Buddhism Beliefs and Philosophy

Views

• Not Theology, but Philosophy

• Do not worship their founder

• Do not worship gods or deities

• Not a religion of dogma• Focus on attaining salvation• Nirvana

Noble Truths

1. Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory

2. suffering originates in our desires3. Suffering will cease if all desires cease4. There is a way to realize this state: the Noble

Eightfold Path

Suffering

• Dukha• Suffering or frustration• Cannot control everything in our life

Principles of Non-Existence

• Anicca – nothing in the universe is permanent • Anatman – we are not permanent• We are ever changing ideas and emotions• When desire ceases, so too will Dukha

The Matrix and Buddhism

Wheel of Birth and Death

• Differences between Hindu and Buddhism

• No eternal self in Buddhism• Karma understood slightly

differently • Personality developing on

moment-to-moment basis• Impressions of good and back

actions carry on

Liberation – Freed from the Illusion

Buddhism Morality

Wheel of Birth and Death

• Differences between Hindu and Buddhism

• No eternal self in Buddhism• Karma understood slightly

differently • Personality developing on

moment-to-moment basis• Impressions of good and back

actions carry on

The Four Noble Truths

1. Life inevitably involves suffering, is imperfect and unsatisfactory

2. suffering originates in our desires3. Suffering will cease if all desires cease4. There is a way to realize this state: the Noble

Eightfold Path

Dharma

• Path to righteousness• Principle that upholds

the universe• The Middle Way

Noble Eightfold Path to Liberation

1. Right Views2. Right Intent

Morality

3. Right Speech4. Right Action5. Right livelihood

Concentration

6. Right Effort7. Right Mindfulness8. Right Concentration

Buddhism Devotion and

Practices

North Into China

• Emulate• Philosophical• Philo-piety• Way of Life• Accepted by Chinese

government

South to India

• Theravada Buddhism• Closer to Hinduism• Divine assistance• Temples, shrines, candles• More Devotional• Mahaparinibbana Sutta• Prayer and monasticism

Spiritual Focus

• Mahayana• Bodhisattva• Conservative and

traditional• Study scripture• Enlightened are never far• Monastic and lay people

Vajrayana Buddhism

• South east Asia (Tibet, Mongolia, Nepal)• Tibetan Diaspora under the Chinese

Communist regime• Dali Lama• Rebirth of a long line of Bodhisattva• 17th century to 1959, Dali Lama played

important role in Tibetan government