The Path to EnlightenmentThe Way of Siddhartha
Buddhism
563 BC – Life of Siddhartha Gautama (1st Buddha)270 BC – Life of Indian King, Ashoka
Spread Buddhism to Sri Lanka, India, and parts of ChinaAdvocated a nation of “non-violence” after having many wars
50 AD – Buddhism enters China520 AD – Meditation School established in China630 AD – Buddhism enters Tibet820 AD – Tendai and Shingon Buddhism in Japan1200 AD – Zen Buddhism grows in Japan1952 AD – Founding of the World Fellowship of Buddhists1989 AD – Nobel Peace Prize awarded to the Dalai Lama
Buddhism Timeline
Siddhartha Gautama – 600’s BC – the first Buddha Born the son of a prince in Nepal, but mother (who has a legendary dream) dies a week
after his birth Prophecy after birth: He could take one of two paths
A Great World Ruler A Great World Teacher
His father ensured (because of the prophecy) that Siddhartha avoid exposure to suffering He married and had a son, was educated, and was trained to become a warrior One day, he disobeyed his father and left the family compound and saw Four Passing
Sights Old Man (crooked and toothless) Sick Man (wasted by disease) Dead Man (corpse being taken to cremation) Holy Man (a wandering monk)
At 30, he left his family in the middle of the night to seek answers to his questions Siddhartha starved himself in order to try to understand and answer the questions (it
almost killed him, Starved Buddha) So, Siddhartha adopted a “Middle Path” (not indulgence but not starvation) Sat under a Bodhi Tree
After a night of intense thinking, he reached Enlightenment or Awakening (Bodhi) He found that suffering was part of life, but there could be release
Buddha – one who is Enlightened He began teaching his 5 friends what he had learned At 80, he got food poisoning and died. He turned on his side (Reclining Buddha)
The Life of the First Buddha
The Buddha – the one who has gained EnlightenmentThis is not a set number of people, and the hope of
Buddhism is that all people may become EnlightenedEven if one follows Buddhism closely, this is supremely
difficultIdeal for all humans, not taught to be dead but existing
in timelessnessThe Dharma – the sum total of Buddhist teachings
and the way in which one should view the worldThis will vary based on whichever school of Buddhism is
followedThe Sangha – community of nuns and monks
Three Jewels of Buddhism
The three marks of reality are the Buddhist Worldview 1) Change is Constant
One of the many reasons we feel pain (Buddhists: the primary reason) is change
But, we feel pain because we do not expect change Therefore, expect change in all things (life, image, definitions, friends,
attitudes, etc.) 2) There is No Permanent Identity
Every person is made up of parts that are constantly changing Anatta – or “no atman”, there is no constant identity or soul of a
person; the parts are constantly changing The Car Analogy
3) Suffering Exists Dukkha – suffering or sorrow Life can never be satisfying because it is constantly filled with change Suffering is inescapable So, therefore, understand and master suffering and its causes
Three Marks of Reality
First Noble Truth: To Live is to Suffer Birth is painful, disease is painful, and death is painful Seems pessimistic, but it is actually just reality
Pessimistic – the outlook that things are bad (not good) Second Noble Truth: Suffering Comes from Desire
Suffering comes from not being content with what we have or holding on too tightly to what we have
Craving cannot be appeased, so it will continue Third Noble Truth: To End Suffering, End Desire
Any kind of attachment will cause trouble eventually To be a monk is best, but not all can Layperson Re-interpretation: “Everyone should live peacefully, realizing suffering
happens, but attempt to live for inner peace” Layperson – one who is not a religious leader Emotional Neutrality - never taking the extremes with emotion “I cannot change the world, but I can change myself and my experience of the world”
Fourth Noble Truth: Release from Suffering is Possible and Can be Attained by Following the Noble 8-Fold Path Nirvana – ending of suffering, achievement of inner peace, and liberation from worldly
limitations When Nirvana is reached, karma and rebirth are ended. (Cut off the flame to samsara)
The Four Noble Truths
1. Right Understanding – holding to the Buddhist worldview
2. Right Intention – Intentions are not motivated by selfish desires
3. Right Speech – Speak honestly and kindly; No lies, exaggeration, or harsh words
4. Right Action – I do not hurt that which can feel hurt; Avoidance of stealing and sexual conduct leading to hurt
5. Right Work – My work does no harm to others6. Right Effort – With moderation, I seek to improve7. Right Meditation – I focus on the true reality and the
nature of being more deeply8. Right Contemplation – I attempt to cultivate inner peace
The Eight-Fold Path
Ahimsa – the concept of “nonharm” Causing suffering to any being is cruelty and unnecessary Not just physical pain; any pain should be avoided Every being that feels can suffer Promotes: Vegetarian or Semivegetarian Diet Avoid Jobs: Soldier, butcher, fishermen, hunter, weapon maker, etc.
Rebirth – parts passing between bodies after death Not reincarnation (transfer of an unchanging, eternal soul) Rather, this is the transfer of “parts” of one’s personality between
new bodiesKarma – concept that one gets what one deserves
Unlike Hinduism, Buddhism believes this is an element attached to one’s personality (not one’s soul)
Samsara – endless cycle of birth and rebirth Liberation from samsara is attained through “gaining” Nirvana Possible in one life, but it often takes more than one life
Theology and Beliefs
Buddha eliminated ritual strivings (i.e. puja) that characterized the Hindu “Way of Works”
Buddha did not believe the Vedas to be authoritativeBuddhism has no orthodox scripturesSome have written the sayings of the Buddha, but
those are not considered “holy”Buddha eliminated the Caste System
As, he found it inconsistent with no harm, human rights, and his ever-changing world
Buddha believed the world is realWhereas, Hinduism believes that the world is merely
an illusion
Buddhism and Hinduism
Theravada - “The Way of the Elders”This is the “orthodox” or original version
Orthodox – the accepted opinion or pathThis group is solely focused on gaining Nirvana
The main groups who benefit from this sect is the monksNon-monks support the monksMonks were orange robes, beg daily for food, and receive
donations in order to surviveCalled Hinayana (“the Little Raft”) by opponents
Text: Tripitaka – Three sections (Monastic Rules, Sayings of Buddha, and Teachings)
Art: 8-Spoked Wheel (the symbol of Buddhism), StupasStupas – large mounds over the bodies of former Buddhas
Mostly in Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, and Sri Lanka
Buddhist Sects (Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana)
Mahayana Buddhism – The “Big Vehicle” Emphasizes the idea that nirvana is attainable by everyone (more than
just the priests) Karuna - Compassion – “everyone must save themselves by saving others”
We are all from the same origins and essence, so kindness shown to others IS kindness shown to self
Bodhisattva – one who delays full enlightenment in order to bring others to enlightenment
Guanyin – most famous heavenly (dead) bodhisattva The Trikaya Doctrine – the idea that there is 3 “bodies” of the Buddha
Cosmic Buddha – the universal and eternal essence form which the Buddha came Transformation Buddha – the physical form of one who reaches enlightenment Maitreya – Future Buddha – a Buddha who will come and tell the world how to
gain enlightenment (Mi-lo-fo – Laughing Buddha) Hope to dwell in the eternal “Buddha Land” after enlightenment Shunyata – the idea that all things are “emptiness” Veneration of ancestors and former Buddhas Sects: Shingon, Tendai, Pure Land, Nichiren, and Zen
Zen – strict meditation school of Buddhism
The “Big Vehicle”
Vajrayana Buddhism – the “Diamond Vehicle”Largely founded in TibetThis branch has the belief that the body and its
energies are not bad, but they should be channeled to reach enlightenment
A return to Hindu-like ritualStrict Monasticism is asked from the groups,
especially the Gelug-pa sectDalai Lama – the executive head of the Gelug-paLine of succession? – rebirth solves the problem
Vajra – ritual divination rodMudras – symbolic hand gestures
Right hand with fingers up – BlessingPalm open and hand downward - Generosity
The Diamond Vehicle
Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989
Found in Eastern Tibet because of an oracle interpreted by monks (49 days after the previous Dalai Lama’s death)
His name was/is Tenzen GyatsoThe monks brought hundreds of
items (mixed with a few items of the previous Dalai Lama)
He correctly identified all of the items (and only the items) owned by the former Dalai Lama
Thus, he proved that he was the former Dalai Lama
He currently lives in exile in India
Current Dalai Lama
Art and Culture Haiku – a short expressive poem that tries to capture an image
or ideal Sado – the tradition of offering tea to guests Garden Design – gardens are designed for beauty as well as
contemplation / A walk around the garden is an experience in meditation
Meditation – few images of Buddhism are more common than a monk or person in a state of meditation, focus, or mindfulness
Politics Non-violence, environmental activism, human rights, universal
peace and disarmamentTheology and Worldview
Buddhism is a traditional Atheistic religion It is also an intensely Realistic religious worldview And, it is openly Non-Exclusive as a religious movement
Buddhist World Influence
