Buddhism One of the Three Ways (Buddhism, Daoism, Confucianism) in Chinese Culture Founder: Siddhartha Gautama The Buddha “the enlightened one” The Four Noble Truths The Noble Eightfold Path

Buddhism Theravada Buddhism “Teaching of the Elders” community of Sangha follows the early traditions –Southeast Asia Mahayana Buddhism “Great Vehicle” monastic rules reinterpreted to adapt and spread Buddhist teachings beyond India –Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, Japanese

The Three Jewels the Buddha dharma (Buddha’s teachings) the sangha (religious community) –monks, nuns, and everyday followers

The Four Noble Truths 1.Human life is full of suffering and sorrow 2.Suffering and sorrow are caused by people’s greedy desires for power, pleasure, and possessions. 3.Suffering and sorrow will end when people overcome their greed. 4.People can overcome their greed and uncontrolled desires by adopting the Noble Eightfold Path. This path gives eight ways of living a correct or right life.

WayDescription Right view / understanding Believing in the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path Right resolve / thought Making a firm decision to live according to the Eightfold Path Right speechSpeaking in a manner that doesn’t harm others: not gossiping, lying or using angry words Right conduct / action Acting in a way that doesn’t harm others: not killing, not stealing, and also not acting selfishly Right livelihoodEarning a living in a way that doesn’t harm others Right effortStriving to get rid of any evil within oneself Right mindfulnessPaying attention to every state of the body, mind, and feeling Right concentrationThinking deeply for answers to problems Eightfold Path

Buddhism Nirvana the “blowing out” Goal of Life: the final release from samsara (wandering) – the cycles of death and rebirth A state of supreme happiness and peace Karma The law of cause and effect Positive actions build up merit –living a morally good life –meditation –offerings negative actions detract from it Reincarnation: cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. This chain is only broken by the ending of desire.

Buddhist texts Sutras –written hundred years after Buddha’s death. The Tripitaka – means “the three baskets” –The Buddha’s words and his guidelines for living

Spiritual Places Tibetan Buddhists –dharma wheels –prayer flags Shrines in homes Temples Stupas and pagodas

Buddhist Holidays Japanese Buddhists O-bon –Lanterns –Special dances –Light bonfires –Feasts Vesak Celebrates the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment & death In May when the moon is full Always dancing in the streets

Dalai Lama The 14 th Dalai Lama Tibetan Buddhist Spiritual and political leader Reincarnated

Bibliography Armento, Beverly, et. al. To See a World. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company Breuilly, Elizabeth, et. al. Religions of the World. New York: Facts on File, Inc. 1997