Buddhism

Origin of Buddhism Began in India around 500 BC. Biggest Number of members is in South East Asia. Related closely to Hinduism. Started by one man: Siddhartha Gautama.

Siddhartha Gautama Siddhartha’s life is known more through Legend than fact. Prince Siddhartha Gautama, began his life as a prince in a kingdom in ancient India.  Prince Gautama was born about 553 CE. He had parents who loved him, many servants to wait on him, the finest clothes, and a different palace for each season of the year.

The Birth of Siddhartha When Siddhartha was still in the womb, it was predicted that he was going to be: A Great King, or… A Buddha, a person who would bring salvation to the world Took 7 steps and declared that he would be enlightened in his lifetime.

The 4 Passing Sights Old Man Diseased man Corpse

4 Passing Sights Realized the impermanence of Life’s pleasures. He met an “Ascetic” man Ascetic: Someone who give up physical pleasures and worldly possessions to pursue Spiritual Growth

The Great Going Forth Gautama resolved to find enlightenment to overcome age, sickness, and suffering Gave up possessions, left palace Sought enlightenment, spiritual understanding for six years Studied with gurus, monks but decided they could not teach way to enlightenment

The Mendicants He joined 5 Mendicants Beggars who had no possessions He spent several years close to starvation. Meals of A piece of Fruit One sesame seed One grain of rice He became skin and bones

The Middle Way He realized that starving himself that way did nothing to help him. He discovered the middle Way Healthy spiritual life requires a healthy physical life. A life lived between the extremes of self-denial and self-indulgence Spiritual happiness means complete happiness Mind, Body, and Soul

Haiku Should I go one way? Or will I go another? Is there no other? Diverse, Chaotic, Life Seemingly Unrelated It moves, all the same Should I go one way? Or will I go another? Is there no other?

Set out to solve the problem himself Sat under a fig tree, no teachers, no companions, determined not to arise until he found way Stories say he meditated all night

The Enlightened One Resolve tested by violent storms, earthly temptations Mara: God of Death, was sacred of the power he might have if he succeeded. Sent out his three daughters Discontent, Delight and Desire

Up all night First Watch (evening): Saw all his previous lifetimes. His Reincarnations Second Watch (Middle of the Night): Divine Eye. He saw the deaths and rebirths of all living things, and that there was no escape from death. Third Watch (Early morning) Discovered the Four Noble Truths. By discovering the 4 Noble truths, Gautama had been transformed, found enlightenment, became the Buddha, Enlightened One

After Enlightenment He stayed under the “Bodhi Tree”, or the tree of enlightenment. Since he achieved spiritual perfection he could have left his body and pass into Nirvana Nirvana: Ultimate Salvation He decided to stay to teach others his way.

After Enlightenment Showed himself to the 5 mendicants At first they did not want to talk to him His Spiritual presence impressed them and they decided to listen As they listened to Buddha’s teachings, they all attained enlightenment. Became the “Arhats” or Buddhists Saints With their help they founded the “Sangha” Buddhist Monastic community

Death and Nirvana Died at the age of 80 Ate spoiled food His last words “All the constituents of being are transitory; work out your salvation with deligence”

Buddhism Part 2

Buddhist teachings Dharma: Buddhist Teachings Insight that is gained through meditation Instead of faith, Buddhism asks of the development of wisdom. It asks its followers to find insight in the Human Condition

Similar concepts with Hinduism Time is cyclical There have been multiple universes that has come, more will come after. Universe is eternal Gautama is not the first Buddha, also not the last Gods and goddesses exist Samsara and Moksha Moksha=Nirvana

Opposing views Hinduism is centered mainly on the men of the Brahmin class. Trying to understand the divine. They believed in Sacrifice Although he believed in gods and goddesses, he believed only Human beings can find their own salvation. Hinduism’s text were only read by Brahmin Early Buddhist texts were written in Pali, a dialect spoken by the common people.

The Self does not exist The three marks of existence In Hinduism, the goal is to examine and find your Atman, therefore joining again with Brahman The Buddha did not find an Atman, he found: He discovered that we are always at a constant state of flux, we are impermanent.

3 Marks of existence 1. Anatta 2. Anicca 3. Dukkha “There is no self” There is no permanent person or being inside of us that stays the same. 2. Anicca “Impermanence” It is not just the self, but existence as a whole is changing around us. 3. Dukkha “Suffering”

Samsara” The Buddhist Rebirth If there is no Atman, what is reborn?

Samsara” The Buddhist Rebirth Transference of energy. Transference is determined by Karma. No permanent self or permanent soul to transfer.

1st Noble Truth “To live is to suffer” “Dukkha”: Suffering, frustration, dislocation Life is filled with suffering Suffering is unavoidable What about Happiness?

2nd Noble Truth “Suffering is caused by desire” “Tanha” : Desire, thirst, craving Suffering is caused by people's wants and desires. The second truth is that suffering is caused by craving and the needing to control things.

3rd Noble Truth “Suffering can be ended through cessation” Suffering can be ended if people stop wanting things, like more pleasure or more power. 

4th Noble Truth “The solution to suffering is the Noble 8 Fold Path” To stop wanting things, people must follow 8 basic laws, called the Eightfold Path.

I _________________ have finshed _____ service hours as of today, 9/29/11. I still need to do ____ hours before December 12, 2011. I am aware that I will receive a failing grade in my class if these hours are not completed on time. _______________