Buddhism

Maitreya Buddha

• Name means “future Buddha”. Many believe he will return to earth in the future to restore Buddhist ideals

• He is a Chinese symbol that most assume is the Buddha, he is not.

• He is a symbol for generosity

Terms to Know

• Buddha• Siddhartha Guatama• Ascetic• Middle-Way • Bodhi Tree• Enlightenment• Nirvana• Karma• 4 Noble Truths• Eightfold Path

The Bodhi Tree• Mahabodhi tree (Sacred Fig)

next to the Mahabodhi Temple, the spot where Siddhartha Gautama, the Buddha, attained enlightenment. It is supposedly the descendent of the original tree.

Facts

• Buddhism is the 4th largest religion with about 360 million followers.

• Branches away from Hinduism • Founder is the 1st Buddha, a former Hindu

prince by the name of Siddhartha Guatama.• 1st written records of Buddhism came about

400 years after Buddha’s death.• Theism varies from somewhat atheistic to

polytheistic, to pantheistic.

God(s)

• Gods are real but they are not the focus like many religions. Some Buddhists place little emphasis if any on deities.

• Focus is on the pursuit of an individual’s spiritual goals and the complete understanding of reality and life (enlightenment).

The Start of Buddhism• Siddhartha Gautama : Born 583 BC near Nepal.• Wealthy son of king.• Sheltered, well educated, and is married• Escapes the palace around age 29

– Old man– Sick man– Corpse– Ascetic

• Realizes the inescapable fate of all humans• Begins his quest for enlightenment and an escape from rebirth• Becomes an ascetic• Switches to the “Middle Way”• Sits under a Bodhi Tree

The Ultimate Goal: Achieve Nirvana

• The breaking of the cycle of rebirth.• It has no definition to Buddhists because it

must be experienced to be understood• You want to avoid life’s roadblocks that

prevent you from reaching Nirvana.• This can be done by following the “Four Noble

Truths”.

The Bedrock of Buddhism: The Four Noble Truths (essential for enlightenment)

1) All of life is marked by suffering (life is suffering)

2) Suffering is caused by desires and attachment.

3) Suffering can be eliminated by abandoning desires and attachments.

4) Desires and attachments can be eliminated by following The Eightfold Path.

The Eightfold Path (to enlightenment)

1) Right Understanding – Develop an understanding of the world through the 4

Noble Truths.

2) Right Thought – Avoid Jealous or angry thoughts: foster thoughts of

goodwill.

3) Right Speech- avoid lying, harsh words, etc.

4) Right Action- peaceful honest and pure conduct.

Eightfold Path Continued

5) Right livelihood - earn your living in an honest and righteous way.

6) Right Effort - practice discipline and cultivation of the mind

7) Right Alertness- awareness of your own actions works and thoughts and their

reality, not conceptualizations.

8) Right Concentration- the ability to become completely absorbed in one point or

object leading to a state of higher consciousness (meditation)

Purpose in Life and the Afterlife (will

vary based on sect) • Focus of life is understanding human nature and reality• Death is followed by reincarnation based on Karma.

(may take animal form, human, or even a god)• The only way to break this cycle is to achieve

enlightenment (complete understanding) and enter Nirvana.

• Some Buddhists believe in the idea of a Bodhisattva – one who has achieved enlightenment but postpones eternal nirvana to return to earth and help others achieve it.

Buddhist Quotes• The greatest achievement is selflessness.

The greatest worth is self-mastery. The greatest quality is seeking to serve others. The greatest precept is continual awareness. The greatest medicine is the emptiness of everything. The greatest action is not conforming with the worlds ways. The greatest magic is transmuting the passions. The greatest generosity is non-attachment. The greatest goodness is a peaceful mind. The greatest patience is humility. The greatest effort is not concerned with results. The greatest meditation is a mind that lets go. The greatest wisdom is seeing through appearances.