BUDDHISMComparative Religions

Who is Buddha?

Siddhartha Gautama who was born in Nepal around 563 BC.

His father was a ruler so he grew up in luxury At 16 he married a princess and they had a son Siddhartha’s father had fortunetellers predict

Siddhartha’s life when he was born. Sid’s career was crossed:

If he succeeded his father as ruler, he would be a world conqueror who unified India

If he denied his succession, he would be a world redeemer

In his 20’s, Sid chose the path away from ruling.

He left the palace and his family to learn religion from the Hindu priests.

After the Hindu priests, he joined the ascetics and learned from them.

Between the Hindus and the Ascetics he found the Middle Way – the area between the extremes of denial in Ascetcism and indulgence

In the final phase of his quest, he decided to meditate until he reached his goal of enlightenment. Sat down under a Bodhi tree and refused to get up

until he was enlightened. While he sat under the tree he was tempted

three times by Mara – the evil one Sid rebuffed her temptations and she fled.

The next morning he “woke up” and was no longer Sid, but Buddha.

Mara tempted him one more time, but Buddha prevailed and she left him alone forever.

Buddha’s Buddhism

Buddha Founded an order of Monks Challenged the Brahmins Accepted the skeptics attitudes

His routine Train monks and oversee the order Public preaching Private counseling Withdrawal for renewal

He taught for nine months, withdrew for three in seclusion with his monks

Buddha also withdrew three times each day to meditate

Buddha died at 80 years old after eating poisonous mushrooms

Buddha, a god?

Buddha was a compassionate rationalist. Buddha was human

He refused all efforts to turn him into a god He disciples called him Sakyamuni –

silent sage and Tathagata – the perfectly enlightened one

Buddha’s Faith

Six features of all religions Authority Ritual Explanations Tradition Grace Mystery

What Buddha preached in relation to these six features: Religion should be devoid of authority Religion should be devoid of ritual His religion skirted explanation Religion should be devoid of tradition Religion should exist on intense self-effort Religion should be devoid of all supernatural

What Buddha did preach: Religion is empirical – you must know for yourself Religion is scientific – what’s here is here, what’s not

is not Religion is pragmatic – it is a tool to help you get to

where you are going spiritually Religion is therapeutic – it can make you feel better Religion is psychological – look to yourself and what

you need Religion is egalitarian – women can be enlightened

too Religion is for individuals – he urged working out

one’s own salvation with diligence

Buddha’s first sermon

The Four Noble Truths Dukkha – suffering

How much of life is enjoyable? At what level of our being does enjoyment begin? We suffer because we are off-balance with ourselves. This is

obvious at four times in our lives: Birth trauma Illness Old age Death

What causes dukkha? Tanha – ego. The bigger it gets, the worse it is.

Overcoming Tanha. Release from our ego/self-interest releases our torment/suffering

The way out of torment is the Eightfold Path

The Eightfold Path

How to remove the suffering caused by the ego. Right knowledge Right aspiration Right speech Right behavior Right livelihood Right effort Right mindfulness Right absorption

Right knowledge Know the Four Noble Truths

Right aspiration Do we really want enlightenment?

Right speech What we say reveals our character

Right behavior Don’t kill, steal, lie, be unchaste, drink, or do drugs

Right livelihood Join a monastery or find an occupation that makes

you happy while working

Right effort Keep working hard toward you goal so you can

get to where you want to be Right mindfulness

Ignorance is our biggest enemy; see everything as it really is

Right absorption Change so that you can experience the world

in a new way.

Concepts of Buddhism

Nirvana is the goal of Buddhism – bliss through enlightenment

Three Marks of Existence: Dukkha – suffering Annatta – a lack of permanent identity Anicca – impermanence

Basically, these three things are loosely tied together to make humans who they are.

Split in Buddhism

Three questions that divide his followers: Are people independent or interdependent? Is the universe friendly, indifferent, or hostile? What is the best part of the human self, its head or

its heart? Buddha’s followers divided over these

questions. Hinayanas are the smaller sect who believe the way

to enlightenment is only through becoming a monk and practicing Buddhism full time.

Mahayanas believed Buddhism was good for the common person and could be achieved by laypersons.

Hinayanists

Call their form of Buddhism Theraveda – the Way of the Elders

The Pali Cannon – early Buddhist texts support their position

Mahayanists

Believe Buddha did more through his life’s example than through instruction

Base their faith on the fact that he did not stay in a state of nirvana, he returned to work/serve the people.

Contrasting Theravada Buddhism and Mahayanists

Theraveda – progress rests with the individual

Mahayanists – progress rests with the phenominal

Theraveda – people are on their own for salvation

Mahayanists – Buddha and bdhisattvas work for us on our salvation

Theraveda – wisdom is the most important Mahayanists – wisdom is important, but

compassion also needs to be cultivated.

Theraveda – the sangha (monks) are the heart of this sect

Mahayanists – their priests can marry and have a life but are expected to be servants to their laity.

Theraveda – The ideal is arhat – to be the perfect disciple

Mahayanists – perfected wisdom through nirvana is renounced to return to the world and serve.

Theaveda – Buddha is a supreme sage Mahayanists – Buddha is a savior

Divisions of the Mahayanists

Pure Land School – believes a compassionate Buddha will carry his followers to the Pure Land of the Western Paradise (heaven)

Confucian predilections for learning and social harmony

Zen Buddhism

Comes from Buddha’s Flower Sermon He said nothing, just held up a golden lotus One dude, Mahakasyapa, smiled and nodded,

so Buddha decided he understood and made Mahakasyapa his successor.

Zen is a faith of deep questions often with no way to find the true answer. Two branches of Zen

Rinzai Soto (we won’t address this one)

Rinzai Sect Four key terms:

Zazen – seated meditation Koan - problem Sanzen – private meeting with a master about his

meditation Satori – breakthrough in solving his koan

Once satori is reached, five things have been accomplished: Monk finds life distinctly good He has an objective look at his relation to others He returns to the world he now perceives differently His attitude is now one of general agreeableness He will never again feel that his death will bring an end to

his life

Zen influence on Japan Sumie – black ink landscape painting Landscape gardening Flower arranging Tea Ceremony

Tibetan Buddhism

Uses the Vajrayana (Indian god of Thunder) to help them realize Buddha’s wisdom and compassion

The essence of Vajrayana is Tantra – focusing on the interrelatedness of things

Tibetans see success in practices which helps them reach nirvana in a single lifetime. They focus on speech, gestures, and vision

Mantras – Tibetans focus on making sounds into holy formulas

Mudras – Tibetans focus on choreographed hand gestures turning them into sacred dances

Mandalas – Icons whose holy beauty empowers – created by Tibetans

Dalai Lama – holy leader of Tibetan Buddhism His job is to incarnate on earth the celestial

principle of compassion or mercy

Summary of Buddhism

Buddhism is a journey Buddhists must choose which path to

follow to reach their journey’s end Hinayana or Mahayana

Recognize Buddhism’s Three Vows: I take refuge in the Buddha I take refuge in the dharma I take refuge in the sangha

Finally, realize that Buddha was a divine incarnation – an avatar.