Buddhism’s Basic Beliefs

Origins Founded in India approximately 2500 years ago Today there are about 350 million adherents worldwide → 4th largest religion Dominant religion in China, Japan, Thailand. Cambodia, Tibet, Viet Nam

The Life of Buddha Buddha → Means the Enlightened or The Awakened One Buddha was born Siddhartha Gautama 563 BCE Member of Kshatriya caste Father was King Shuddhodana, mother Queen Maya Early life of Buddha not recorded until hundreds of year after his death Later versions include many miraculous events implying Siddartha had a virgin birth

Early Life Upon his birth, it was prophesized that Gautama would grow to be either a powerful King or a spiritual leader His father wanted hiim to be a King – did everything to distract him from matters of faith – every pleasure was seen to Siddartha grew restless and desired to see the “real world” He ventured outside his palace and saw 4 sights that would change his perspective

The Four Sights An old man A Sick man A corpse (dead man) A monk These sights caused Siddartha to question his own experience and the question the true meaning of life if it all ends in suffering and eventually death

The Goal of Buddhists The goal of all Buddhists is to achieve a state of enlightenment → Nirvana Nirvana - not clearly defined by Buddha – generally refers to the extinction of suffering

Buddhist concepts related to Hinduism Siddartha Gautama (the Buddha) was Hindu, thus it is not surprising that many religious concepts of Hinduism appear in Buddhism. Karma Dharma Samsara Nirvana

Hindu concepts rejected by Buddha Fatalism – grand order to things – everything is pre-determined → we are in control of our destiny! Authority of the Vedas and Upanishads → not absolute knowledge → knowledge lies within and comes also through experience Caste → contrary to the notion that all souls are equal – social divisions are made by man Religious rituals → worship of deities, offerings, chants, sacrifices are meaningless Salvation takes many lifetimes → salvation could occur within one life

Reaction to Gautama’s ideas Gautama was considered a heretic → one who goes against accepted beliefs of a religion

The Nature of Existence: Three ideas characterize the physical world: Annica Dukkha Anatta

Anicca → impermanence Buddha rejected the idea that the physical realm is “illusion” Our experience is very real – the problem is that our states of happiness are very brief and followed by periods of dissatisfaction – everything is constantly changing! Change is the only constant in the universe; nothing stays the same Everything material will decay / breakdown – this is the source of our dissatisfaction in life

Which is your true self?

Dukkha → dissatisfaction All living things experience suffering – to live is to suffer (both physically and emotionally) No such thing as continuous happiness / pleasure Suffering is real, not illusion Suffering / dissatisfaction is a state of mind Suffering leads to desire, which ultimately leads to more suffering because our desires are endless

Anatta → no-self doctrine There is no permanent independent self Each individual is a tiny collection of hopes, fears, thoughts, feelings and physical matter that is constantly changing Each soul is a “drop from the ocean”

The Four Sights Feeling spiritually unfulfilled Siddartha secretly left his palace at the age 29 to see the “real” world. His experience is referred to at The Four Sights Old man Sick man Dead man Monk

Meaning of the Four Sights Old age, sickness and death are inevitable and come to ALL people regardless of wealth or social status We live our life in denial of these things for, to think of them would cause us great distress Monk – seeks the answer to “life’s riddle” through self denial

The Middle Way Siddhartha learned to meditate – good but meditation did not lead to an answer Next he tried a life of extreme self denial – living on a grain of rice per day – he became ill Concluded that a life of extremes (indulgence & self-denial) is unsatifying and provoked further cravings The answer must be pursued through the Middle Way – path between extremes

Enlightenment While meditating under the Bodi Tree Siddartha achieved supreme realization – enlightenment – regarding the nature suffering and the path to the elimination of suffering

Buddhism addresses the questions that lies at the heart of all humanity: Why do I suffer? What is the cause suffering? How can I end suffering?

1. The Noble Truth of Suffering: To live is to suffer → dhukka Suffering → dissatisfaction → because we are physical beings we can never be truly satisfied We are perpetually wanting

2. The Noble Truth of the Origin of Suffering We suffer because we desire – attachment to this world Desire is caused by ignorance / delusion – we believe we can satisfy our desires What we most desire causes the greatest suffering

3. The Noble Truth of the Extinction of Suffering If desire is the root of suffering, then to end suffering we must conquer desire End desire → detach from material world – let it go!

4. The Noble Truth of the Path Leading to the Extinction of Suffering To end desire → follow the Noble Eight Fold Path

The Noble Eight Fold Path 1.Right View Wisdom 2. Right Intention 3. Right Speech Ethical Conduct 4. Right Action 5. Right Livelihood 6. Right Effort Mental Development 7. Right Mindfulness 8. Right Concentration