China and Japan, the Buddha of Compassion is worshipped as a goddess – Guan Yin (China) or Kannon (Japan)

““The Laughing The Laughing Buddha”Buddha”

• historically, he was a Chinese monk named Buddai (Hotei) who lived around 1000 CE

• known for his humor and good disposition

• as a bodhisattva, is patron of happiness and contentment

• legend (not part of Buddhist teaching) says rubbing the belly of his statues brings happiness and prosperity

MaitreyaMaitreya• the “Buddha to come”• the successor to

Siddhartha Gautama• will be born into the

world when the teachings of Siddhartha have been corrupted or lost

• currently exists in heaven, where he waits for the time when the world will need him